Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 March 1875 — The Destruetion of San Christobal, Mexico, by an Earthquake. [ARTICLE]

The Destruetion of San Christobal, Mexico, by an Earthquake.

A Guadalajara letter to the New York Herald contains the following account, given by a correspondent, of the destruction in February lash of a Mexican town by an earthquake: San Ghristobal is situated, or rather was situated, at the bottom of the beautiful valley which crosses the greater part of the north of this State, the waters of the Grand River nearly touching the foundation walls of our houses, and was a most picturesque place, for the high rocks upon the opposite side of the valley and in front of us appeared hanging over our heads. We lived tranquilly, for our commerce was not great, and earthquakes in former years had never been severe with us and had occasioned us no alarm. On the 17th inst., at 8:35 p. m., a rumbling sound came from the earth beneath us, the: precursor of a tremendous earthquake. The animals instinctively manifested their surprise; the dogs howled, the horses turned down their ears and snorted, the cattle which were lying down jumped up terrified and assumed their attitude when fearing to be eaten up by wolves; all were prepared for the danger which was about to come upon them. An instant afterward came another subterraneous rumbling, and then began the catastrophe. The earth swung back and forth from the northeast to the south* east, rapidly succeeded by oscillations from the east to the west; it seemed, so to speak, that the earth had been wounded by some electric shock. A frightful whirlwind followed, after which all was confusion. Even the river itself seemed to be frightened, dashing from side to side, its current being lost. I happened to be in the edge of the town and proceeded toward my home, but the rapid movement of the earth threw me down twice, and a moment afterward I was immovably fixed by a terrible noise occasioned by the falling of the houses and the doleful screams of nearly all the inhabitants. A cloud of dust covered the whole town and the air was suffocating. I ran with precipitate haste toward the spot where my house stood, meeting in the way a number of men and women, many of them but partially dressed, wildly gesticulating, alternately calling upon God to have mercy upon them ana making use of certain Superstitious orations. My heart almost sunk within me as I rushed forward in the hope of seeing my family, for, to add to the horrors of the scene, the groans of many persons tended to prove that each heap of ruins would also be a sepulchre. Arriving at the spot where my house was I found but a heap of rubbish. I called lustily, so as to ascertain if possible if there was anyone alive beneath, but I received no response. I then ran off to another part of the town, and there discovered that -my family, fortunately, were away visiting at the time the house fell, and were thus saved from destruction. After some hours had been lost the work of searching for friends and relatives known to be beneath the ruins was commenced, but it is impossible at this time to state exactly how many perished, partly because a great many people took to their heels and ran into the forest, and partly because the darkness prevents a perfect search for the bodies. 8o far, in a few hours, thirty-seven bodies have been dragged out. It is reported from Ahuacatian that a little while before the earthquake was felt, the volcano of Ceboruco was covered with reddish clouds, and that continued subterranean noises were heard. At ten o’clock at night there was a shower of sand which lasted for more than five minutes. At a quarter past eight yesterday morning the volcano of Ceboruco was observed to be throwing out fire with great activity.