“Earthquake at Caracas”

Date

5-28-1812

Newspaper

Louisiana Gazette

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 1 and 2

Newspaper Location

New Orleans, Louisiana

Serial Number

939

Abstract

Account of the March 26, 1812 earthquake at Caracas, Venezuela.

Transcript

EARTHQUAKE AT CARRACAS BALTIMORE, April 21. By Capt. Betts, from Laguira, we learn, that the 26th of March, at 4 o'clock, P. M. there [unreadable] a very severe shock of an Earthquake, which [unreadable] nearly all the neighboring villages-ten thousand people were buried in the ruins-two thousand five hundred in Laguira-one American only perished, viz. Mr. Crowell of New-York [unreadable] shocks were heard and felt on the night [unreadable], not heavy enough to do any damage. [unreadable] the 27th the survivors were employed in [unreadable] the dead bodies form under the ruins, putting [unreadable] them in large [unreadable], carrying them out [unreadable] of the shipping and burying them in the [unreadable] was so rough as to [unreadable] the dead off-then they [unreadable] wharf and commenced [unreadable] about forty at a time [unreadable], the stench had become [unreadable] the dead from [unreadable] ruins. [unreadable] survivors pitched tents on [unreadable]. On the 4th of April [unreadable] was a very hard shock, which made the vessels tremble as [unreadable] they had been on a [unreadable] or 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 stated, so that she could not tell what damage had been done. C. H. Books. Mr. Lowry, our commercial agent at La Guaira, intended to leave that place, in consequence of the of the earthquake, for Porto Cavello. Extract of a letter from a gentleman in La Guaira to his correspondent in this city, dated La Guaira, April 4, 1812. "The dreadful earthquake which has laid in ruins the cities of Caraccas and La Guaira, and the adjacent country, by which more than 5000 houses have been destroyed, happened on the 26th of March, at 7 minutes past 4 o'clock. The explosion was so violent that it buried in its ruins more than eight or ten thousand persons." Sun. Extract of a letter received per the schr. Independence from La Guaira. "A few days prior to our arrival, this town was almost destroyed by an Earthquake; it commenced about 4 o'clock P. M. on Thursday the 26th of March; its effects horribly destructive; since my arrival there have been a few shocks, but no material-damage done. Such is the alarm of the inhabitants that the town is entirely deserted, and they are now living without the walls, beneath little tents and huts, which are erected merely to shelter them from the ram and heat of the sun. "It is not within the compass of my ability to describe to you the misery of these people; fear and despair, grief and ruin, have completely overwhelmed them. Parents have escaped with the loss of their children; children with the loss of their parents, and very few without the loss of their property. Already five hundred persons have been found, and the probability is that a greater number still remain buried beneath the ruins. The destruction at Caraccas is much greater; 2,500 bodies have been thrown upon the funeral pile, and burned already, and it is supposed that from five to ten thousand souls are lost. Out of forty churches in that place two convents only remain standing. Such is the lamentable situation of these two places, that it will be a long time before they can be reinstated. No business of nay nature is doing. All the Americans here will go to Puerto Cabello."--bid The consignee advises of the capture of the brig Pallas, Holbrook, from Baltimore or Cadiz. She was captured [unreadable] January, by three French privateers, and with a full cargo of flour, carried into St. Lucar, where brig and cargo were condemned, and crew put in prison, for attempting to trade with the enemies of France.--Amer.

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