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Northern Star (1837-1852), 23rd October 1852, Edition 2 of 2, Page 3

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      Earthquake At Santiago De Cuba. The West...

      ^ fl ^ , oJa " m , Ca ' at the townofSt ' Jaw , which conlV ' bou 40 , 000 inhabitants , that the fury of the earthquake visi-! 1 | : lS ' 'i : 15 \\ M vear appears to have been concentrated and spent The ff !!? ! m is descri ption by an eye-witness of the catastrophe which ) m mU « >* in AugUS M aSt * For its aPPa , li »? umndeur , and '' ' * , mrit inspired , it will rank amongst the most awful visitations /" . « . ' l . if h recoras exist . — I ' t di «« of the 20 th of August , 1852 , was to the inhabitants of St . Ja « o < le 1 T nd its neig hbourhood one of the finest presented by the tropics . I ln < i ^^ L t" » otke U ' fOT T Came fr ° m the ad J ° inin S village of Caney , where I * - ' ^ - '' . e ( i afl agreeable night , consequent upon the fair of St . Louis . The « kv * ^ ^ the air was pure and fresh , as from the north the blue of the celestial 835 vW lH » ter than USUa 1 , t ,, e countl'y was cheerful by reason of its bavin * '•'""^ 'V ^ c yroceedinff days . One whitish thick cloud alone crowned that portior , v , il f ' ; % i ^^ aesfra wMBh is belweea the Puerto de la Guira , and that of tlie ,,, Wf , WW Everything announced a delightful day : nothing , absolutely ''Vita" » 1 { Ii ' cate' 1 th 3 ,, ear apj ) roach of a % reat catastrophe . I can assert that " * : , vas nrt a s'n ? le VresetltimRnt of **» ' ™ s about to happen , although the li ! *? 1 ! i . lom trembles here without its being feared , and even foretold by some . ^ ' ^ inhabitants . Not one of the signs hitherto usual ly considered as the pre-!• ' -0 TS ot earthquakes manifested themselves . Neither was there any sign indi-^^ f : ,,, 5 variations in the atmosphere . The thermometer was at 84 degrees of

      TJ : Jahul , aiwl . tbe barometer at 30 inches . Such was the beautiful aspect of r Viare . v ] ien at th 5 rtj " six m 5 nutcs ¦ P 8 * eight in the morning on a sudden is JJ ^ jfarfiil » t > 5 se » and at the same tin , e my feet felt a violent tremulous ' ' , ni ] which vaUed and let fall the whole city as a child would a light tov . gTtTv countenance terror was depicted in a manner no painter could ever ni-nitate . ' Everybody ' s features were instantaneously disfigured ; the eyes were A ! -ank ; aIivi ' Ijue cu ' cletl t } iera » simiIar to wl » en sleep lias been denied for nights io < o « »* a '" pains ' peop ] e in a mass were in tne miofd . ' e of the streets , ° . i ° otht-Ir knees , their bands elapsed , and with eyes raised up to Heaven ; a pro-\\«\\ a ex & a ! l ( l , 0 U ( 1 cryfor mercy raised instinctivel y and simultaneously by the

      , jrt neiglihou rhood , resounded on every side . I am unable to pourfrajr all the lace witlnn few

      t , tK 5 which took p a seconds . What virtues were instantaneously , ' ., Raided What passions were silenced at the voice of God , who appeared to ' ( , ^ a us to judgment . Scarcely were we assured that the first shock had ceased , and scarcely , bad we j ^ covered a little from our alarm , than another was felt , bat not so strong as the i lipf . F'Oin 36 minutes past 8 to 10 o ' clock , three very di . sf . inct shacks were exfenced . In this interval the larger portion of the residents had occupied the iauaw-S the open spaces , and the beach , leaving the houses open and abandoned . Amidst fbe * e large meetings were repeated the scenes which shortly before had takeu place in families .

