The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-01-22
Terrible Tragedy in Chill !!
$500 Persons Roasted i'm a Church!

Nothing more shocking than the catastro-
phe which occurred in the Jesuit church at
Santiago, Chill, on the evening OF the Sth'
has for long time startled the world. The
order Of the daughters of Mary were GEL
ebrating the anniversary of the immaculate
conception by grand religious ceremonies;
the church was brilliantly decorated and IL
Illuminated, and crowded with nearly three
thousand eager devotees, chiefly women and
including most of the elite of the city. We
quote from letter to the New York Times ::
This year. determined to outshine all for
mer exhibitions, the curate, Ugarte, made
arrangements to adorn the church with gar
lands of flowers, colossal statues, and with
an unprecedented number of lights. He was
vainly demonstrated with by the archbishop
and others in authority, who reluctantly gave
their consent to the display. The church
was filled with the devout all day, and tow
ards nightfall continuous stream of human
beings, almost exclusively women, poured
into the church until every avenue was denseiy
packed, and the steps of the church and far
out into the plaza were filled with hushed
! and kne.ling crowd. The doors were
| then all closed, save the main entrance, for
the double purpose of preventing the confu-
sion occasoned by late corners and OF max
ing the voice of the preacher more distinctly
heard At little before seven, the assistants
began lighting up the church and were just
finishing the grand altar, the rest of the
building being fully Illuminated with thous-
anGs Of lamps, most Of them of parsfins Oil,
when from transpal ent crescent, at the
foot of the statue of the Virgin, burst forth
let of fame. The attendant endeavored to
exlinguish it with his poncho, hut the inham-
mable liquid penetrated the fabric and only
increased the danger. In moment the
flames darted up the garlands of artificial
caught fire and the lamps suspended from
the roof by strings dropped and exploded
among the densely packed mass of women
kneeling beneath. Darling along the wooden
ceiling, already heated to the dryness of tin
der. the flames ran like kissing serpents the
whole length of the church and rolled down
in huge pillows upon the compact crowd,
that had inslinctiveiy sought the main en-
trance.
During the first few moments of surprise
and terror shrieks Of sorrow for the destruc-
ton of their beloved church resounded
through the aisles of the building; but when,
rushing 20 the various outlets, al were found
closed save one, and that one impossible,
loud screams of horror burst from the de-
spairng multitude. For few moments the
heart piercing cries of perishing women were
increasing; they gradually grew fainter and
fainter. and soon al awful silence reigned
within that horrible furnace, broken only by
the angry roar Of the flames, or the crash Of
falling towers. Bv the iurid glare within
could be seen hundreds of human forms
some with faces elevated in PRAYER to Him
before whose throne they were rapidly has
;ening. others with eyes eagerly strained and
hands outstretched towards the outer air. I'M
o!oring that assistance that it was impossible
to give mothers claspins their little one.
close and seeking to shield the ddrlinss fron
The flames already blistering their own de-
spairins features; children cilnging il the
frenzy of despair to those who would have
gladly died for them, but could only die with
! them.
The news spread rapidly through the city
and, in an incredibly short space OF time, oul
minister Mr.. Nelson, DR.. Sil.ey, American
consul at Valpo, Henry Meiggs. and HI.
nephew Henry VI. Keith. W. Eaton, George
Cotton, {. L. Pearc-, and a number Of o,hel
Americans were upon the spot, he"ing dowr
doors and rushing into TIE flames to dras
out the few whose proximity to the door
n,
. Claudio Manterola Don Custodio Gale, ant
ID. Antonio Gallo, and number Of Chiiians
ais aided in the gsod work. but the malorit,
Of the by>tanders, paral yzeG by the ftarfu
: ,sht, stood aloof, while the foreigners, a
| the most imminent risk of LIFE, dragged on
the living. the manned and the dead unit
the falling tlmberS and rain of fire from
above extingulshed every hope OF saving an
+ other victim. TIE most hair-breadth ESCAPE
5 testified the hercisrn of these rn'le ,pirits
] who, uuappalled by the fearful scene within
, The church, never ceased their exertions un
Il il was but too e, ident that not one sou
5 remained alive Of ali that multitude
The criminal neglect to take the most ordi
o nary precautions against FIRE, or even alan IN
has been tearfuly atoled. OF the 5000 per
sons within the pile, but five or SIX hrndre,
: escaped. and most OF them wounded, scorche,
" and naked. The rest became wedged to
gether, and tainting with heat. terror AM
pressure lost the ability to help themselve
or second the efforts of those who riske,
n their lives to save them. II was ont, By al
q nest Superhuman effort that some few wer
{ dragged from the tightly packed mass of hu
hp1p hp har ,oI
and of those few, great majority only live
5 few hour.
g The rescuers, approaching too nearly ,ht
f., dense mass OF victims, were time and ags
seized by the outsire;chei hands of number.
and only saved by their own desperate strug
giles, aided by their companions from behind
a But who could withstand the imploring ses
t tures of those who, upon the very thre>ho
9 OF salvation, saw fearful and agonizin,
death swiftly approaching? Inside III
church, and within a few steps OF the mai
, door fronting upon the plaza, was a grou]
e of perhaps two hundred, from the white
4 haired and venerable woman to the infan
OF tender years. on the right hand knelt
beautiful girl of some seventeen wears, Il
/ yet untouched by the eager flames that pour
ed down from above, and by her side he
sister and mother locked In each other
arms, within the reach of those without, VIII
ever and anon dashed recklessy through tn
>corcbins doorway. and Intellectually grasps
the clothing or limbs Of iht nearest, With
q inc With terror, the horrible group swaye
n to ana fro, the weaker gradually sinking for
. ward and falling, Lever 70 rise again, Will
n the stronger battled With desperate energ
=. to reach them. But Ill Was in vain, AID i
/. an awfully brief space OF tine the wall c