“Awful Calamity”
Date
5-9-1812
Newspaper
Western Spectator
Page and Column
Page 3, Column 1
Newspaper Location
Marietta, Ohio
Serial Number
1297
Abstract
Account of Captain Betts of the earthquake of March 26, 1812 in the Caribbean.
Transcript
PHILADELPHIA, April 22 AWFUL CALAMITY! From LAGUIRA. By capt. Betts arrived at Baltimore on Monday last from La Guira, we learn, that on the 26th of March, at four o'clock, P. M. there was a very severe shock of an earthquake, which destroyed nearly the whole of the city of Caraccas, & all the town of La Guira, with all the neighbouring villages-TEN THOUSAND PEOPEL were buried in the ruins-two thousand five hundred in La Guira-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 throwing them into the sea. On the 27th, the sea was too rough as to prevent them from 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 sealing off them. At half past five, the Independence sailed, so that we could not tell what damage had been done. Robert K. Lowry, esq writes from La Guira, under date of the 3d April, and mentions the confusion and dismay as indescribable-following the destruction by earthquake, is a terrible scene of robbery. He was preparing to sail immediately, with what he could snatch from the hands of plunderers, to Porto Cavello, which had escaped the shock.
Recommended Citation
"“Awful Calamity”" (1812). New Madrid Compendium Far-Field Database. 1233.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/cas-ceri-new-madrid-compendium/1233