      JVom ten to one in the afternoon , the earth did not sensibly tremble ; from one to three o ' clock , two shocks were felt , which , although of short duration , trcre sufficient to maintain the anxiety and inquietude which had seized upon ite inhabitants , as well as to prevent any one sleeping , or even watching their habitation . Few even had breakfasted , and anxiety and fatigue had contributed to weaken the stomach . This caused some to endeavour to rake some aliment , for the weakness of the body increased that of the mind ; but a strong shock , which was felt at half-past five in the afternoon , interrupted those who were

      refreshing themselves , and determined many to go on board the vessels anchored iaiiie harbour , to the adjoining Tens , and to the straw huts on the beach . It can be asserted that at night-fall a thousand souls were not left in the centre of the town , excepting those who were left on tlie Plazas . Night came , and its shades also came , to sadden more and more those hearts which were already darkened when the sun shone iu the zenith , and the eyes obscured , before light iras wanting unto tbem . Attacked by a species of moral jaundice , we beheld things bhek as our own hearts , sad as our own spirits .

      A little after half-past 3 in the raormng , a shock was felt as strong , or more so , than the first , although of less duration . The motion was undulating , and to Jiiis perhaps is owing that moie edifices were not destroyed . This single s ' . ock would , in all probability , have caused more destruction to persons than all the jiHcediug ones has caused , in consequence of the hour at which it happened ; but others having previously occurred , made all the inhabitants alert , and thus it was that few had to come out of their houses , and perhaps not a single one out of their bed . Difficult , very difficult it is to describe all that passed from- halfjust 3 until daybreak . Few were those who suffered less on this occaison than on the previous morning , although they found themselves in places which they regarded , if not safe , much less exposed than the houses they had abandoned .

      By chance I was on the wharf of the steamer Botafuego , in company with the eajitaia of the Cardenas , and several other persons ; on a sudden we noticed a shock which caused the major portion of us to fall . We went instantly on board the Cardenas , where we observed a phosphoric ebullition in the water , and smelt a bad stench which almost deprived us of breath ; the piles of the wharf described angles of GO degrees at the least , and the wharf appeared to move more tlmn a yard from side to side . At the moment of the earthquake was heard , Mingled with the universal cry of mercy , a noise like that of failing bouses . I thought never to beheld the city of "Valasquez ; I thought that the last day of St . Jago de Cuba had arrived ; and perhaps I was not deceived in the opinion that it will never be what it was a few day ' s since .

      In the harbour the earthquake was perceptible , as we have said , by a strange iDoHon of the water , which boiled , producing phosphoric bubbles , and followed ty a fetor so intense as to takeaway respiration . In the Plaza de la Catedral , all the lights were instantly extinguished , and the immense multitude then there « a * environed in the thickest darkness . In that of Santo Thomas the priest was preparing to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice , when the horrible shaking was felt , and which plunged into the deepest dejection all the faithful who were praying . The scenes which passed in the streets were not less tarrible than those we have

      described . The few who had had courage enough to remain within their houses , * ushed frightened along the streets without being restrained either by the profound obscurity , the copious Tain , the fury of the wind , the ruins of the falling buildings , the state of their health , or the uncertainty of the Toad they were following . But vain is it for me to endeavour to give an idea of the horrors which ttere experienced in the short interval which elapsed between half-past three and the dawn of the 21 st . Every family tells their own , and I am not aware who suffered most .

      ^ ferer was dawn more wished for than that of the 21 st , and it is not possible to convey an idea of what we experienced when at its first blush we could dis-I'nsuish the towers of the Cathedral and of San Francisco , which threatened r ui" since the previous dav , and whose existence made us hope for that of the re-JuaiDing edifices which we judged to be ruins . Yet scarcely had we recovered from the terror brought on by the strong earthquake of the morning , than anothercaineon , which , if not so violent , was sufficient , in unison with the

      lugubrious aspectof the day , tokeep us in continual alarm . It rained at intervals throughout the morning ; at 25 minutes past 12 another shock of short duration *» felt , and towards evening the sky began to clear . Night came on without anything notable having occurred during the day , with the exception of the -sj "' ck mentioned . The moon with her silver light augured tranquillity , the air , V ; is pure , the temperature grateful , and the hopes began to revive that tlie earth-• mkes had ceased . Fatigued bv former vigils , each one prepared for repo . se , s en at half-past nine another shock of fair intensity and duration was felt .

      from the 22 nd to the morning of ths 2 Sth , several shocks were felt , but as % were less perceptible each time , they did not alarm the inhabitants , although t ! 'ey caused a certain uneasiness which did not allow them to sleep tranquilly in tieir houses , an uneasiness increased by some foolish persons by sad remembrances and unfounded predictions . At 10 minutes past two of the morning of { l'e 28 th , a fresli shock was felt rather stronger than those of the five preceding da } "s , which added to an attempt at robbery , ending in the death of one of the t ! i * ves , made fears to rekindle which were on the eve of extinguishment , and tJle people to remain encamped for many more days .

