The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-06-05

heaAAy DcsAoyeus
| The following article. describing recent earth
| quake in Valparaiso, is taken from the Mercantile
| Reporter, published in that city:
| "On the I'd of April, at 6, a. M, alparaiso was
visited by one of those calamites so frequent in
she s, shock ever felt since the great
| earthquake year 1922, when Valparaiso
almost totally destroyed has created q panic not
equalled by any former event
"a severe trembling Of the earth OF fifteen
| conds duration, prolonged by less violent after
shocks to two minutes, which two minutes appear
ed many hours to those whose lives and prop
erty were endangered, has in so short time de-
stroyed several hundred dwellings, and has made
| great number of persons houseiess.
"Itis generally believed that, from the violence
| of the shock. ten or fifteen seconds more would
have brought on the same DISASTROUS consequences
| as the earthquake in 1922, though the houses at
! present are generally built in a more substantial
| manner, and less liable to fall.
"The motion came from the south, and directed
! its course to the north, notwithstanding some OF
the northern ports of the country, as Copiapo, Co.
| quimbo, and Cobja, have only felt very slight
symptoms Of the shock and it is supposed that the
| motion, though severe, has not spread over much
| territory. From the south, Conception, Talca-
huano, and other places. we have received no in
telligence up to this date but are led to believe,
from the irregular course Of the motion, that the
| effects have not been severe.
"Constitucion, we have ascertained, has not suf-
| fered. We have received further accounts from
the captain of vessel from the south, who reports
| TO have felt severe commotion in the sea, forty
miles off San Antonio This confirms us in our
opinion that the motion Of the earth has been very
irregular.
"The temperature during the earthquake was
hot and oppressive, but alteration took place in
the thermometer, which stood at 62.
"'Thc American frigate Raritan let go her lead
Immediately, and had great difficulty in hauling
it in; the convusion at the bottom of the having
caused it to sink three feet in the sand
"The motion OF the earth was observed to be Of
lac Win yvSC orts 9th
bred yards distant, 80 much 30, that old and de-
caysd houses stood the shock better in some parts
than newly and strongly erected edi6ces, and
those houses in the structure of which the most
timber has been employed remained almost sound.
"During the eventful fifteen seconds the<houses
rocked to and fro as many vessels at sea-.
"Not breeze of air was perceptiblc during the
whole OF the day, and sighter shocks continued at
Gao minutes, 6.56 minutes, 1855 minutes, 10. So
minutes, and have continued ever since of more or
less strength and duration; and even at this mo-
ment of writing, on the 7th instant at IL D. M, a
short but motion made the Inhabitants rush
out of their houses.
"The houses in the port, where the greatest part
of the commercial establishments keep their Of
fees, have, comparatively speaking, suffered but
little, being built on solid rocky foundations and
we can only hear of of General Herrera's
houses, occupied by Messrs. Gibbs s. Co.. being in
dangerous state. The custom house has suffered
little; some slight constructed outward ornaments
having been demolished, and part of the roof hav-
ing been carried along with it, The consequent
heavy rain, however, on the 4th instant, has dam
aged number OF packages, the extent Of which
we have not ascertained. A few houses situated
on the top of the hill (Main Top) sailors resort
came tumbling down with crash.
In those parts, however, spreading along the
beach, the Almandrale, Gale Nueva, and others,
where the ground is loose and sandy, considerable
damage has been done, and above two hundred
houses are unfit for habitation More than two
hundred families have been obliged to pass the
first day and night in the streets, partly from fear
OF renewed shocks, partly from the danger attend
ing the stay in their houses
1.-The middle Of the streets was crowded, partic-
uarly with the female portion fthe city, until, in
the course OF the following day. tents and wooden
houses were erected in the Plaza de Victoria for
the houaeless. The captains of vessels of all ma
tons III the port placed Immediately their vessels
at the disposal Of all who wanted refuge, either
from necessity or fear and have since then receiv-
ed the thanks of the government for their hospital
ity, expressed in letter from the lntendente, Gen.
Blanco.
(" Much damage has been done to stores where
liquids, glassware, and other breakablc mate
rails are kept. We are happy to say not
single life has been lost, nor we hear of &C.
we're fracture. On the fourth instant, at twelve
O'Clock p. M, heavy rain set in, which lasted
unintcrruptedly for twelve hours, which cooled the
atmosphere considerably, but destroyed still more
compelling those who had taken refuge in the
plaza, and were living in tents, to leave and seek
shelter in the theatre, with friends in the port.
The loss is generally estimated including the DAM
age done to buildings, at one million of dollars.
1.-The principal public buildings which have suf-
fercd are the Addana, the churches MERGED and
Martz, the cartel of the national guard, the hospi-
tai, and the Temple st. Domingo.
''Thc scarcity of houses 80 much felt before the
earthquake by the fast increasing population of our
city, has now reached the highest degree.
"Businees has only been interrupted for day,
the custom-house having been closed by order of
the Intendentc
"Casa Blanca, as well as Quilleta, have suffered
severely, and in some parts in the latter places, as
well as in the capital, the ground has opened and
thrown up quantity of hot water.
s'The damage done in Santiago is similar to that
In Valparaiso, with the exception that there being
larger number ofpublc buildings in the capital,
the pecuniary loss must be severer
'Thc principal public buildings more or less
damaged are the mint, splendid new building in
excellency President Buldes, the cathedral, and.
several other buildings