Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1868-09-19
EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTH
AMERICA 4!


The following account of this terrible tatas-
trophe is condensed from correspondence Of the
n. Y. Tribune, which are found to be more cir
cumstantial and readable than any we have
met with
The most terrible earthquake that ever oc-
CURED on the coast of Sonth America took
place on the 18th ult Its effects were expert
1 enced at many points northward from AFRICA TO
Callao, a distance of about $50 snlles, and
southwark to Cobija, a distance OF about 2SO
miles,
africa is the central point from which the ef-
fects of the disaster must be traced 1t is a
seaport town of Peru, with population of a.
bout $4,000. About o'clock in the afternoon,
in the most mountainous part of the country
back of AFRICA, a sensation was experienced
like the collision of two heavy masses, and
from this point radiated north and south to the
distances have already indicated, with con-
sequences as terrible as they were immediate,
Three undulations of the earth followed this
unseen convulsion of nature, and each undu-
lation was accompanied by a tidal wave-the
second of greater lateral extent than the first,
and the third greater than the second. A gen
tleman who was at that place when the disas-
ter occurred gives vivid description of the
scene. He says: -i.r- .i. ..r8u f-tr
The hour was that when by custom
most of the inhabitants had just closed
their daily labors and were at their
homes. The instant the startling indl-
cations of an earthquake was felt there
was general rush for uncovered spaces,
which were reached by many uninjured;
but not by all. The streets became a
terror. All the houses in the city trem-
bled. Then they surged, and some of
them fell to pieces with crash after
crash At this juncture, when the un-
dulations were active, the earth opened
in several places in long and almost reg
ular lines. The assures were from one to
three inches in width. The sensation
was distinct as though something was
rolling underneath. From every fissure
there belched forth dry earth like dust,
which was followed by a sitting gas
Owing to the demolition of buildings
and the general destruction of all kinds
property, and the dust bclched forth as
well as that set in motion by the general
tumult, dense clond was formed over
the city and obscured the light. Be
meath the cloud was the gas, which Sc
verely oppressed every living creature,
and would have suffocated all if it had
fingered long stationary. When the un-
dulations ceased, the cloud of dust as
cended and dispersed, and light was re-
stored. Then quakes at short intervals
succeeded, as though subterranean ex-
plosions were taking pace. At this
time, people from all parts of the city
fed to the hills, amid falling stones and
timbers which descended from swaying
walls and broadly rent buildings, just
on the eve of crumbling into perfect
ruin. Some were struck down by the
falling materials, and others were maim-
ed, while all were made to stagger like
people in a state of intoxication. Many
OF both sexes carried children in their
arms, and those who had not these car
r1ed articles of value. The averice of
some was stronger than fear, even amid
this terrible confusion, and hence there
were those who daHied to collect vaIua-
bles, many who suffered for their temeri-
ty, either by the sacrifice of their. lives
or otherwise. As. the rush for the hills
continued, and houses and parts Of these
were crashing, numerous people were
either killed or dangerc usly hurt. The
water in the harbor was now receding
from the shore, bearing with it all the
shipping at rapid speed. Then the
current changed, and before All almost
overhlnging tremendous wave, the YES
sells came back, tossed or whirled about |
as though they were only floating logs,
aud on the very summit o. this immense
volume of water rode the U. S. steam
err Wateree. The huge wave dashed
against the stone pier, and shattered it
to pieces, then swept from it's path
what was standing, of the Custom House,
and almost every vestige of the ruins of
other buildings. 1t rolled over the al
ready destroyed houses Of the city and
set myraid of articles afoat, which
eddled III every direction, while at the
same time vessels and floating materials
we're forced ahead of the waves, at this
lime curling and foaming summit. Ev-
'rything which it encountered in its
course was swept away in an instant.
Even great masses of stone were rolled
over and over. When the force of the
wave was spent, it retired, and in short
lime the equilibrium of the water was
The vessels carried inland
we're terrible sight. The most of
hem were bottom upward. Their inasts
lad been snapped like sticks. The Wa ;
cree was grounded about a quarter of
nile from the beach, on the line of a rail.
'oad. As far as heard from, only one j,
ife was lost on board. Near the Wate-
zee, "a Peruvian war vessel was also I
grounded, and SO gently that none of iis 4
igging nor any of its timbers were im- '
impaired. On board the Peruvian war 1
teamer America, which is total wreck. I
70 lives were reported to have been lost {
The United States storcship Fredonia
vas upset, and all her crew except three
lrowned, according TO report. Those {
Vho escaped were the captain, surgeon,
nd paymaster, who were on shore t
Ehen the earth quake occurred, and I
ought refuge on the hills. A British /
essel, called the Chanacillo, lost ma 2
y Of her crew who were tumbled i
verboard. A United States brig, name i
uknOwn waS foundarad with oil m n