Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-06-13
Enrthnuake i,l CHM.

The coast of Chill. in South America, was visited
by very severe earthquake the I'd of April last
Two hundred houses, and property to the amount of
million of dollars was destroyed in the city of VAL
paraiso. Several persons were also killed. The
shock extended into the interior to the city of San
tiago The Baltimore Clipper publishes the follow
ing extract from letter, giving some further par
ticulars
For six weeks previous the shocks had been as
to excite some apprehensons heavy had been felt IN
December that cracked many wall But it was on the sec
ond instant that the earthquake came in its greatest
at IL minutes past six o'clock A. NJ Inc majority 0, Inc
Inhabitants their beds but they were not there long
On such there world OF the Iaugnaoi0 Aeu
up with another world of the terrible I'LL
walked finding the roof, ceiling and walls OF my twel-
ing which was of one story rafting ana cracking s soe
clint had laid hold it to shake 1t INTO fragments AS the
80 as male of tiles usual method here, and therefore
heavy my thought was to escape nom 10 an open
nac in 'front.' Often, in such cases, from the rock OF the
Ans, the doors bound and cannot be opened at all
Happily this not in and with my wife close
of nv side flew from my castle. The tiles were rafting
DOWN from the of the roof Our home seemed to be
the object greatest dread Soon were at safe
distance and watched the scene. The most marked amos-
phec stiffness reigned Not breath of air srred but all
the solid earth seemed in disturbance rafting to pieces
The earth moved 30 as to make it difficult retain ones
balance on his feet The shock lasted than sixty Sec
onds The houses could seen sawayng ana ha
As soon as these oscillations had ceased, returned to
house How sad the change! But few months before, it
had new N e OF
nters call NJ than any other thing The portion
chimney had been wrenehed about on Its base
ing pasterng AS walking about to see the INJURY
done, the earth began again to move We sat down to
lreakfast-we startled then.
Il went into the There similar presented it
SELF only on u scale much extensive One house
mine upon the ground in another had bro
limbs they fastened down the falling stairs AS one
lady her bed the chimney fell down into it, found an
English family seated at the drawing while the obse
vatoy had gone down into the yard the children, like at
frightened lambs and the mother feeling her and their
danger too afraid to ascend the stairs again.
The fairly filed with people There was but
subject conversation During the intervals between
shocks, persons would gather little courage and APP
poach doors from the middle of the street, and them
as the CIV tieba sounded again, back they would rush
once Muudes passed thus the entire day in the
streets.
drawn danger seemed increased 1t caused such
an ndescrbabe of loneliness and hepessness The
trembings continued the whole day through with
scarcely interval of more than half hour time and
though they caused harm, knew but worse than
the worst yet to be experienced Many an eye did not
sleep that whole night indeed many did not
go their beds at ALL while others spread them in the
Even at daybreak the street seemed filled with
people. l went to my bed and slept but was awakened
by repeated shocks But they growing
strong and the giant power again uling itself to
rest days shocks frequent Since the I'd in
slant, we have experienced about seventy-fvo all
The damage to the property not at the least below
million of dollars The appearance of the streets has now
been improved but at first very desoate There
hardly house in the section called the Admendra that was
shattered defaced Roofs ruined walls cracked
and others defaced. Few lives believe, were lost
though several suffered from broken limbs.
Santiago suffered about in equal measure with this city
The churches, house, and similar large build
ings were greatly damaged Villages and suffered
Renca hwon down. Casa Blanca nearly destroyed and
Curacay also
The terror of the people during days the shocks
intense. The Custom House for day closed alto
gether and all business suspended Tents pitched in
the public square, well as the hills. But since
nothing has been felt for week trust the danger
is averted 1t years since such earthquake
has been experienced here.