Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1868-09-19
TERRIBLE CALAMITY.
Terrible Earthquake on The Coast Of
Peru and Ecuador-LOSS Of 32,OOU
Lives and Millions of Property
IThOIe Cities Suept .9CGy.

WhOte Canes oUepI .1Udy'
New York, Sept. l3,-The Guiding
Star, from AspnwslI yesterday, brings
The following:
On The 18th ullimo q terrible earth.
quake visited the cities along the coast OF
Peru and Ecuador, whereby thlriy-two
thousand lives were lost, aud property
valued at three hundred millions of dollars
destroyed. Rambling sounds preceded
the earthquakes; the ses was terribly agI-
lated and flooded the land for great
distance. Arequips. a city of thIr'y-hS
thousand inhsbllsnt,, was washed away
and scarcely a vestige remains. Only
four hundred lives we're lost here. AREA
a town Of twelve thousand inhabitants,
was also destroyed, leaving not a house
standing, Five hundred persisted here.
The tidal wave, which was forty feet
high, rolled with terrific roar on shore
carrying ships further Oh land Ihsn ever
! before known.
The United States storeshiP Frsdonia
was cspsized, and all on board lost The
Fredonla had one million eight hundred
thousand dollars worth OF naval stores.
The vessel was rolled over and smashed
10 atoms. The United States steamer
Wateree was carried half mile inland,
and left high and dry, Only one sailor
ws drowned. Owing TO the great dis
lance she was carried, she never can get
afoat again.
The towns of Iquque, Moquegs, Lo-
cumba and Pisaqua were entirely des-
troyed. Over six hundred persisted al
Iquique. The American merchants lost
heavily--nesrly sll--and are totally
ruined. The towns Of Ibears, San Pablo,
A,untaqu, and lnsD,ad are in ruins.
Where Costacheachi formerly stood is
now a lake. The population Of the above
towns were almost entirely. The dead
are 80 numerous that the surviving in
habilanls have been forced to fly from the
stencil Of their puirefying bodies.
Letters from Lima. Peru, give addi-
,ional details Of the earthquake COM
menced at half.psst Eve o'clock, on the
18th of August, extending from Bolivia to
the southern ports Of Chill, on the coast,
and over one hundred miles inland. The
| towns and cities mentioned in l'st nights
J dispatches were literally ruined. All
! buildings not destroyed are so badly IN
lured as 10 require demolition for PrUden-
lial reasons. All public edifices IN africa
were destroyed, including the custom
house, which con,sined over S4,OOO,OOO
worth Of goods all Of which we're lost.
The following description ls given OF the
! loss Of the Fredonis and the landing OF
the Wa,eree. They were beth at anchor
in The hsrbor Of africa, near each other
After the first shock had occurred on
land, which created great CONSERVATION
on both vessels, DR.. Dubois, surgeon and
psymsster Of The Fredonia, took boat
and went on shore TO inquire for the vel
| fare Of friends and offer the services OF
the ship. In few moments after leaving
| the vessel great upheavlng OF the waters
il the bay commenced, and the FredonIs,
parting her chsins, was dashed about at
The mercy OF the sea. and finally went to
pieces on a reef. Nothing Of the vessel
was saved. The officers and crew, d in
number, were ali lost; slso Mrs. Dyer,
wife OF the lieutenant commanding. The
officers names we're: Lieut.. b. Dyer; ID.
| Organ, master; J. G. Cromwell, pur'er;
S. l.un,, secretary 10 the commander,
The Wateree was more securely an
chored, but grea, tidal wave swept her
$50 wards inland, about two miles north
of the ruined town. where she now lies
between two hillocks OF sand, very slight
" injured. II will be uueTl y Impossible
10 cave Der, and Admiral Turner is only
hopeful OF saving her battery and stores.
! Only one sailor was wsshed overheard
and drowned. Lieutenant Johnson, OF
the Wateroe, was ashore a, The time, and
while carrying his wife in his arms TO
place Of safety she was struck and IN
smntIy killed by portion Of a falling
building.
A letter from africa, dated August %,
saws two other vessels, the brig Chsnca.
rilo, and the bark Eduardo, are also high
and dry, the former losing eight men.
The scene beggars description. Rail-
road rails, cars, machinery, gun carriages
household furniture, barrels, dead animals
and mu,ilsted coIpses are lying about in
confusion. The city numbered seven
thousand inhsbiisnts, and It's mulIirudes
stand helple.sly beggsred on the beach.
Three hundred lives were lost. A con-
Aagrstion burned nearly all that was not
demolished by the earthquake, and a
drunken rabble robbed and desPolled
what remained. Heavy cannon were
carried up from the island battery
and now lie buried in the sand. On shore
the stencil 10 sickenlng.
Al Lima there vas not much damage
done, although the shocks lasted about
four minutes, creating The u,Rosi con.ter'
nation, the inhabitants fleeing to open
places. where they sought protection from
the Almighty.
The American minister, Mr.. Harvey,
at Lima, was eneres,icaIly sidirg 10 the
extent Of his power in sllsvis'ing dis
tress. Merchants and citizen. OF Liaa
are contributing by thousands Of dollir:
TO equip and load vessels with clothing
and provisions, and The government, i.
using ell lis means TO elevate The suffer.
ing en,ailed BY The terrible catastrophe.
The Congress of Peru unanimously
passed resolutions giving the PtesiGen
unlimited power 10 succor the Inhabitants
Of the southern coatt The Presiden