      - ^ a quarter to 1 of the afternoon of the £ 9 th , a prolonged clap of thunder w » s heard , followed hy an earthquake of slight duration , but yet sufficiently perwptible . This has been the last felt up to this day , the 31 st of August , when , * consequence of yesterday ' s rains , the greater portion of the inhabitants slept at Il 0 nv e , although with some precaution .

      O, Oc Tqb ^ 23.;] Ni Gta1 Fl| Med0i M

      o , oc TQB ^ 23 . ;] ni gTA 1 fl | mED 0 I m

      Piracy At Macao. An Unfortunate Affair O...

      PIRACY AT MACAO . An unfortunate affair occurred afc Macao , of which we have receive d the following account : —On . Saturday last ( Jdy 24 ) , a little after two o ' clock p . m ., Lieutenant F . X . dos Santos , of the Portuguese navy , having been informed that a Chinese piratical boat was lying opposite the Pagoda above the Bar-

      Piracy At Macao. An Unfortunate Affair O...

      fort , immediately went down the river in a Tanka boat , with only a European sailor and marine , and having taken possession of the piratical vessel—there being apparently only a few hands on board at the time—got her under weigh , and was bringing her up the river to the Custom-house , when a little way farther up , and almost opposite Mr . Manoei Pereira ' s wharf , the Chinese , of whom there must have been a creator

      number on board than was supposed , made a sudden rush on the officer and his two men and completely surprised them . The poor soldier ^ was soon overpowe red and slain , while the officer had hardly time to fire one of his pistols ( the other missed fire ) , when being closed upon by the Chinese , he had no alternative but to jump overboard , followed by the sailor , who , however , first fired his musket and killed one of the

      assailants . The sailor , being a good swimmer , " kept above water till rescued by a Chinese sampan , which was also the means of his picking up the drowned body of poor Lieutenant Santos . Though all this occurred in the Inner Harbour , and close to the shore , it does not seem to have attracted any attention j for nothing was known : till after the sailor had landed at the Custom-house . The pirates had thus ample time to make the best of their way up "the river , and before anything could be sent after them , it is believed they had got their vessel ashore , and cleared of all her armament and valuables .

      An armed boat was , however , despatched as soon as possible , and succeeded in bringing the vessel back next morning , of course stripped of everything but her masts and sails . " The vessel is of the description of those commonly called Ly-to , very much like a large fishing boat ; and from the quantity of Chinese tallow candles , joss paper , and sticks found on board , it is believed she must have gone into Macao for supplies .

      The body of the soldier who was killed in the encounter had been afterwards thrown overboard , and was picked up on Monday on the beach opposite Green Island . —China Mail July 29 .

      Ieelahd.

      IEELAHD .

      Brutal Murders Jn The County Of Dublin.—...

      Brutal Murders jn the County of Dublin . —The repose of Dublin was startled on Friday by the report of a frightful case of murder perpetrated within a few miles of town , under the following circumstances : — " The unfortunate victims were a man named Patrick Smith , aged about 70 , and his sister , Margaret Smith , who was upward of 70

      years of age , and nearly bedridden . It appeared that the deceased man * s wife had died about two years since , and that he and his sister had lived together for a long period upon the farm of Mr . Mangan , on the townland of Tolnagee , within three miles of Swords , upon which Patrick Smith had been employed fur the last 22 years , in the capacity of herd and care-taker , at the salary of 5 s . a week , with the use of a garden . The reason generally assigned for the atrocious act was that Smith was suspected of having some money , and it was likewise believed that his son who had died some time

      ago , left him a sum of money and a silver watch . The deed appeared to have been done in the most cool and deliberate manner , as the eyes of the deceased persons were closed , and the features somewhat composed ; and by the doctor ' s evidence it appeared that the bodies were settled from the position in which they originally fell . The scene , on entering the cabin , presented a truly awful appearance , the corpses being extended before the hearth , at which they had evidently been sitting when the ruthless murderers entered and commenced their work of savage destruction Upon the . cabin floor , with her feet towards the lire , lay the wretched

