Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-10-02

In Tambo. priest, or a padre, as he rs
called. told the affrighted people not to
flee to the hills He would go down to the
sea. and he had power TO still the waters
The foolish people, 500 in number, bellev-
ing in his omnipotenee, gathered around
him in solemn procession, and followed
him to the sea but the voice of man, who
took upon himself the attributes of the Al
mighty, was not needed, and himself and
500 with him were drowned.
In Caldera, in Chill, the mole was des-
troyed. the railroad shops destroyed, and
the extensive foundries are total wreck.
Some singular escapes were met with. In
Iouinue. Mr.. Reider, well-known citizen,
was riding his horse, when the animal felt
fine rumbiing of the earth and refused to
move Trembling in every limb and I'M
manageable, he stood as if paralyzed, and
at that moment the ground, scarce fifteen
feet in front of HIM, opened, an immense
column of water and ashes came up to the
height of twenty feet, and the ground
as suddenly closed again. A gentleman,
his wife and children took a large launch
| or flatboat and succeeded in getting clear
of the falling houses, but an immense tidal
wave lifting the boat on its crest, took
them inland full three miles, behind the
/ church. and on the side hill, where they
were firmly embedded in the mud. Il large
piece of adobe struck the gentleman IN the
| face, breaking in his nose and stunning
him, but not killing him; but he and all
his family were saved AS l rode out on
| horseback to view the ruins of old Callao,
/ DESTROYED by an earthquake a century ago,
/ was shown an old piece of timber, which
was said to be part of mast and spars OF
an old Spanish frigate, carried inland two
I l.. .a IN of
/ to decay where / saw its rotten timbers ly-
/ ing. / did not believe this story probable,
and thought it a Spanish cdnndTd. But
am inclined to give it full credence now,
/ for the American gunboat Wateree lies
wedced between two trees on side hill IL
AFRICA. n mile and a half from the beach,
and full three miles from her anchorage. -
! This is a positive fact There has never
been such an earthquake in South Ameri
ca. Compared with this, the st. Thomas
catastrophe was of little Importance.
might go on for pages, multiplying casual
4 ties and telling of fresh disasters, but
/ forbear The people of Callao are greatly
alarmed meny are moving their families
/ to Lima, as Lima lies eight hundred feet
above the level of the sea, while Callao Is
situated below the level of the sea.
/ But as Lima has been subjected to about
eight shocks OF an earthquake IN year
1 and was very nearly left In ruins IN the
years 1880, 1857. 1746, 1906, and 1928, by
earthquakes, do not think they arc escap
I ing any great dangers. There is an old adj
age of a Saint, called 'SenOr Del Mar,
whichis believed by the people of Callao tC
have been the only thing found among the
ruins of old Callao in l746. They believe
this Saint has miraculous power TO avert
the danger of an earthquake III Callao, ano
since the horrible disasters down the coast
''Senor Del Mar, on high canopy, with
priests. incense, music and an immense
crowd of followers, has been twice brought
out in state and carried to the sea. With
prayers and chants and swinging censors,
1 he has blessed the sea, through his priests,
/ and been returned to his sacred niche III
/ the Church of Santa Rosa. But in this
/ earthquake that has been all around us
I Callao and Lima have, indeed so far, most
wonderfully escaped. 1t is said that in the
destruction of old Callao one man was
saved. He was out fishing-his name was
Lorenzo. and he was thrown upon the isl
aud and mountain which the earthquake
threw up, and which was named for him,
San Lorenzo" He alone was left to tell
the story. Although this never seemed
probable, yet who can doubt 1t now
that so many as strange and startling Incl
I dents have transpired in connection with
the fearful earthquake of Aug. IA, 1868
Nothing seems too horrible for cTedence
now.