The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1864-02-10
The Terrible Catastrophe in Santiago.
From the Palris Of Valparaiso, Dec. ls.


We write under the shadow of distress.
ing public calamity. On the 9Th inst. a
fire occurred in Santiago, the fatal results
of which are without parallel in the histo.
,ry Of the nation. Two thousand persons.
for the most part females, were burned 10
death within an hour.
This horrifying event occurred in the
church called the Compania, from its once
having belonged 10 the Company of Jesus.
the Jesuits. The sth inst. was the festival
10 honor Of the Immaculate Conce ptisn Of
the Virgin Mary. and the evening was set
apart for the climax Of the ceremonial. Al
an early hour in Tie afternoon the audi
.nce began TO assemble, and in such mum.
hers that before dark persons had 10 return
hume. unable TO obtain room within doors.
short time after half past seven the illu
limitations were lighted. The spirndor Of
The pageant may be estimated from the
tact that there were twenty Thousand
lights. Of these. i've thousand were para.
Phrne lamps. one Of which exploded, and
the calamity 50 universally deplored then
ensued.
Il Is reported that the FIRE commenced
ina transparency that Represented the half
moon connected With the pedestal OF ,he
Virgin aud. as the building was covered
with decorations composed Of tissue. pauze
aud painted canvass. the flames spread with
lnconceIsable rspidiiy over the face of the
grand altar. mounting 10 the serv rhof.
During these moments the scene in the bo.
dy o. the church was one Of panic stricken
horror that csmpleiely battles asd de6es all
attempts al description. Ir an instant the
crowded assembly was overwhelmed with
epnsternatioa. Those in the cea,re per.
eeived the progress Of the flames Grst.
~hIle those neares the doors, hoping the
hre would be extinguished, were unwilling
to risk losing their places. The conse-
quence was that those from the centre.
rushing 10 The doors, came in mass upon
iisse near the doorways while vet seated
" kueeling on the fnor. The latter were
unable TO rise IN consequence. the former
Tell over them. the next behind fell ON
these, and so on. until about the doors
wall Of human bodies. entspgl,d in one.
ano'Aet's dresses. completely checked %
every svense OF escape into the street.
The paraphens lamps tell from aloft, dis
charging their inhamInsble conients on the
'll-tstsd victims. wrsppiug thrm in an in
slant 10 hameG II 10 doubted if one in
ten escaped; aud Of those Who did the NEST
part were so burasd or otherwise injured
that death has since ensued.
Persons in the steeet report thar oyer
the barricade Of bodirs within the door,
ways they could see Individuals in the cen
ire Of The church running hither aud ,hi,h.
er amid the flames, while il was i'm.
possible 10 render them the slightest as-
sistance-nay, that il was ont OF the ques.
tlon TO extrlcateeyen those who we're near
the doors. THIS at distance seems quite
'nesPlieable; bot from the energetic cha
rseter OF some who sopght 70 render the
s1nsrers aid we are sure 1t must have been
out Of the question. or il would have been
done. -, -s
Al the end OF an hour the Jury of-the
csnaagratisn had passed. and then Of all
mat immense number Of persons for whom
escape bad been impossible. not soul Sur.
'sed. The lbelfry had fallen, and so lad
much 81 the roof, while the walls were
standing. And now imaginatisn fails to
sepict the horrors of the occasion. Whers
Js1 before had been gathered the elite Of
tue city. the female portion sf the most re-
nsed families Of the land. netting renain.
g su' i'feless bodies blackened and char
-. ,sa 10 oeath some piled up in all imsgina-
s'e emission, some In rows yet kneeling,
seme win the heads burned Of. sthers ~ith
nmps consumed ,while the rest Of the bod
ssa net suffered ,svea lesisn.
ane m:sons aad naidens, their servants|
and children, had psrished in coumsn|
10 some heusss not \ ssul eturnsd