The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-13
YORK HERALD SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 49, SHEET

NEW 70
dred persons were drowned, and now people are
perishing from thu. want OF water.
The damage Done is immense. The custom houses
OF quique a,ld africa have been totally ruined, and
more thar. eight million dollars worth OF property
destroy ed in them alone.
The loss of life IL estimated at one thousand eight
bV adred in all OF the points definitely heard from.
This morning an express has arrived nom the
great mineral province OF Huancavelica. and reports
that all OF the cities Of that department reduced
to shapeless mass. We are waiting anxiousy to
hear from the southern cities Of Puno and Cuzco
fo- the movement appeared to come from that drec-
ton. and in all probability they have suffered the
same horrible catastrophe.
The excitement In Lima on the receipt Of this
news was intense. Owing to the sparcty Of details
it almost impossible to form at first an idea con-
corning the damage and loss Of lfe hut the recent
| news has convinced US that the injury done to
property far exceeds that imagined, while the
Of lives lost is greatly under the estimate formed
at first. The news too, came hour after this city
had been electrified by the story Of terrible crime
committed in its limits One Of the bellies OF Lima,
Miss Carmen viduarri, the only daughter OF Chief
Justice OF the Superior Court, was assaulted In the
open street by one OF her servants who had made
dishonorabe advances to her, and had been
severely chastised in consequence by the father OF
the young lady. Miss Viduarri was stabbed twice
~ the ruan; but fortunately the steel bands OF her
corset prevented the inniction OF mortal wounds.
The woudbe murderer was apprehended and con-
veyed to prison. The young lady Is considered in
great danger not 80 much from the severity Of the
wounds as on account Of the fearful shock which
hnr NH
rally terrified Lima, and when an hour subse.
quentiy the story Of the earthquake arrived the
agitation was very great. Co. - ~a~~-
Mr.. Meiggs mas suffered considerably. The port
Of Mollendo, where the materials for his railway
were stored, was completely destroyed. and all the
rails, tools provisions, &C., deposited there thrown
into nextricable confusion and ruin by the advance
OF the sea. Nevertheless with his characteristic
generosity he has given $4,000 for the relief Of the
distressed. s--.sN-S-<asse ~. -~as> ~~~t<~---,-
The reports Of the condition Of the sufferers are
terrible. A famine is threatened and the govern
ment here as well as private mercantile houses, are
busy preparing to despatch vessels freighted with
all necessary articles. Admiral Turner, in the
United States flagship Powhatan, sails to-day for
africa to aid our unfortunate sailors there and has
generously offered to convey all the material posi-
BILE that the Peruvian government may wish to send.
The different guano companies have come forward
and subscribed 100000 to aid the sufferers. Con-
gress will soon make appropriations for the injured
and although the calamity Is terrible for the mo-
ment it will certainly give employment to many
persons who while idle only think Of plunging the
country into civil war and killing by powder and
ball those whose lives destined to be sacrificed
by higher and more fearful power.
On the 18th instant we also felt in Lima the most
severe earthquake experienced in Peru for eight
years. The duration Of the movement was about
three minutes and half and the shock, instead Of
following the usual vertical motion, appeared to be
lateral, and consequently was regarded as all the
more dangerous. The aspect Of the city during the
movement was truly exciting. Every one in Lima,
at the first coming Of the shock, always seeks the
protection Of an arch, the threshold Of door is
selected q safe refuge, and this occasion those
favored spots were speedily occupied. In an incred-
IDLY short space Of time the great public plaza was
filled with frightened men, women and children,
and, as If by common instinct, all assumed a sup
plant positon-every one on their Knees-and the
air resonant with the shrieks, lamentations
and petitions addressed principally to Heaven;
the houses shook visibly and the high
towers Of the cathedral swayed to and fro
like ships masts in storm. The great
length Of the shock particularly alarming; but
fortunately no damage took place in this city; but
revoutonized city, suffered terribly. The earth
quake was felt severely there and the people, re-
membering the great calamity Of 1853 fastened to
place themselves beyond the reach OF danger. At
ten O'Clock at night the sea commenced to become
agitated, and shortly after that hour q tremendous
wave burst the line OF houses edging the shore,
and in some cases completely Quilted them OF their
contents. The panic was extreme. Not one thought
was given to the preservation Of property; but all
endeavors were directed to personal safety. Yet no
lives were lost Throughout the night the sea con-
tinued thus, and the ships were swung in all drec-
tons by the force of the different currents Several
vessels collided. but no damage Of importance took
place. The men-ofwar and steamers left the dan.
gerous neighborhOod Of the bay and proceeded out
to sea, waiting for daylight and quiet
The next day passed quietly, but Caao was
doomed to suffer still greater misfortunes. During
The night IRE was discovered proceeding from no.
tel situated the centre OF the business portion of
the town. and despite the unremitting labors OF the
troops, police, fire engines sent from Lima and OF
the citizens, the connagration was not overcome
until fy-seven houses and stores had been utterly
destroyed and loss Of million and half Of hard
dollars inflicted upon the unfortunate victims.
Colonel Balta, with his Ministers, was soon at the
post OF danger directing and experimenting the
operations, and the fire companies, composed OF
French and Italian volunteers acted nObly. To
their exertons is due the salvation Of Callao, and
motion is to be introduced in Congress to make them
public testimonial OF the national gratitude. In
these occurrences no loss OF life took place.
One incident happened which Is well worth men,
tioning. and which clearly shows the spirit OF the
Peruvian soldiers. Two guards were stationed on
the MOLE and although when the immense wave was
seen approaching, and threatening death to all,
every person i'm the vicinity fed In terror these two
soldiers remained at their posts and though over
whelmed and bufeted by the water, still continued
impassaby performing their duty, waiting, as they
afterwards said. for relief.
The effect OF the earthquake along the immediate
southern and northern coasts has been very severe.
The Chnchas and the cities OF lea and Psco on the
a4ilaaont mainland MARA hannibal raIahlx