Page:Account of several remarkable earthquakes which have happened in various quarters of the world (1).pdf/13

 and rochets, as these all go in the habit of ; several priests who had run from the  in their sacerdotal vestments in the midst of  celebrating mass; ladies half dressed, and  without shoes; all these, whom their mutual  had here assembled as to a place of safety, were on their knees at prayers, with the terrors of  in their countenances, every one striking his, and crying out incessantly, Miserecordia  Dios.

'In the midst of our devotions, the second great came on, little less violent than the first, and  the ruin of those buildings which had  already much shatteredThe consternation  became so universal, that the shrieks and cries  Miserecordia could be distinctly heard from the  of St. Catherine's hill at a considerable distance off, whither a vast number of people had  retreated; at the same time we could hear  fall of the parish church there, whereby many persons were killed on the spot, and others mortally wounded. You may judge of the force of this shock, when I inform you, it was so violent, that I could scarce keep on my knees, but it was with some circumstances still more dreadful than the former—On a sudden I heard a general outcry, 'The sea is coming in, we shall be all lost.'—Upon this, turning my eyes towards the river, which in that place is near four miles broad, I could perceive it heaving and swelling in a most unaccountable manner, as no wind was stiring: in an instant there appeared at some small distance, a large body of water, rising like a mountain; it came on foaming and roaring, and rushed towards the shore with such impetuosity, that we all immediately ran for our lives as fast as possible; many were actually swept away, and the rest above