Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-09-18

From The New York Herald, I3th.I
By the arrival of the steamship Guid
ing Star from AspiBWall, we have re-
celved full particulars Of the terrible
earthquake in Peru, Chile, Ecuador anC
along the west coast Of south America
on the 18th of August. The scenes de-
picted by our correspondents are Of the
most appalling character.
PRRU.
Eight Cities DestrOyed-Great loss Oi
Life Two American Men-oi-Nar A0sl
Report from the InteriOr-Lima anu
CaEsaO safe
LIMA, August p. 1865.
On the 18Th inst. this unfortunate
country vas visited by the most terrible
earthquake that ever has stricken horror
in meu's hearts. At hsifpsst five O'Clock
on taaJ dsy, in the cities il the southern
portion Of tie republic, q feGLful noise
was heard, which fortunately served Is
En alarm, and enabled many people to
dee 70 the nearest elevation. A few mo-
meE.s after the earth commenced 70
move visibly, and the motion continued
fer four or Eve minutes, when the shock
bscsms 50 severe as TO des-r buildings
Constructed Of the hssviest stone ana
cement.
All along the southern coast the sea
was teTTiHy sgits,ed First the waters
IN the dItf rent bays ana hsTOOrs rose 10
4 tremendous hignt and Immediately
following came an enormous tidal wave,
which, IN the ports not having suf1iGien,
elevation to resist the water, destroyed
the towns and carried the shipping, in
some cases, half a mile in shore, ana ieft
them high and dry On the mainland. Ii
he memory OF msn no earthquake 30
senerZl ana 50 devastating IN it, efie0ts
ms occurred, sud Lima, to-day, Is but al
sssemb!age OF teTToT-stTcken and weep
Ing people.
AIequipa hes ceased to exist. This
famous city, Of lhiT y-ive thousand in
h8b.tsnts, built Of the strongest granite
and Of the lava from the neighbOring
volcano, now Is u t1iEg OF the past. Il
hss absolutely been Teuuced 10 fragments.
The strength Of the buildings gave time
jOr the population 10 make buried es-
cape TO the bills and pIsins in the viCin-
ity, and the loss OF life Is estimated at
about three hundred. All Of the soldiers
in hospital, and the prisoners confined
an the jail were unable 70 flee, aud were
consequently crushed by the falling
MASSES. IIus has passed away the
town known IS Sighting ArEQuipa,n
rhe Virginia OF Peru and Ihe mother Of
A
felt in The capital, sincs the number o.
persons from the destroyed city 8, Jurn-
Eug IN Lima Is very great and in tue ex
element and terror o. the situation, the
names Of tie dead suG wounded nave
not been received her. Far more terri
ble hSs been the shock than that OF Lis
bon, many years ago, since this, IN place
Of destroying ODs city, has ruined many =
and has caused whole country 10 la
ment and mourn.
The town Of Aries, one OF the most
important ports OF the republic, is also
only 20 be remembered. This town,
which contained nezTiy twelve thousand
inhabitants, was visited 81 the same time
by the same terrible phenomenon, aud
not one house is Itfl standing. Here, a.
IN AregC.pa, the noise and PremouitOry
symptoms Of the eslamity gave the peO-
pie time 10 seek some place Of safety,
and Dy this providence only five hun
drGd lives we're lost.
The Gay russ ike a waterspoOt, the
vessels mOOTed there necessarily parting
their anchor chains, and then, as at ST.
Thomas q great tidal wave was formed,
which, forty feet bigh and rearing like
whlrlWiDu, precipitaUed ITSELF on the de-
voted ships and carried them far into the
mainland.
Tne United States stoTeship Fredonia
was cspsized, and lost in officers b. Dyer,
second HeuteDsnt; ID. Organ, master; J.
q. Cromweil, pnTsei clerk Mr. Stunt,
secretary TO Jhe commander, aud Mrs.
Dyer the wife Of the lieutenant, with
twenty seven sailoTs. The Fredonis had
nOaEiy 81 $40 COO worth OF nRvai stores
on board, which, Of course, were entirely
destroy ed. in fact the ship was broken I
into fragments before she reached the
land, and only those officers who were, (
fortunately for themselves, on shore were
saved
The Uliled States steamer Waterse,
COmmRHCer J. Il. Gillls, was carried Z
half mile OF land and, although not 1
seriously injured, Is considered by the (
captain IN hls official report ss lost TO toe 1
service, the difficulties OF getting her TO 4
the beach being almost insurmouniRble |
On this ship only one man, sailor. was 1
drowned. Lieutenant Commander john 4
son. OF tnis vessel was OF shore endeav-
OTing 70 save his wife and carrying her
in MS arms 70 some place Of securiLy, /
when sne was struck ty g portion Of s 4
fsliing building snd instantly killed.
Hhe PsruViAG corvette America was
carried on shore and Is much I'm the
same condition az the WsJegee. The
Amsrics lest her three chief officers 4
with thirty ssilors aud MARINES.
The American merchsntmsn Rosa
Rivers, the EugH-h ship ChRnarcIlO
and the Erench Ozark EQUsrde were to-
tally lost.
TIE great force Of the upheayiDg OF
the waters of the bay act tnese vessels
an sdrift, with the exception Of the VS.
Geree, sine dragging her anchors, snd for
seversl moments they were in ineessaut
collision.
As said before, sll the edifices in this
town were completely destroyed, and
them Was the Cus0omhouse, con-
tanning more than four millions OF dol
lars worth of goods, ali of which, of
course, RhaFed the same fate.
Commander Giliis, after the disaster,
eEdeavoTsd 10 supply the wants Of tie
people, literally dividing with them the
limited amount Of PROVISIONS at bis
sBd aiding the efforts of tbe
70 ameliOrate their condition.
HIS conduct is very highly spoken OF by j
the authorities, aud by his eXeTtiOns
many lives have been saved. DR.. Win I
slow, Of this ship, and DR.. Dubois, Of the
Fredoniai especially distiBguisht q them /
selves. 1
The towns Of Iquique, MoqueguR, Lo- l
cumba and P,sagUs are also reduced 70 :
ruins In the first named the rising OF ! 1
the sea destroyed more lives than did / !
the earthquake itseif st other points {
over six hundred persons were drowned, i
and low people are perlehing from the
want OF water. {
The damage done Is immense. The '
custom houses Of Iquique and AFRICA have !
been totally ruined, aud more than eight {
million dollars worth Of property de- I
5troyed In them alone.
The loss Of life is estimated at ore | G
thousand eight hundred IN all OF the {
points definitely heard from. 3
This morning an express hss arrived 3
rom the great mineral province of -Hu 4 I
and rep T that al of the i
'ities Of that department are reduced TO | [
. shspsless mass. We are waiting SIX q
iously to bear from the southern cities Of [