The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-09-15

THE EAhfHauAKE IN soufa AMERICA. -
The following additional particulars of this
earthquake in South America are given in d
communication to the New York Evening
Telegram:
On the 18th ultimo a terrible earthquake
visited the cities along the southern portion Of
Peru A rumbling sound preceded the earth
quake, and was succeeded by rocking motion
of the earth which warned the inhabitants of
their danger. All along the southern coast
the sea was terribly a2itated, causing the ships
to drag their anchors, and flooding the land
for some distance. The wildness of this scene
of destruction has never been equalled. Are
quipa, a city OF $4,000 inhabitants, its houses
built solidly OF granite, has passed away,
scarcely vestige being lett. The strength of
the houses being so great as to resist the shock
for a time, many of the people were enabled
to escape, but 400 are said to have perished in
the rains. The town of africa, Containing
10000 inhabitants, was also DESTROYED. NOT q
house being left standing. Here, as before,
the strength OF the houses gave many of the
people time to escape, 500 only being engulph-
ed and killed in the ruins. The water rose TO
such height that a tidal wave forty feet high
rolled with terrific roll and resistless fury
upon the ships in the harbOr and precipt ted
them on the main land. far beyond any point
ever before reached by sea. The United States
storeship Fredona was capsized and all on
board were lost. The Fredonia had on board
81 100000 worth of naval stores. The vessel
was rolled over and crushed to atoms by the
advancing tidal waves, and all on board were
thus drowned before she was released from the
grasp of the sea. The United States steamer
Wateree was carried fully half mile inland
and lett high and dry, only one sailor of her
crew being drowned. The injuries to the YES
sci were comparatively slight but from the
great distance she was carried inland il will be
found impossible ever to get her afloat again.
The Peruvian corvette America was also car
| red ashore in the same position as the Wa
| teree. Her loss was three officers and thirty
sailors and marines. The American mer-
| chairman Rosa Rivera, the English ship
| Chancellor, and the French bark Eduardo,
| were all lost. The towns of Iquique, Moaue-
| qua, Locumba and Pequica were also utterly
| destroyed. Over 800 persons were drowned in
| the destruction of Iquique, and many persons
were pershing for want of water. The gov
| eminent estimates the damage done to cities
and private property at three hundred millions
of dollars The total number of lives lost by
| this shocking eventshas been estimated at over
| 10000 Money and aid have already been dis
| patched to the scene of the calamity and a
subscription has been opened in Lima, while
| citizens are engaged in baking bread and send
| ing it free to the ruined people. American
| merchants doing business in this section have
lost heavily, most of them being totally ruined.
In addition to the fearful calamities above
reported, intelligence has been received of
/
| Ecuador. On the 10th ultimo in the provin-
ces OF Pachincha aud Imbarana, tremendous
/ earthquake, unequalled in the history of Ec-
/ uador, occurred. The towns of Ibarra, capital
OF the province of Tmbabara, San Pablo, At
| untaqui. and Imantad, are in ruins Where
i Catacachi formerly stood is now lake. The
| populations of Ibarra, o tovala and Catacachi
| are almost entirely destroyed Towns adjoin-
ing Quito, as Parucho, Puellaro and Cachigu-
anjo, have been also entirely destroyed. The
number of deaths in Quito has been small, but
in other towns it is calculated that not less
than 10000 pers ms have been killed. The
dead are SO numerous that the surviving in,
habitants have been forced to fly from the
stencil of putrefying bodies. s's'Aif"
Ii. Guayaquil the earthquake was felt at va
rious times between the 18th and 18th nltmo
but did no damage. From Quito it is learned
that the total loss Of life has been estimated at
10000. Letters from Quito, dated the 18th III
| timo, announced that the earthquakes contin-
ued at intervals OF few hours. 1t has been
impossible, as yet, to arrive at any plausible
conclusion as to the causes of the terrible phe.
nomenon. Some attribute it to the volcano OF
Agnalongo, and others to Cayamba. The
president has issued proclamation to the peo-
pie to come forward and help the sufferers.