The Kentucky Gazette

Delaware.

WILMINGTON, September 18.

By the brig Hornet, Capt. Love, from Cumana, upon Spanish Main. On Saturday the 3d July a shock of an earthquake was felt in Cumana, and along the main to Barcelona, La Guira and the city of Caracas. It happened at midnight and lasted about 25 seconds. No other damage was done than cracking the weakest of the houses and occasioning a considerable alarm—and on Saturday the 14th Aug. between 11 and 12 o'clock A. M. a very remarkably violent shock was also felt there. Its duration was about 15 seconds, but so severe that almost every house in 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 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 sunk two feet, and in others rose as much. It was attended as is generally the case with a dismal roaring noise under ground. The distress and alarm occasioned is indescribable. The houses were deserted and tents erected in the streets. The damage was estimated at two hundred thousand dollars. The earth continued shaking slightly at intervals, until Tuesday the 17th Aug. when we sailed—and about 3 hours after we left Cumana, being about 5 leagues distant from it and the nearest land (of soundings.) 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 and illuminated, followed by thousands singing Misericordia, (have mercy on 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,—almost all the houses being shook down.