The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-05
THE EARTHQUAKES.

for Aid for tho Destitute.
The following correspondence Is published by
direction OF the Secretary OF State:-
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
LIMA, Peru, Sept. IA, 1868.
To the Hon. WILLIAM II. SEWARD, Secretary Of State
OF the United States:-
sIR-In my dispatches Nos. IA and l45 dated the
slight account OF the terrible earthquake which, on
the 18th ult, laid desoate large part OF Peru and
wow ,S ssn Se most auy proc pa
Of the republic OF Ecuador Is in ruins caused
by similar shock at half-past one O'Clock on the
morning OF the 18th OF the same month. This EARTH
quake seems to have had Its centre IN the province
OF lmbabura, near the volcano OF Ocanpo, about
with the adjoining haciendas and populations, are
said to have been destroyed, numbering from 40 600
to $4,000 Inhabitants The cities OF Otavato and
and 5000 inhabitants, and both situated on the
shores OF the Lake Mojanda, are said to have been
sites have become part Of the lake. The city Of
lbarra, with population Of thirteen thousand. Is
totally destroyed, about three thousand 1.-THE In
naDltantS escaping and the town OF Atunlaque Is lev
elled with the earth buryng all its inhabitants In Its
ruins. Nor Is the injury confined to the cities and
vince, the richest in Ecuador, growing sugar
and grain and producing large numbers OF
cattle and sheep have IT. were been swept out Of
the loss of life. but its walls and houses are de-
stroyed. The most OF the Inhabitants including the
English Charge d'Anares, Mr.. Hamilton, with his
large family were driven to the open square or
plaza in the centre OF the city, and he, more fortu-
nr Of We o Se 'b bes zens
are without shelter To heighten the gloom, de-
spOndency and misery OF all, the terrific thunder
force. and have literally deluged the whole country
The losses In Imbabura will cause great suffering in
Quito as nearly all the necessariss Of life for that
Of conveying food from Quay aqu will be very great
as the journey requires twelve days. severe travel,
with mules carrying small burdens over rugged and
preciplt0us mountains, deep gorges and narrow
passes. II relief in some form Is not speed given
many Of the sufferers win be compelled to reach the
seashore or perish. Extracts from private letters
and public documents published In the Lima journals
(see enclosures Nos. and 81, show the destruction
these shocks have almost ruined the republic OF
Ecuador: The mentioned representations have
been fully corrcborated BY the statements Of his
Ecuador In Peru. In Peru ALSO as l have
heretofore informed you, proud and rebellious
swept from the seashore, with but one solitary
house remaining, while the district and city OF Mo-
guegna with It's rich villages vineyards and hacen.
the earthquake in Peru taken place at night time,
it did in Ecuador, the loss Of life would have ex-
ceeded 100 900 souls. As 1t was that loss in Peru Is
less, but the loss OF property far greater.
Want, hunger and famine In these now unhappy
countries are stridng through all classes in the
midst OF the unbured dead, and general paralyza-
ton Of thought and action seems to peryade the
land. This IL, no doubt, caused by the continuous
shocks and the great fear OF other caanities
and, to add to the CONSERVATION OF the weak fearful
and helpless, robbers IN some localities are said TO
be sacking and pillagng everything within their
reach.
take great pride in informing you that Rear Adj
miral Thomas Turner, Captain McDouga,
manders James H. ellis, James s. Thornton, Austin
Pendergast and the other officers and crews of their
commands In our navy near the scenes OF danger
have done all that noble hearted brave sailors could
do to alleviate the sufferngs OF all within their
reach.
the generosity Of our country in days gone by has
Poland Hungary and Ireland, with no greater II not
far less claims for aid charity, have found that in
the United States there were feeling hearts and open
hands for those who deeply suffer- win not our
generous hearted countrymen add Peru and Ecuador
to their noble lstf Our government know, can do
earnestly urge and entreat that you appeal
to the good men OF our country to aid by
Let those who gave bread to starving Ireland repeat
their generosity and let the Protestant and Catholic
now join aud vie with each other in showing by their
works that the Christians creed means good will
and charity towards their fellow men; and let all
others who have heart that feel Tor the suffer-
ings OF their fellow beings aid by sending mite
from their riches to the hungry starving naked and
desolate people OF these two countries. Money,
clothing, food or any other necessares Of life would
be bread cast upon the waters; but the supplies 10
do good must come quickly The people are too
much terror stricken TO act with vigor and the gov
ernmonts OF Peru and Ecuador cannot now give the
aid the necessities OF the people imperativey de-
mand.
have the honor to be your obedient servant
ALVIN p. HOvEY.
Secretary Stewards Reply To Minister H0vey.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 1868.
ALVIN p: HovEY, ESQ.,, &c, Lima
Your despatch OF the 14th September has been re-
ceived. II contains very full and careful account
OF the devastations which produced In the re-
public OF Eucador by the terrible earthquake OF the
to the painful narrative sincerely hope shps Il may
excite not only the symDathies but the active charity
Of all the civilized nations Your o6edent servant,
Additional Particulars OF the Effects Of the
Earthquake in Bolivia.
correspondence from La Paz dated August o.
states that the news Of the destruction OF AFRICA
reached that capital the 22d by express. 1t also
states that the CONFUSION was felt at La Paz on
August 10, at half-past i've p. M. Nearly the whole
population was made sick, like when at sea. The
movement OF the earth slow and oscillatlug, 20
that the chandeliers OF the parlors caught in each
other. The people attribute the quake to
volcanic eruption, and all the travellers Just
arrived state that only a few minutes pre-
vious to the shock they noted that the heavens
were lit up with reddish glare.
The city OF La Paz Is situate on the east side OF
the Andes range in the republic OF Bolivia, and at
an elevation OF IL 22e feet above the sea. IL has
population OF about 1000. The city of Arequip in
Peru is situate In the latitude with La Paz but
on the west side OF the mountain range. and at an
elevation OF 1900 feet above the level 1t Will
be remembered that the shocks pegan at four
minutes past five in Arevuipa and at half
past five In La Paz As all the data thus far gathered
point to that portion OF the Andes lying between the
sixteenth and eighteenth parallels OF south latitude
the centre OF the CONFUSION, IL would be well to
know in what direction the shocks were felt at La
Paz. In Arequpa they were from south to north and
at Tacna from east to west.
letter from Cosaplla states that the shocks were
felt there on August 10 at p NJ, with far greater
force than on the 18th. In consequence OF the late
shocks all the buildings In the town were thrown
to the ground The same thing took place In Cura-
guara de Carangas, which is situate thirty leagues
more towards the interior than C0sapa and In the
direction Of 0ruro. Az no noticeable shock was felt
on August TO- In Tacna. Peru, situate almost In the
same latitude as the places referred to above the
phenomenon has attracted attention. We present
the mater as datum FOR the savants to use.
The roads from Peru to the capital OF Bolivia are
In horrid state owing TO the immense quantities OF
rocks, mud, lava and water cast from the noun
tains.
The Convulsion In Peru.
Al Iqulque alone nearly 5000 tons OF saltpetre
were destroyed by the sea bore, leaving stock on
hand Of ABOUT 1900 TONS The exports OF the article
up to July 81 amounted 10 5000 TONS OF which