“By captain Betts...”
Date
4-23-1812
Newspaper
Virginia Argus
Page and Column
Page 3, Column 2
Newspaper Location
Richmond, Virginia
Serial Number
1075
Abstract
Article that reports on damage from the March 26, 1812 earthquake in the Caribbean . Details damage and loss of life.
Transcript
BALTIMORE; April 20. By captain Betts, from Laguira, we learn, that on the 26th of March, at 4 o'clock, P.M. there was a very severe shock of an EARTHQUAKE, which destroyed nearly the whole of the city of Carracas, and all the town of Laguira, with all the neighbouring villages-ten thousand people were buried in the ruins-two thousand five hundred in Laguira-one American only perished, viz. MR. CROWELL, of N. York. Four shocks were heard and felt on the night following, not heavy enough to do any damage. On the 27th, the survivors were employed in digging the dead from under the ruins, putting them in large lighters, carrying them outside of the shipping, and burying them in the sea. On the 28th the sea was so rough as to prevent them taking the dead off-then they built a large fire near the wharf, and commenced burning them, and burned about forty at a time in one fire. On the 29th, the stench had become so bad that they quit digging the dead from under the ruins. All the survivors pitched tents on the plains of Magetere. On the 4th of April there was a very hard shock, which made the vessels tremble as if they had been on a reef of rocks in a heavy sea; and from on board the Independence we could see the mountains move like a ship in a heavy sea, and large pieces scaling off them. At half past 5, the Independence sailed, so that he could not tell what damage had been done. C.H. Books
Recommended Citation
"“By captain Betts...”" (1812). New Madrid Compendium Far-Field Database. 1044.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/cas-ceri-new-madrid-compendium/1044
