MITCHILL ON THE EARTHQUAKES AT VENEZUELA. 31 3 



which I occupy is three stories high, and was likewise very strong ; it 

 stood the shock without falling, but it was so much injured that I do 

 not intend to sleep in it, especially as we are constantly kept in a state 

 of alarm by the frequent shocks that have daily taken place ever since 

 the 26th ultimo. When the first great shock occurred, I ran out of my 

 house, and in my amazement I turned round and beheld it rocking like 

 a cradle, which, with the roaring of the earthquake, the screams of 

 people, and the crashing, perhaps, of a thousand buildings, made the 

 scene horrible beyond description." 



A third account is derived from the communication of another inha- 

 bitant and witness, at the same time and place with the preceding: 



"On Thursday, at 4 p. m. (the 26th of March,) a severe shock of an 

 earthquake was felt here. It came from the east. On its first approach, 

 it appeared as though there was a discharge in the neighbourhood of 

 some thousands of cannon; a moment after the earth began to raise 

 about eighteen inches, and ran in waves for about two seconds, of at 

 least that height ; it continued altogether for about one and a half mi- 

 nutes, during which time it prostrated more than two thirds of the houses, 

 and rendered the others untenantable ; killed, at least, one half of the 

 inhabitants, and wounded very many. Neither the strongest fancy, nor 

 the brightest imagination, can come any way near to portraying the 

 dismal aspect of the scene. Words to describe it are not in use ; you 

 can form no idea of it. On every side was to be heard, my wife ! 

 my husband ! my children ! my sisters ! my brothers ! where are they ! 

 where are they ! They are dead ! Oh they have perished ! These 

 words were uttered in the strongest tone of anguish and despair. 



" It was one of the holydays ; a day rendered remarkable in christian 

 annals, by being the anniversary of that day on which our Saviour was 

 nailed to the cross — an hour only before a representation of that cere- 

 mony was to have been carried through the streets. Every church 



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