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Account of the Earthquake that happened in Jamaica, in 1692.
IN 1692, an Earthquake happened in Jamaica--In two minutes, it deſtroyed the town of Port Royal, at that time the capital of the iſland; and ſunk the houſes in a gulph 40 fathoms deep. It was attended with an hollow rumbling noiſe like that of thunder: the ſtreets roſe like the waves of the ſea; firſt lifting up the horſes, and then immediately throwing them down into deep pits: All the wells diſcharged their waters with the moſt violent agitation. The ſea burſt over its bounds, and deluged all that ſtood in its way. The fiſſures of the earth were in ſome places ſo great, that one of the ſtreets appeared twice as broad as formerly. In many places it opened and cloſed again, and continued this agitation for ſome time. Of theſe openings, grear numbers might be ſeen at once. In ſome of them, the people were ſwallowed up at once; in others, the earth caught them by the middle, and cruſhed them to death; while others, more fortunate, were ſwallowed up in one chaſm, and thrown out alive by another. Other chaſms were large enough to ſwallow up the whole ſtreets; and others; ſtill more formidable, ſpouted up immenſe quantities of water drowning ſuch as the earthquake had ſpared The whole was attended with ſtenches and offenſive ſmells, the noiſe of falling mountains at a diſtance, &c.; and the ſky, in a minute's time, was turned duſt and reddiſh, like a glowing oven. Yet, as great a ſufferer as Port-Royal was, more houſes were left ſtanding therein then on the whole island beſides. Scarce a planting-houſe, or ſugar-houſe, was left ſtanding in all Jamaica. A great part of them were ſwallowed up, houſes; people, trees, and all, in one gap: in lieu of which, afterwards appeared great pools of water; which,