      woman , vviih a fractured skull ; and across her body lay that of her unfortunate brother , with two terrific scalp wounds upon the back of his head , Behind the door stood the instrument with which the fearful deeds had been committed—namely , the heavy wooden bar of tlie door , upon which was a quantity of blood and human hair . In the inner room the furniture had been pulled about , and one of the boxes broken open , evidently by parties in quest of p lunder ; the lining of one of the pockets of the unfortunate victim ' s trousers was partially turned out , but the search was evidently hasty and ineffectual , as in an inner pocket money was found , as also upon the person of the woman . In the inner room was found a bag ,

      resembling in appearance those used by the gather-em-ups . Judging from the appearance of the miserable dwelling , the deceased persons must have been living in a state of comparative indigence . The deceased , Patrick Smith , bore a very good character , and was very much respected among his neighbours , and was always considered an honest , upright , and industrious man , a proof of which lay in the careful manner in which the garden at the rear of the house was cultivated . It was not until late on Thursday evening that the police received intelligence of the atrocious outrage having been committed , and since that time Mr . Michael B . Kelly S . L ., and Head Constable James Drennan , were actively employed in

      endeavouring to discover and bring to justice the perpetrators of this fearful crime ; but although two persons were taken upon suspicion , it is much to be regretted that no decisive information has been obtained to throw light upon this most dark and iniquitous transaction . At 1 o ' clock on Friday Mr . Henry Davis , county coroner , having been duly notified of the occurrence , proceeded to the spot , and , a jury having been sworn , they adjourned to Loverswood for the purpose of examining the witnesses . Two men , named Patrick Corcoran , and Thomas Ralph , were present in custody of the constabulary , having been arrested upon suspicion of being concerned in the murder . A great number of witnesses having been

      examined , the coroner proceeded to charge the jury , and observed that there was no evidence to justify him in detaining the prisoners in custody any longer ; the authorities , however , had been quite justified in having them arrested . The nature of the evidence would only justify them in returning an open veidict . The jury then returned a verdict as follows : —* That the suid Patrick and Margaret Smith were found murdered in their house at Tolnagee ; lhauhe head of Patrick Smith was cut and injured with a heavy wooden bar j that the bkull of Margaret Smith was fractured with tlie same wooden bar ; and that the jury believe that the said persons were murdered on Tuesday night , by some person or persons

      unknown / " . The Six-Mile-Bkidge Affbat . —A numerous meeting ot those interested on behalf of the families of the men slaughtered at Sixmile-bridge in July last , has been held at Carmody ' s Hotel , Ennis , and was numerously and respectably attended . The Rev . Mr . Quaid and a large number of the Roman Catholic Clergymen of the county were present . Resolutions were unanimously adopted to organize a vigorous subscription in aid of the clistressed relatives of the slain , ^

      Brutal Murders Jn The County Of Dublin.—...

      The Lawyers' Harvest . —To the long list of election petitions from Ireland is now to be added one against the return of Mr . M . J . Blake , one of the members for the town of Galway . Lord Dunkellin , the son and heir of the Marquis of Clanricarde , is the petitioner " on several grounds , " but it is not yet decided " which point will be selected . " The Ballot . — -A movement in favour of vote by ballot , initiated by the people of Clare , will , no doubt , be agreeable intelligence for Mr . John Bright and politicians of kindled sympathies , who look upon the measure as the sovereign specific for all ihe evils which render Ireland the great " difficulty" of English statesmen . The Limmck Reporter of yesterday

      says" A requisition is in course of signature to the High Sheriff * of Clare , requesting that functionary to convene a meeting on an early day , for the purpose of petitioning Parliament in favour of the ballot , in order that such lamentable catastrophes as the melancholy and merciless slaughter at Sixmile-bridge may be obviated by the protection which the elector would have if shie . 'ded by the system of voting thus sought for . The requisition has already received a large array of signatures , including those of the two county members . " Government Investigation . —The Mayo Constitution states that a Government inquiry will be held on Thursday next in Castlebar , before Mr . Serjeant O'Brien , into the conduct of certain

      justices of the peace at a petty sessions court held in that town on the 28 th of July last . The Tale of Mystery . —The investigation info the strange circumstances attending tlie death ot Mrs . ICinvan , at Ireland ' s-Eye , a short time since , was resumed on the 15 th hist , in Houth , before Major Brownrigg and the parties concerned for the Crown , and the husband of the deceased , Mr . IV . ICinvan . As on the previous occasion , it was

      not open to the press ; but it transpired that , after the examination of several witnesses , Mr . Kirwan was fully committed for trial at the next commission on the charge of murder . The deceased lady was young , handsome , and accomplished , and the husband is said to be an artist of considerable ability as a painter in oils . He was apparently in affluent circumstances , and occupied a fine mansion in Upper Merrion-street , one of the most fashionable localities at the south side of

      the city . The Permoy Murder . —According to the authority of the Cork Examiner , all the men who had been arrested for the murder of the soldier of the 31 sfc regiment have been discharged on their own recognizances . The Examiner infers from this that the whole affair was a " mere drunken brawl . "

      Fatal Duel At Windsor. An Extraordinary ...

