Alexandria Advertiser And Commercial Intelligencer

Cumana, upon the Spanish main. By the brig Hornet, capt Love, from Saturday the 3d July, a shock of an earthquake was felt in Cumana, and along the city of Carracas. It happened at midnight and lasted about 20 seconds. No other damage was done than cracking the weaker parts of some of the houses and occasioning a considerable alarm: and on Saturday the 14th Aug. between 11 and 12 o'clock A. M. a very remarkable shock was also felt there. Its duration was about 12 seconds, but so severe that almost every house in the town was torn to pieces and ruined! A considerable number were shook down and some persons killed. The agitation of the ground was so violent as to open it in several places from whence sprung fresh water. It was very difficult to stand without support. A ship that was upon the stocks was moved six inches in an easterly direction, and several houses were also moved from three to six feet in the same direction. In some places the ground sank two feet, and in others rose as much. It made a dismal roaring noise under ground. The shock was attended as is generally the case with earthquakes. The houses were deserted and tents erected in the streets. The distress and alarm occasioned is indescribable. Tents were erected in the streets. The damage was estimated at five hundred thousand dollars.

The earth continued shaking slightly at intervals until Tuesday the 17th Aug.

When we left Cumana, being about 5 leagues distant from it and the nearest land (of Trinidad) we sailed; and about 3 hours after, found ourselves about 15 leagues distant from it and the nearest land (of Trinidad) we sailed; and about 3 hours after, (foundings) we felt on board a sudden and severe shock, which no doubt has completed the destruction of the shattered houses in Cumana! The churches being lofty buildings were all unroofed. According to the custom of Catholic countries the Holy Virgin was carried through the streets, night and day, elegantly dressed singing Misericordia (have pity upon us).

Great apprehension was entertained for the city of Caracas, the buildings there being lofty. Should the earthquake have happened, as was expected, it must have been destroyed.

In Dec. 1797, Cumana was destroyed by an earthquake, all the houses being knocked down.