The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-26
South American Disasters.

(RrOm the London Telegraph. Sept. ia
Meanwhile We shall await further details
OF this disaster Peru and Ecuador are "a long
way or" earthquakes rare in Great Britain and
Ii natural enough that the death of the thirty
deeper impression than the reported e desrcton Of
many thousands In South America BE this as it
may, however, there cannot be doubt that assur-
ances OF sympathy and promises OF help, far Ii
Ia really needed will be almost Immediately forth
coming. In such cause all mankind should have a
common interest and that interest should naturally
be the more lively and intelligent among those ma
lions which lead tho march OF civilizatiOn-whch
having more to enjoy in security and comfort are
better able to appreciate the calamity that has cast
two States INTO mourning.
From the London STAR Sept. 1871
Until we receive fuller details we cannot
estimate the effect of the disaster upon what may be
called the commercial power of the two countries
involved. With both we do large trade, and we
fear that many English families may have to mourn
the loss Of relatives very large amount OF Eng
lsh capital is invested in Peru and in the chief COM
mercial province OF Ecuador The name OF the
Chincha Islands Is az Familiarity known in farmhOuses
as on the Exchange and any large destruction OF
property which might cripple the service of the ISL
ands Mould De seriously felt BY all enerprisng and
would, OF course, be insignificant indeed If the de-
tailed accounts should subsantate the fearful loss
OF life which is Swallowed forth in the kilograms
We cling to the hope that we have heard the first
and therefore, as is almost invariably the case, exag
gerated accounts.
[From the London Post, Sept al
thrill of horror VIII pervade the country to-day
when IL becomes known that most fearful earth
beings and overturning numerous towns. occurred
at Peru and Ecuador on the 18th to 10th August.
Earthquakes at all times invested with peculiar
and terrible INTEREST," the suddenness Of the calamity
the number OF the victims and the completeness OF
their mysterious disappearance, all combine to rem
der this description Of visitation perhaps the most
sswe-nspiringg Of any to which humanity is la
from the London Times, Sept. 14l
AT the same time that 1t Is impossible TO
think without shudderlng of the frightrul death
which has fallen upon SO many of our fellow beings
aud OF the desOation Of their homeless survivors, we
must endeayor to draw such sad consolation as we
can from the reflection that the frequency itself OF
the terrible scourge has tendency to deprive 1t of
its greatest terrors In those regions where more or
less sensible agitation OF the earth Is phenomenon
OF almost daily occurrence. II would seem the most
cruel Of mockeries to say that either Peruvians or
Chileans, or Caabrans and Sicilans end by getting
accustomed to earthquakes. But the aptness OF a
merciful Providence to 'temper the wind to the
sh0rn lamb" is even here perceptible. Nowhere bet
ter than in those tropical or temperate climates
would the camping out OF whole hOuseless pOpula.
ton be attended with less disastrous consequences
and i0veltest scenes, In the midst of the greatest
charms OF land and sea could that strong feeling OF
local patriotism spring up which makes man cling
animal, Instinct to treacherous soil which seems
ready at every moment to slip from beneath his feet
The vlager OF Resna or Portici builds his cottage
"p6n ruins nj, under which generations Of other
soil of the New world-in Peru and Chile
nothing is more common than for the inhabitants
bish under which their Told cityn lies buried Man
builds up and the earthquake pulls down. and the
game goes on with the same recklessness and with
the same perseverance with which child constructs
ana another blows down castle Of cards. 1t IL in
The nature Of man to make the best OF the worst and
mere are districts In this worst of worlds in which
nan couid nardly have chance OF closing his eyes
Hess habit taught him to suffer the earthquake to
'Ock hun TO sleep.