      FATAL DUEL AT WINDSOR . An extraordinary sensation was created on Tuesday afternoon at Englefield-green , which lies about half-way between Chertsey and Windsor , by a report that a duel . had been fought on land belonging to the Crown Tarm , a very secluded spot , about half a mile from the Barley Mow Inn , and unhappily it has proved to be true . It is said the deceased , who is a remarkably fine man , about 40 years of age , and weighs between 13 and 14 stone , was formerly a

      captain in the French Navy . His name is Couruet , and lived at 41 , Lisle-street , London . There are two causes assigned for the duel—viz ., a lady , and a political quarrel . It is very extraordinary , and we therefore mention u thus early , that it was evidently known in London that a duel was to be fought on that day , and that the whereabouts was also known , as three out of the five who are in custody were met at the terminus of the South Western Railway , on their return , by several foreigners , who appeared anxious to learn the result .

      The following particulars were given to an informant by Mr . Lambert , the much-respected proprietor of tlie above inn , and may be strictly relied on . He stated that on Tuesday , about a quarter past one , as Dr . Ilayward , of Egham , was coming up Priest hill to Englefieid-green , he passed three foreigners , and a little further up he saw another coming out of a field towards the road . This led him to believe that something serious had happened , and he went to the field adjoining , where he found a person lying on the ground bleeding . He attended to him immediately , and afterwards

      went to the Barley Mow , and desired them to make some preparations for a person who had been wounded . They did so , and the unfortunate man was removed on some hurdles and straw which had been procured from a farm belonging to Sir John Cathcart , Bart . Dr . Ilayward attended him until near five o ' clock , and he lived about three hours , being nearly the whole of the time in dreadful agony . J . Dobinson , Esq . " , a magistrate , living at Egham , had in the meantime attended , with M . Laun , a teacher of foreign languages , also living at Egham , and tlie dying man ' s deposition ( which has not at present been made public ) was taken .

      Between seven and eight o clock in the evening two foreigners , one of whom turned out to be a French physician , came to the Barley Mow . The latter was allowed to take his departure , but the other , as also one who had been with the deceased , was taken into custody by Mr . Superintendent Biddlecombe , of the Surrey connty constabulary . The news of a duel having got spread about , a message was sent from the office at Windsor to the Waterloo station to the

      effect that a duel had been fought , and that one of the parties was either dead or dying , and giving a description of three foreigners who were supposed to be connected with the affair ; and , as it will be seen , three were taken into custody on the arrival of the train in London . EXAMINATION BEFORE THE MAGISTRATES . At twelve o ' clock on Wednesday , the four individuals , named —Barones , of 41 , Lisle-street ; Edmund Ajlain , of 28 . Lichfieldstreet , Soho : Eugene Phiiiippe Mornain , and Emanuel Bartholomey , were examined at the Town-hall , Chertsey , before J . L . Briscoe , Esq . ( chairman ) . Capt . Cavendish , Capt . Seymour , and I . Dobinson , Esq . The case created the most intense interest , and the large room was densely crowded .

      Mr . Laun explained to the prisoners the nature of the charge , , and a French counsel attended for them . Several witnesses having been examined , the depositions were \ read over , and the prisoners upon being asked what they had to > say , gave their words they would attend on any other day that t might be named , but they were told by the Bench that they could 1 not be allowed to depart .

      An inquest was yesterday commenced by Mr . Woods , the e Coroner for West Surrey , at the Barley-mow Tavern , Englefield- - green , Egham , for the purpose of inquiring into the circumstances s connected with the above lamentable affair . A number of wit- :-nesses were examined , including aj F-iench refugee , who admitted d that a political question had been the cause of the duel , but re * i * fused . to give further information . The enquiry ^ was * adjourned id till Tuesday next .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 23, 1852, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_23101852/page/3/