An Eyewitness Account of Disaster
By I. H. Evans
(From Elder I. H. Evans, January 17, to the Secretary of our General Conference, Elder W. A. Spicer.) Our meeting is broken. We shall remain a few days to help. We are sleeping out doors, as we dare not sleep in the houses. There are no troops here but colored ones. The business white people are largely dead. These blacks are like mad savages. We had a mob attack us this morning. They tore off the gates, tore down the wall, threw stones and bricks like demons. A squad of policemen of thirty men came up and fought the mob for half an hour and drove them away. About 10 a.m. they looted a store across the road, and fought like furies. It rained last night and drove us into the house. Then an earthquake drove us pell-mell out of doors. Food is short. We have had bread and porridge for three days; but we are informed there will be no more bread after to-morrow morning. The city is looted by these savages, and hunger is delayed, but come it must, unless United States and England send us help. I am sorry for this misfortune, yet God only can tell why it was permitted. No reports from outside have reached us here. Pandemonium reigns. There are no white soldiers here. The colored troops have little heart to maintain order in such a time as this. We had a terrific earthquake shock this forenoon. We had been holding a conference meeting this morning out of doors. It rained, and we went into a house with the end out; but a shock of earthquake took place, and we rushed madly for the door. Shall leave for home next week some time.