“The following...”

Date

4-29-1812

Newspaper

Virginia Herald

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 1

Newspaper Location

Fredricksburg, Virginia

Serial Number

1119

Abstract

Felt report for March 26, 1812 earthquake at Laguria. Detailed account.

Transcript

PHILADELPHIA, April 22. The following melancholy narration was addressed to a respectable merchant of this city. RUINS OF LAGUIRA, April 2, 1812. "Dear Sir, "Many times in my life have I experienced the goodness of a Merciful God towards me, but never so conspicuously as in my preservation during the tremendous exertion of his power, which has shaken the mountains to their foundation, and leveled the greatest part of this city, as also that of Caraccas, with the ground-thousands and tens of thousands have been buried, and most of them now lie beneath the ruins! The stench, arising from the dead bodies, is intolerable-such of them as could become at have been thrown into the sea, or collected into heaps and burnt to ashes. It is imagined that seven-eighths of the houses in this city are demolished, and of those which still stand, there are not perhaps twenty that will be found [unreadable]. The custom house, which was built very strong, is not much injured. The house which I occupy is three stories high, and was likewise, very strong-it stood the shock without falling, but it was so much injured that I do not intend to sleep in it, especially as we are constantly kept in a state of alarm by the frequent shocks which have taken place ever since the 26th ultimo. When the first great shock occurred, I ran out of my house, and, in my amazement, I turned round and beheld it rocking like a cradle, which, with the roaring of the earthquake, the screams of the people, and the crushing, perhaps, of a thousand buildings, made the scene horrible beyond description." Extract of a letter from a gentleman at Laguira to his friend in Philadelphia [unreadable text] I cannot sufficiently thank the Almighty Dispencer of events for rescuing me from death, [unreadable text] part in this place. On Thursday, at [unreadable] P. M. (26th of March) a severe shock of an Earthquake was felt here. It came from the East. On its first approach, it appeared as though there were a discharge in the neighborhood of some thousands of cannon; a moment after the earth began to raise about 18 inches, and run in waves for about two seconds, of at least that height; it continued altogether for about one and a half minutes, during which time it prostrated more than two thirds of the houses, and rendered the others untenantable, killed at least one half of the inhabitants, and wounded very many-Neither the strongest fancy nor the brightest imagination, can come any way near to portraying the dismal aspect of the scene. Words to describe it are not in use; you can from no idea of it. On every side was to be heard, my wife, my husband, my children, my sisters, my brothers, where are they, where are they! They are dead! Oh they have perished! These words were uttered in the strongest tones of anguish and despair.-Caraccas has lost about 10,000 of its inhabitants.-It was on one of the Holidays, a day rendered remarkable in Christian annals, by being the aniversary of that day on which our Savior was nailed to the cross; an houronly before a representation of that ceremony was to have been carried through the streets. Every church was full, and every one was shaken to the earth. To the amount of 900 or a 1000 persons, can be counted in two churches, all having perished. Not a house in Caraccas is inhabited. The people have as well as here, left the place and raised tents in the open fields. I was a witness of the interment of about 50 who on their knees were imploring the protection of the Divinity and who at a less distance than 20 steps were covered by the falling of two houses. My dear friend, it was dreadful to be bold, and never will the remembrance of it be effaced from my memory. The heart-rending shrieks of those who had lost their friends, joined to the dismal groans of the wounded and dying, were enough to cause the strongest and most stubborn heart to feel the miseries of mankind.-Even now, every thing smells of death. No more than one third of the unfortunates have been found, those that have been, are either thrown in to the sear or buried. Laguira will never assume its former appearance; no, never; such a hope is vanity. The streets are fitted with ruins. About 20 slight shocks have been felt since.

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