The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-16

Letters received in New York from Lima,
Peru, give additional details of the recent dis
astrous earthquake and its effects.
On the 18th ult:mo terrible earthquake
visited the cities along the coast OF Peru and
Ecuador, whereby thirty-two thousand lives
we're lost and property valued at three hun
dred millions OF dollars destroyed. Rumphng
sounds preceded the earthquake; the sea Was
grest distance. AreGuipa, city OF thlrty-hye
thousand inhabitants, was washed away, and
scarcely vestige remains. Only four hundred
lives were lost here. africa, q town of twelve
thousand inhabitants, was also destroyed,
leaving not house standing. Five hundred
perished here. The tidal wave, which was
forty feet high, rolled with terrific roar on
sh"re, carrying ships further on land than
ever before known. The American merchant
man Rosa Rivers, the English ship Chancel-
lor. and the French bark Eduardo were lost.
The towns Of Iquique, Moquega, Locumbia
and Pisaqua we're entirely DESTROYED. Over slx
hundred perished at Iquique. The American
merchants lost heavilY-nearly all-and are
totally ruined. The towns of lbarra, Sen Pablo,
AtuntaQui and Imantad are in ruins. Where
Coatacheachi formerly stood ID now lake.
The population Of the above named towns we're
almost entirely swept away. Panoho Puellaro
and Cach1quanjo were also destroyed. Ihe
dead are so numerous that the surviving in
habitants have been forced to fly from the
stencil OF their purifying bodies.
The earthquake commenced at half past five
o'clock on the 18th OF August, extending from
Bolivia to the southern ports Of Chill. The
coast, and over o hundred miles inland, with
the towns and cities mentioned in the idls-
patches of last night, were literally ruined.
ALI the bulldogs which were not de 'troyed
by its ravages were 80 badly injured as to re-
ouire demolition for prudential reasons. All
the public edidces in africa were destroyed, in
cludipg the custom-house. containing more
than four million dollars worth Of goods, all OF
which were lost.
The loss Of the United States storeship Fre-
donia, and the landing Of the Wateree are de-
scribed as follows: They were both at anchor
in the harbor Of africa, near each other. Alter
the first shock had occurred OIL land, wLlch
created great CONSERVATION OF both vessels,
DIR, Dubois, the surgeon Vi the Fredonla, and
the paymaster of that vessel, took boat and
went on shore to inquire for tbs welfare OF
friends, aud to offer the services OF the ship.
In few moments after leaving the vessel
great upheaving OF the waters in the bay COM
menced. and the Fredonia, parting her chains,
was dashed .ibout at the mercy Of the waves,
and finally went to pieces on the reel. Nothing
of the vessel was saved. Her officers and
crew, twenty.seven in number, were lost, aud
also Mrs. Dyer. the wife OF the lieutenant COM
mandlug. The officers names:were Lieutenant
B. Dyer: David Organ, master; s. Lunt, secre-
tary to commander; and j. O. Cron well, pay
masters clerk. The vessel had nearly two
| millions OF dollars worth OF naval stores on
board, all O. which Was totally loet.
The Wateree was more securely anchored,
| but dragged her anchors, and the great tidal
wave swept her tour hundred and fifty yards
inland, about two miles north Of the ruined
town. She now lies between two hillocks Of
sand, very slightly injured and it will be ut
| terly imposslb to e1tricate her, and Admiral
| Turner is only hopeful Of saving her battery
| and stores. Only one sailor was washed over
board and drowned Lieutenant johnson, OF
the Wateree. was ashore at tie time. and while
carving his wife in his arms to some place OF
safety, she was struck by portion Of o falling
building and ins. anty killed. The Peruvian
| corvette American shared the same fate as
the Wateree. She lost three officers and thirty
men.
A letter from africa, dated August %, says
two other vessels-the brig Chancellor and the
bark Eduardo-are also high and dry, the for
mer losing eight men.
The scene beggars description; railroad rails,
cars, machinery, gun carriages, household fur
niture, barrels, dead animals aud muLllated
| corpses, are lying about IN confusion. The
| CITY numb red seven thousand inhabitants.
and it's multitudes stand hopelessly beggared
| on the beach. Three hu Idred lives were lost.
A conAagration burned nearly all that was not
demolished by the earthquake, and drunken
! rabbe robbed AMI despo led wuat remained.
Heavy cannon were carried way up from the
island battery, and now liz buried in tho sand
on shore. The stencn is sickening.
At Lima there va, not much damage done
although the shocks lasted some four minutes,
creati e the utmost CONSERVATION among tue
inhabitants, who fled to tue open plains where
they besought protection from the Alml ghty
The merchants and citizens OF Lin. are con.
tributine by thousands OF dollars to equip anc
load vessels with clothing and provisions, ant
| the government is most energeti :allY using nj
its means to alleviate the dIstrots cntaied BY
the horrible catastrophe. The Congress o. PERT
| has unanimously passed resolution giving
the President unlimited power to succor tht
inhabitants Of the southern coast. The Presl
dent has issued proclamation and the Arch