PROGRESS OF THE SHOCKS. 159 
to six seconds, and was immediately followed by 
another shock of from ten to twelve seconds, during 
which the ground was in a continual state of undu- 
lation, and heaved like a fluid under ebuilition. 
The danger was thought to be over, when a prodi- 
gious subterranean noise was heard, resembling the 
rolling of thunder, but louder and more prolong- 
ed than that heard within the tropics during thun- 
der-storms. This noise preceded a perpendicular 
motion of about three or four seconds, followed by 
an undulatory motion of somewhat longer duration. 
The shocks were in opposite directions, from north 
to south and from east to west. It was impossible 
that any thing could resist the motion from beneath 
upwards, and the undulations crossing each other. 
The city of Caraceas was completely overthrown. 
Thousands of the inhabitants (from nine to ten 
thousand) were buried under the ruins of the 
churches and houses. The procession had not yet 
set out ; but the crowd in the churches was so great, 
that nearly three or four thousand individuals were 
crushed to death by the falling in of the vaulted roofs. 
The explosion was stronger on the north side of the 
town, in the part nearest the mountain of Avila 
and the Silla. The churches of the Trinity and 
Alta Gracia, which were more than a hundred and 
fifty feet in height, and of which the nave was sup- 
ported by pillars from twelve to fifteen feet in dia- 
meter, left a mass of ruins nowhere higher than five 
or six feet. The sinking of the ruins has been so 
great, that at present hardly any vestige remains 
of the pillars and columns. The barracks called El 
uartel de San Carlos, situated further to the 
the church of the Trinity, on the road to 
