“Earthquake at Carracas”
Date
5-15-1812
Newspaper
Western Intelligencer
Page and Column
Page 2, Column 4
Newspaper Location
Worthington, Ohio
Serial Number
1212
Abstract
Account from Carracas of the March 26, 1812 earthquake in the Caribbean.
Transcript
EARTHQUAKE AT CARRACAS. Baltimore, April 21. 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 neighboring village-ten thousand people were buried in the ruins-two thousand five hundredren Laguira-one American only perished, viz. Mr. Crowell of New-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 bodies from under the ruins, putting 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 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 five, the Independence sailed, so that she could not tell what damage had been done.-C. H. Books.
Recommended Citation
"“Earthquake at Carracas”" (1812). New Madrid Compendium Far-Field Database. 1165.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/cas-ceri-new-madrid-compendium/1165
