Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-06-04
[rrom the New-Bcdford Daily Gazette Of Nom
day lasi.
DREADFUL. EARTIIQUAKEIN IN CHILL.

ut lHlS port Oh SdtuTuhy eNciiHR, pfHheHe o"
account Of most distressing Earthquake IN
and about the city of Conception, in Chilli
She left the port of otTacahuana 9TH of March.
The first aud most disastrous shock occurred
on the Goth of February. OF the large town
of Conception, not building was left stand
ing. Talcahuana, aud five small villages in
the harbor, were entirely destroyed. Afer
the first shock, the vessels in the bay wcro
all left nground-bnt, soon the sea rushed Oh
in great rollers, and rising twenty-five or
thirty feet, completely overfowed the land,
sweeping away the ruins. Many persons
were saved from untimely death, by the nc-
tive crew Of the Coral. The shocks conin-
ned, (three or four every day. up to the time
the ship left. On the 22d, large portion OF
the Island Of Caracana, at the mouth Of the
bay, was swallowed up. The 5th of March,
it was stated there, that from 25 to 30 towns,
beside many small villages between Concep-
ton and the Cordierus, were scenes Of com
pctc ruin. From four to five hundred lives
were lost jist in that section of couniry-but
the extent Of the suffering, il not yet known:
probably thrice that number, have been bu-
ried in the ruins.
The condition Of the people who formerly
inhabited spacious and convenient dwellings,,
where now not even brick il left to mark
the spot, is one of the utmost suffering. The
poor people who lived in the country, in
small reed-hnts have suffered but little
Their houses wthstood the shocks, and to
them is preserved roof for shelter. Those
who fed to the hills, erected little shantces.
on the spots of land least broke up, and,
were compelled to be constantly at work,
procuring the food necessary to satisfy hun
ger.
The scene during the first shock, was MP
poing. The trembling of every thing a.
Iround-,hc boiling of the sea, as when water
is heated over n tre-the earth opening
wide, giving forth the most terrific Inoans,
and laborng with internal fires Buildings
tottering in every direc,on,-and now whole
blocks of brick dwellings, rock from their
foundation. In their fail, they meet others,
and all, as if locked in death, sink, with tre-
mcndous crash, into the gaping earth, lenv-
ing no trace Of their existence, rave. memo
ry, and the smoke and ashes which arise
from the confusion. The scene was one OF
thrilling and awful sublimily.
When the first ntimaiion Of the breaking
up Of the convulsed earth, Mas received by
the inhabitants Of the cities and towns. they,
struck with horror, ran into the middle Of the
wide streets, and knclt in fcrvent prayer TO
God, to save them from tho threatening de-
strnctlon. Our informant, who was among
the number, says that he saw families run
from Their doors, and just as they LETT their
thresholds, their buildings, mostly of brick,
came tumhling down after them. 1t il a
most fortunate thing for the people of the
country, that the shock came at mid day.
Had it taken place in the middle hour of
night, they would have been compelled I"
flee for safety, without even the ono suit Of
clothing they now have, making their suf-
fering much greater.
4 1t is matter of history, that between the
years 1920 and 1852, five great Earthquakes
occurred in Chill. That on the 18th of
March, 1907, destroyed great part of tho
capital; that on the 18th of June, 1890.
drove ihc sea against the city of Conception,
and overthrew its walls; and that on tho Goth
iIof May, 1851, completely destroyed that
city, which was again inundated by the sea,
and leveIlcd with the ground all the fortress
es and Villages lying between lat 81 mud 40
south. The shocks continued at intervals
more than month. Not an individual hu-
man life, however, was lost on this occasion,
except some invalids, who were drowned
in Conception" In I75l, Conception wns
rebuilt on the north side of the river Biotio,
about Il league from the sea.
The subjoined letter from n gentleman Mt
Talcuhuana. received al the Exchange News
( Room, contains interesting particulars -
"TALcAuUANA, March LIT, 1885.
"On the morning of Friday, the Goth nf
February, 1885 about 20 minutes part IL
o'clock. we were visited by one of the most
awful Earthquakes over experienced by the
Oldest Inhabitants of this place. The morn
ing was calm and serene, and will prove an
ever memorable date TO the many m 8 nblc
souls, who fled to and are now inliabltint the
barren hills. The first shock lasted about
four minutes and half, causing the noun
tans and valleys to roll like the waves of the
sea; during the severity of the frs, shock,
(Which was so great that person could
scarcely keep upright. looked around for a
moment to meet my fate, but am spared to he
thankful, and may consider myself one Of the
fortunate, IN making my escape from the fal-
ling, but now postrate ruins. Conception, n
city containing 25,00O inhabitants, is one
heap of ruins; being built principally of
brick, there is not even one habtable dwell
ling left standing within the limits of the city,
md for leagues around. The shock came
from >. r.. course, prostratng every thing
IN Its way. number of small towns hnve
been heard from in its course; Chilian,
Talea, Arrcdan, C"ngas, Erras, Peurul 81.
/. Carlos, Nalloga and Angles, have all met the
same fate. Talcahuana the port Of Conccp-
ton, is completely demolished. 1t was not
only shaken down. but the fragments of hous-
cs, stores, &C., were afterwards swept away
by the sea, which retired about fifteen min
utes after the first shock, leaving the ship
ping then lying ut anchor in the hnrbor, en-
trely dry. 1t came in rising to n height of
twenty-five feet above the level, overwheu,-
ing the whole place. Men, women, and
children, fled to the mountains, bot many
= were overtaken and swept TO the Ocean, by
II the rpturninn wuvns Which cn.n,Ia.al IL