A considerable number of houses
were left standing--fortunately tenantless--for a third great earth-wave
traversed the city, and most of the buildings which had withstood the
previous shocks, already severely shaken, were entirely overthrown.
WATER ADDS TO THE DESTRUCTION
The last disaster filled the surviving citizens with the impulse of
flight. The more fortunate of them ran in the direction of the open
country, and succeeded in saving their lives; but a great multitude
rushed down to the harbor, thinking to escape by sea. Here, however,
they were met by a new and unexpected peril. The tide, after first
retreating for a little, came rolling in with an immense wave, about
fifty feet in height, carrying with it ships, barges and boats, and
dashing them in dire confusion upon the crowded shore. Overwhelmed
by this huge wave, great numbers were, on its retreat, swept into the
seething waters and drowned. A vast throng took refuge on a fine new
marble quay, but recently completed, which had cost much labor and
expense. This the sea-wave had spared, sweeping harmless by. But, alas!
it was only for a moment. The vast structure itself, with the whole of
its living burden, sank instantaneously into an awful chasm which opened
underneath. The mole and all who were on it, the boats and barges moored
to its sides, all of them filled with people, were in a moment ingulfed.
Not a single corpse, not a shred of raiment, not a plank nor a splinter
floated to the surface, and a hundred fathoms of water covered the
spot.
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