DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70267#0119
DESCRIBED BY AN EYE-WITNESS.
99
for the Chapel Royal, and the other by a most magnificent
building of modern architecture, probably, indeed, by far
the most so, not yet completely finished ; as to the former,
the roof and part of the front walls were thrown down, and
the latter, notwithstanding their solidity, had been so
shaken, that several large stones fell from the top, and every
part seemed disjointed. The Square was full of coaches,
chariots, chaises, horses, and mules, deserted by their
drivers and attendants, as well as their owners.
The nobility, gentry, and clergy, who were assisting at
divine service when the earthquake began, fled away with
the utmost precipitation; every one where his fears carried
him, leaving the splendid apparatus of the numerous altars,
to the mercy of the first comer: but this did not so much
affect me, as the distress of the poor animals, who seemed
sensible of their hard fate; some few were killed, others
wounded, but the greater part which had received no
hurt, were left there to starve.
From this Square, the way led to my friend’s lodgings,
through a long steep and narrow street: the new scenes of
horror I met with here, exceed all description; nothing
could be heard but sighs and groans, 1 did not meet with a
soul in the passage who was not bewailing the death of his
nearest relations and dearest friends, or the loss of all his sub-
stance ; I could hardly take a single step without treading
on the dead, or the dying: in some places lay coaches,
with their masters, horses, and riders, almost crushed in
pieces; here, mothers with infants in their arms; there^
ladies richly dressed, priests, friars, gentlemen, mecha-
nics, either in the same condition, or just expiring; some
had their backs or thighs broken; others vast stones on their
breasts; some lay almost buried in the rubbish, and crying
out in vain to the passengers for succour, were left to perish
with the rest.
At length I arrived at the spot opposite to the house
where my friend, for whom I was so anxious, resided;
and
99
for the Chapel Royal, and the other by a most magnificent
building of modern architecture, probably, indeed, by far
the most so, not yet completely finished ; as to the former,
the roof and part of the front walls were thrown down, and
the latter, notwithstanding their solidity, had been so
shaken, that several large stones fell from the top, and every
part seemed disjointed. The Square was full of coaches,
chariots, chaises, horses, and mules, deserted by their
drivers and attendants, as well as their owners.
The nobility, gentry, and clergy, who were assisting at
divine service when the earthquake began, fled away with
the utmost precipitation; every one where his fears carried
him, leaving the splendid apparatus of the numerous altars,
to the mercy of the first comer: but this did not so much
affect me, as the distress of the poor animals, who seemed
sensible of their hard fate; some few were killed, others
wounded, but the greater part which had received no
hurt, were left there to starve.
From this Square, the way led to my friend’s lodgings,
through a long steep and narrow street: the new scenes of
horror I met with here, exceed all description; nothing
could be heard but sighs and groans, 1 did not meet with a
soul in the passage who was not bewailing the death of his
nearest relations and dearest friends, or the loss of all his sub-
stance ; I could hardly take a single step without treading
on the dead, or the dying: in some places lay coaches,
with their masters, horses, and riders, almost crushed in
pieces; here, mothers with infants in their arms; there^
ladies richly dressed, priests, friars, gentlemen, mecha-
nics, either in the same condition, or just expiring; some
had their backs or thighs broken; others vast stones on their
breasts; some lay almost buried in the rubbish, and crying
out in vain to the passengers for succour, were left to perish
with the rest.
At length I arrived at the spot opposite to the house
where my friend, for whom I was so anxious, resided;
and