Page:Account of several remarkable earthquakes which have happened in various quarters of the world (1).pdf/10

 prodigious clouds of dust and lime, raised from so violent a concussion, and as some reported, to sulphureous exhalations, but this I cannot affirm however, it is certain I found myself almost for near ten minutes.

'As soon as the gloom began to disperse, and the violence of the shock seemed pretty much abated, the first object I perceived in the room a woman sitting on the floor, with an infant  her arms, all covered with dust, pale and trembling; I asked her how she got hither: but  consternation was so great that she could give  no account of her escape, I suppose, that when the tremor first began, she ran out of her  house, and finding herself in such imminent danger from the falling of stones, retired into  door of mine, which was almost contiguous  her's, for shelter, and when the shock increased which filled the door with dust and rubbish,  up stairs into my apartment, which was then open: be it as it might, this was no time for curiosity. I remember the poor creature asked me in the utmost agony, if I did not think that world was at an end; at the same time she complained of being choaked, and begged for God's sake I would procure her a little drink; upon  I went to a closet where I kept a large jar  water (which you know is sometimes a  scarce commodity in Lisbon) but finding it  in piccespieces [sic], I told her she must not now think  quenching her thirst, but saving her life, as  house was just falling on our heads, and if a  shock came, would certainly bury us both; I  her take hold of my arm, and that I would endeavour to bring her into some place of security.

'I shall always look upon it as a particular, that I happened on this occasion to