The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-09-14
SOUTH AMERICA. 44&
Terrible Earthquake.
$4,000 Persons Perished and 3d.
600 Made Homeless. 1.'i
~ -sf1 & s- $3.50 .ft.rI st 1854 -.4ru
Two American War Vessels Lost.
Several Cities & Towns Destroyed.
The Loss of Property Amounts to more
.,-.t... shun $14 100000.
ti-ia' r. .-T-.' -.t.f.li. r-.
TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS OF THE IN
u HARTTANTS babe
Two American War Vessels Lost.
Several Cities & Towns Destroyed

HAVANA, Sept. IL. -Advices have been re-
ceIved here announcing that Peru and Ecua-
dor have been visited with the most terrible
earthquakes ever known. The shock occurred
on the 10th of August and lasted only five
minutes, but within that short time twenty
five thousand persons persisted and thirty
thousands were made homeless. The sea rose
thirty feet and swept the coast with irresisti-
BILE fury, The cities of Arequipa, Iquiqui,
Chola and Chincha have been utterly destroy
ed. The loss of property between Tacni and
africa is estimated at $140O0000. The u s.
steamer Kearsarge was rendering assistance to
the sufferers ..=4---4- - ---.= -
NEW YORK, Sept 12.-Letters from Lima,
Peru, give additional details of the earthquake
and its effects. The earthquake commenced
at $50 o'clock on the 18th OF August, extend
ing from Bolivia to the southern ports of Chill
on the coast, and over one hundred miles in
land. The towns and cities mentioned in the
dispatches of last night were literally ruined,
as all buildings which were not destroyed were
SO badly damaged as to require demolition for
prudential reasons. All public edifices in
africa were destroyed including the Custom
House, which contained more than 81, 100000
worth of goods, which are lost. The loss of
the Fredonia and the landing of the Wateree
are described as follows: They were both at
anchor in the harbor of africa near each other
After the first shock occurred on the land,
which created great CONSERVATION on both YES
sells, DR.. Dubois (surgeou) and the paymaster
VI bue TeuOuld bUOk u DOab aIu W6uG ASHORE
to inquire for the welfare of their friends and
offer the services of the ship. In a few mo-
ments after leaving the vessel great heaving
Of the waters in the bay commenced, and the
Fredonia, parting her chains, was dashed about
at the mercy of the sea- and finally was dashed
to pieces on a reef Her officers and crew, u
in number, were lost; also Mrs. Dyer, wife of
the Lieut.. Commanding. The vessel had near
ly $4,000 900 worth naval stores on board, all of
which was lost. The Wateree was more
securely anchored, but dragged her anchors,
and the great tidal wave swept her $50 yards
town. She now lies between two -hlllocks of
sand very slightly injured, and it will be utter
ly impossible to extract her, and Admiral Tur
ner is only hopeful Of saving her battery and
stores. Only one sailor was washed overheard
and drowned. Lieut.. johnson, OF the Wat
cree, was ashore at the time, and while carry
ing his wife in his arms to place of safety she
was struck by portion of a falling building
and killed. .F. -T-.t. ar
The Peruvian corvette America shared the
same fate as the Waters e, but lost three officers
and thirty men. .-...aI .4zs45-.. re... G
Commander ellis, of the Wateree, after the
disaster, together with DR.. Winslow and DIR.
Dubois of the Fredonia, were of great services
to the inhabitants, dividing their provisions
among the suffering inhabitants. and the ply
sicians saving many lives by their medical and
surgical skill. aI % 4-. "a.
A letter from africa, dated Aug. %, says two
other vessels, the brig ChancoriHo and the
bark Edward, are also high and dry the former
losing eight men. The scene beggars descrip-
ton. Railroad rails, cars, machinery, gun
carriages, household furniture, barrels, dead
animals and mutilated corpses are lying about
in confusion. The city numbered 1000 inhab-
itants, and its multitudes stand helplessly
beggared on the beach. Three hundred lives
were lost. A confagration burned nearly all
that was not demolished by the earthquake,
and drunken rabble robbed and despoiled
what remained. Heavy cannon were carried
way up from the Island battery, and now lay
buried in the sand on shore. The stencil is
sickening. ...... ..I..
At Lima not much damage was done, al
though the shocks lasted about four minutes,
creating the utmost CONSERVATION, the inhab-
itants fleeing to open places, where they
sought protection from the Almighty
Admiral Turner with the frigate Powhattan
left Lima with full cargo of provisions, and
had arrived at africa, to succor the American
seamen and inhabitants. She also will save
the effects of the Wateree. The Keersage had
also reached africa from Coquimbo with pro-
visions Two French men-of-war also lett Lii
ma to aid the inhabitants at africa and other
places on the coast were starving. American
Minister at Lima was theoretically aiding toex
| tend his power in alleviating distress. The
| merchants and citzsns of Lima are contrib
utlng by thousands of dollars to equip and
lood vessels with clothing, provisions, &C., and
| the government is most theoretically using all
| its means to alleviate the distress entailed by
the horrible catastrophe. The Congress OF
Peru has unanimously passed resolution
| giving the President unlimited power to sue.
| cor the inhabitants of the Southern coast
| The President has issued q proclamation and
the Archbishop pastoral, calling upon the
| Peruvians for liberal contributions which had
| been nobly responded to, over one million dol
| lars having been raised. The business houses
| of Lima, having connections on the coast, have
| suffered immensely, one house, that of Gibbs
| 81 Son, losing over million dollars. Nearl,
| all the towns and villages in the mineral pro
vince of Huancia were destroyed and reduced
to shapeless masses The cities of Punoa and
Cajco, however were not damaged.
| The port of Wallendo, where the materials
for building Mr.. Meiggs' railway were stored
| was completely destroyed, nearly all the tolls
| rails and provisions being ruined by the earth
quake and the succeeding tidal wave.
At Calloa the sea burst over the line o
| houses skrting the shore, at 10 o'clock a
night on the 18th, completely cutting them o
their contents. The panic was extreme. Sew
eral vessels collided, but no damage was thel
done, nearly all putting to sea. The mex
night hire broke out, and fifty seven houses II
tne business portion of the place were de
| were lost.
The Chincha IslandsIfelt the earthquake an
wave, but not so seriously as vet known. Th,
| cities OF lea and Pisca also suffered heavily
forty houses being overthrown and twelve live
| lost at the former place. Nearly all the popu
lat:on of Callao have fled to Lima. :.
The steamer Santiago, bound from Callao t
valparaiso, put into the port of Chill. where. O.
the 18th, she was seized by the great wave. he
| chains snapped and the vessel carried to ses
In a few moments the waves returned towar