Southern Christian Advocate

EARTHQUAKES IN DALMATIA

A letter from Ragusa, (Dalmatia,) dated September 16th, 1843, says:

The hopes of the inhabitants who flattered themselves with the belief that the shocks would not recur after the 15th of the month (the day on which they had fixed for returning to the city,) have unhappily not been realized. "On the 16th, at night, two shocks were felt, and soon after a brilliant meteor illumined the East. Others, attended with the same phenomenon, occurred every day up to the 23d. On the 18th and 21st they were renewed almost every hour of the day. A subterranean noise was heard on the 24th, at 10 minutes past two in the morning, and immediately after there succeeded a trembling of the earth so violent, that the inhabitants, suddenly awakened, abandoned their houses with the greatest precipitation, and departed from the town.

On the 25th, at 3 o'clock, A. M., another shock of long duration was experienced. The frequent recurrence of these earthquakes had produced consternation and despair in Ragusa. Most of the inhabitants had fled for refuge to the neighbouring villages. All business was suspended, and Ragusa wore an aspect the most sombre. At a few minutes past 3 o'clock on the morning of the 26th, the consternation of the people was at its height. Just previously an ominous stillness pervaded the scene. Not a breath of wind agitated the atmosphere; the stars with peculiar brilliancy spangled a firmament whose azure was of perfect purity. Suddenly the heavens were enveloped with clouds. the wind blew furiously, and at short intervals the earth shook with sudden and vehement tremblings. The houses of the city were so much damaged that it was believed a single recurrence of this terrible phenomenon would convert the town into a mass of ruins. The distress of those families who remained is indescribable. Women and children of every age and condition, were seen to abandon their dwellings with scarcely a covering for their limbs, and fly for refuge to the village of Pille.

In the islands of Corzola and Meleha there occurred similar disasters, resulting in tremendous conflagrations which consumed extensive forests.