The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-14
Further Details of the Disaster.
Total Destruction Of the Cities Of
Arequipa, africa, and Iquique
Thousands of Lives Lost
Immense Destruction
Of Property.
Etc, Etc, ETC., Etc, Etc, Etc,

in South America, given on our inside pages, we
have the following later reports of the terrible
catastrophe.
The New York Tribune's correspondent writes
as follows from Panama, september A.
About s o'clock in the afternoon of the 18th
ult., in the most mountainous part of the coun-
try back of AFRICA, seaport town OF Peru, with
a population of about 10000, sensation was
experienced like the collision of two heavy
masses, and from this point radiated north and
south to the distances have already indicated,
with consequences as terrible as they were inn
mediate. Three undulations OF the earth follow
this unseen convulsiou OF nature, and each
undulation was accompanied by tidal wave
the second of greater lateral extent than the
first, and the third greater than the second.
Before proceeding to give any account OF the
disaster in other places, IT may be well to relate
all that have been able to gather OF the char
acter and extent of the catastrophe at AREA.
gentleman who was at that place when the
disaster occurred gives vivid description of the
scene. he says:-
The hour was that when by custom most Of
the inhabitants had just closed their daily labors
and were at their homes. The instant the start
ling indications of an earthquake were felt
there was general rush for uncovered spaces,
which were reached by many uninjured; but
not by ALL The streets became a scene of
terror. All the houses in the city trembled like
person affected with the ague. Then they
surged, and some of them fell to pieces with
crash after crash. At this 1uncture, when the
undulations were active, the earth opened in
several places in long and almost regular lines.
The assures were from one to three inches in
width. The sensation was distinct as though
something was rolling underneath. From every
issure there belched forth dry earth like dust,
which was followed by sitting gas. Owing
to the demolition Of buildings and the general
destruction OF all kinds OF property, and the dust
belched forth as we'll as that set in motion by
the general tumult, a dense cloud was formed
over the city and obscured the light. Beneath
the cloud was the gas, which severely oppressed
N,,lI kaxr tA1
all these it had fingered longer stationary than
it did, which was only about 80 seconds. The
undulations were three in number. Each sue
ceediDg one was OF greater magnitude than the
former. When the undulatons ceased, the cloud
of dust ascended and dispersed, and light was
restored. Then quakes at short intervals sue
ceeded, as though subterranean explosions or
collisions were taking place. AZ thls time people
stones and timbers, which descended from sway
ing walls and broadly-rent buildings, just on the
eve of crumblng into perfect ruin. Some were
struck down dead by the falling materials, and
others were manned, while all were made TO
stagger from side to side like people in state
of intoxicatioD. Many OF both sexes carried
children in tneir arms, and those who had not
these carried articles of value. The avarice of
some was stronger than fear, even amid this
terrible confusion and hence there were those
who dallied to collect valuables, many OF whom
suffered for their temerity, either by the
sacrifice of their lives or other wise AS the rush
for the hills continued, and stones and materials
of all kinds were falling, and houses and
parts of these were crashing, numerous people
we're struck down and either killed or danger.
ously hurt. The water in the harbor was now
recediDg from the shore, carrying with 1t all the
shipping at Tapi speed. Then the current
changed. and before an almost overhanging,
tremendous wave, the vessels came back, tossed
one way and then another, or whirled about as
thoueh they were only floating logs, and on the
very summit of this immense volume OF water
rode the United STATES steamer Wateree. The
l.. la rlAl asx.oE fhA ckr pnAln
pier, and shattered it all to pieces, then swept
from it's path what was standing Of the Custom
House, and almost every vestige or the ruins
OF other buildings. 1t rolled over the
already destroyed houses of the city, and
set o myriad of articles afoat which eddied in
every direction, while at the same time the ves-
sells and floating materials we're forced ahead OF
the waves at this time curling and foaming sum-
nit. Everything which it encountered in its
course was swept away in an instant. Even
great masses of stone We're rolled over and over.
When the force of the wave was spent, 1t itretired,
and In short time the equilibrium OF the water
was restored, and then it occupied about the
same line, and presented pearly the same ap.
pearance as it did before the earthquake. The
vessels carried inland were terrible sight Tne
most OF them were bottom upward. Their masts
had been snapped like sticks. All this dreadful
picture the refugees on the hills were now be-
holding. Many of them did so with the most
marked evidences OF fsar because quaRGes
intervals. The Wateree was grounded
inland at quarter of mile from
the beach, on the line of railroad. As far as
heard from only one life was lost on board.
Near the Wateree, a Peruvian war vessel was
also grounded, and so gently that none OF Its
rigging nor any of its timbers were impairel
On board the Peruvian war steamer America,
which is total wreck, 80 lives were reported TO
have been lost. The United States storeship
Fredonla was upset, and all her crew except
three drowned. according to report. Those who
escaped were the capt ain, surgeon, and pay
master, who were on shore when the earthquake
occurred, aud sought refuge on the hills. A
British vessel, called the Chanarcillo, lost
United States brig, name unknown, was
foundered with all on board. The vessel, 1t
is reported, was laden with guano. The rest
Of the shipping destroyed were South American
coasters. The fatal casualties in the city were
about so and the other casualties about 100.
The total loss on shipboard was about 300. prin-
cipally fatal. The refugees remained on the
fered greatly for food; at the same time the
quakes continued as before, at intervals. In
time their suferings became so intense that the
males had TO 90 in search OF food, a limited
quantity of which they found in a damaged
condition, and with this they suCcored their
families. The second morning after the earth
quake, light draught coasling vessel entered
the haIbor, but did not remain long at anchor.
As soon as the captain became aware OF what
had happened, he took on board a number of
people, and left with them for Callao; thence
one OF the parties got to Panama.
The following ships OF war and merchantmen
were in the harbor at the time:-United States
dOnble-ender Wateree, the Peruvian corvette
America, United States storeship Fredonia, Eng
llsh barque Chanarcillo, American ship Rosa
Rivera, French ship Eduardo. The Wateree is
hioh and dry a nnaFtQr Of a m ila IN tha