“From the New York Gazette...”

Date

5-13-1812

Newspaper

Virginia Herald

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 2

Newspaper Location

Fredricksburg, Virginia

Serial Number

1124

Abstract

Long report on the effect of the March 26, 1812 earthquakes in the Caribbean.

Transcript

From the New-York Gazette. Dreadful effects of Earthquakes. Official letter from the General commanding the troops of Goro de Domingo Campo Verde, to his Excellency the Governor and commander in chief of the province of Coro. By the depositions of several individuals I am informed of the unfortunate event that has visited the city of Barquisimeto, which was on the 26th of March, buried under its ruins in a most dreadful earthquake, which was generally through the province; all the villages belonging to this district, and the city of Jouyo with the greater part of the villages, belonging thereto, have come and offered submission under the banners of Ferdinand the 7th, imploring protection from the vexations of their enemies. Forty men and twenty muskets more have gone this day to Quibor. I am now only waiting for the reinforcement from Coro, to take possession of the ruins of Barquisimeto. Your Excellency will endeavor to send me a reinforcement of 800 or 1000 men to enable me to attack Valencia. The Marina troops and those of the regiment La Peyna are those I want the most, therefore I hope from your Excellency's activity, that they will come soon to join me. The enthusiasm of my troops, and the cowardice manifested by the enemy, assures me of success to all my undertakings; adding to this, the panic and terror, with which the inhabitants are struck, since the dreadful earthquake which has destroyed the annexed cities. I have no doubt that the arms of Coro will eventually conquer the province of Venezuela. I have intimated the condition to Truxiollo & expect it will capitulate before experiencing the fate of Coro. God preserve your Excellence many years-Head Quarters, Coro, the 29th of March 1812. [Signed] Domingo Monte Verde. Memorandum of the cities known to this day, to have been destroyed; by the earthquakes from the 25th to the 28th instant, with the greater part of the inhabitants buried. The city of Barquisimeto, totally destroyed; Arilaqua, sunk; Santa Rosa, do. Caudare, destroyed; Phelipe, still worse; St. Carler, do, Caramaoate, in a bad situation. It is presumed that Caraccas and other places have equally suffered. Any other particulars that may hereafter come to my knowledge, shall be immediately communicated to your Excellency. To the preceding cities that have suffered by the earthquakes, we have already announced the following:--Caraccas, Victorea, Valencia, Porto Cavello, Laguira, New Barcelona, Maiquetia, Cumana. Extract of a letter from a respectable gentleman at St. Batholomews, to his correspondent in Savannah, dated 12th April. "By the arrival of two vessels we have accounts of a dreadful Earthquake on the Spanish main on the 26th of March. It being one of the Catholic Holy days, the churches were crowded with people, and they were all buried in the ruins of the edifices that fell over their heads. "Accounts say, that sixteen thousand souls were lost in Caraccas and Laguira; in the latter only ten houses were left standing. Great damage was done at Porto Cavello, we, also, had two shocks of Earthquakes here last night, but not very severe."

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