The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-10-23
Scenes Dsrtss the EsrsAssske, ss Artes,
Psrs. :

Tho following aecoun, Of the des,r,c.
ton o. tho Frcdonia storeship q, Arics,
Peru, and Of the effect Of tho ,i,l., v.ve.
following the earthquake q, ,ha, place, In
carrying the steamer Waterce two miles in |
land, 10 given by ono who was wi,nes, Of
the events lie narrutes:
I" "At two bells-5 o'cloek-on the amer.
noon Of Aug. -, tho officers and crow orI
tho Wateree, then lying at anchor about q
halt mile from the mole, were startled by q |
rushing sound like the roaring oi dis.
tant cataract. Some on board had expe.
rienced the like before, and the astounding
intelligence was ut once heralded foro and
AFT that un earthquake was Imminent. Pres-
emily second shock, moro distinct than
the first, and rutatory In its nature, made
itself felt in every timber from stem to
stern. The horrid truth was apparent TO
all, and, ns ''self preservation 10 the 6rst
law of nature" every one became anxious
for his own safety. All hands wcre called,
and the utmost CONSERVATION was visible
in erery coun,cnance; but the confusion
and dismny to be expected In such an
emergency was happily kept IN abeyanee
by tho calm energy Of tho executive othcer
who rose superior to these awful circum.
stances, and communicated something of
his own sterling inlrcpiditv to every man
on board. Both anchors were let 60, and
every fathom Of the chain run out. Life
lines were made fast about the decks, and
the men Of the ships company wero or.
dered TO secure themselves In every posi-
bic manner. Capt. Giliss ordered his gig
to be called awny at once, and wns imme.
diately pulled ashore. The explanation
subsequently given for this proceeding, he.
forc special court Of inquiry, held on
board the flag-ship Powhaisn, was tho DC.
sire on the pam OF Capt. Gilliss to look n.
ter the personal security, Of Mrs. Johnson
wife OF tho sailing master. ..... --.-
The surface Of the wafer, hitherto un:
ruffied, now became violently ugituted, ana
the waters wers lashed into the widest
continuous aud gradually moro fqrcib'e.
The momentary agitation Of the, sea was
succeeded by sudden recoil Of the whole
vast body Of wafer from the shore. The
returning tidal wavo came rolling on like a
devouring fernl, with force sufficient TO
overurn q mountain. il was o spectacle
combining tho terrific and sublime. ;
The Fredonia fell to pieces like rope ol
sand, and her rl,s and boots and spap and
crew were hurled into one mass Of wild COP.
fusion agnipst tho neighboring shora. Mapy
orthe crew Of this faied ship sought safety
by cIambering. .ip,o tho tops. no With one
fell crash the foremast was snapped In
twain and tho luckiess topinen were Gu
gulphcd iu tho wild maelstrorn. The beat
en- shore, istrewn with dead bodies and the
elements Of tho wreck, indicated alone that
such ship had once existed. The Cnp-
tain, Paymastcr. Surgeon, and two OF The
crew had previously gone on shoro, and
thus narrowly escaped. sy
Tho Wateree, compact and trustworthy,
by the superior management OF the officer
then In command, was kept with her head
to The zen. She dragged both her an.
chos many times her own length, and
at each successive return Of tho sea was
propelled further on shore. Her crew.
clung TO the life.lines and rigging, and en-.
terained high hope as long as the good
ship stuck together. but the boats were all
oWCpk uWuy " OuO odsUS SouSpsOsSsy
shattered. At one time she was in danger
Of being hurled against the rocky base Of
the fort. .... go.
Providentially she met each Successive
aow and. recoil Of the sea, and after eleven
Of these tidal waves had rolled In awful
majesty, her position was at least two
English miles inland from high water mark.
How we'll she underwent this trying ordeal
is quite astonisliing.
The only person lost belonging to the
Wateree was the boatkeeper Of the gig. He
was Seotchman named Tait. who, inl
this last liGe.scene displayed the native he.
roism of his race. The frail craft and iis
sole occupant were carried out on the crest
Of the first tidal wave, and thrown back to
shore again with the returning foam Of the
liquid mountain. The bold mariner saw ut
once anil seemed to be fully aware Of his
impending doom. Seizing tho gigs ensign |
In his righ, hand, he stood for moment
erect In the stern sheets Of the boat, and
waved to his comrades last adieu. All
on board his ship looked at this trngic scene
with brea,hless melancholy interest. lie
continued to wave tie American fag In the
midst Of this elemental horror, but the
second rccoil Of the angry waters dashed
the gig to pieces, and swallowed The hardy
sailor, so that he was seen no more"