The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-11-13

vivid Dssertptios Of he Scenes IN South
.amsriea-7srribk Su6tring Of Ms People

vivid Dssertptios Of As Scenes IN South
.fmsriea-ftrri5ls Su6srings Of hs People
The Hapoe made BY hs TIDAL Ware.
William Brown leit Chicago some egh-
teen years ago. He went by the way Of
California, and knowing that there was no
need for hurry, remained OH the golden
shores until July, when, with q cargo OF
-four, he embarked at San Francisco and
steercd towards the South. Amer two
weeks sailing with favorable wind, he
made port In the harbOr OF IQulQuc, q
Peruvian city OF considerable commercial
importance, with a population, at that
time, OF 10000 Inhabitants. Entering
port almost simultaneously with his YES
sci, arrived the United States man-Of-war
wateree, with full complement Of sailors
and marines.
During few days previous to the earth
quake the Americans, thus arrived, came
frequently together. and on the fatal after
noon. the 18th Of August, party, includ-
Ing Mr.. Brown, were on visit 10 the
eastern part Of the city. Iqulquc, or the
greater portion thereof, lies upon low
ground, formed In sort Of basin, at the
foot OF considerable mountain range.
Some OF the better class OF private resi-
dences upon the mountain side. to the
height of several hundred feet; but the
custom-house, the business places, the
workshops, &C.. were all located upon the
low ground, which gradually rose towards
the mountain. lt was near five O'Clock In
the afternoon, the weather being extremely
close and sultry, when the frst symptom
Of the earthquake were experienced. For
many minutes before there were any physi-
cal demonstrations, everybody seemed
filed with fear Of some impending dan
ger, and general and almost painful un-
easlness was observable, especially among
the natives. Suddenly the worst fears
were realized. A low, rumbling sound,
like the tramp OF n thousand hOrsemen,
was heard In the distance, and. as It
rapidly approached, the earth began to
trembie. The party Of Americans were
only surprised ut the strange noise. but
the natives. rs II guided by instinct, at the
first sound OF the approaching rumble.
lcft their houses. old and young. and let
the city With those who appreciated the
terrible danger that was surely coming.
there was but little time for dellberation.
and not knowing from what direction TO
expect the dread powers. and not knowing
where there was danger or safety. thc
people ran In every direction. and thous-
ands Into the very jaws Of death. Ten
minutes after the first symptoms were ex.
perienccd, the work Of destruction WAS
began. and In half an hour the work was
completed. Both land and waier had
done their work OF death, and from that
one city Of 20. 1000 Inhabitants alone, 1900
were suddenly called before their Maker:
When the party Of Americans saw the
natives hurryIng towards the mountain,
they. apprehensiye Of coming danger, fol-
lowed the example. They bad gone but q
few steps, however. when the earth under
BILE. aud otherwise comport itselfin such o
violent manner that an upright position
was held only with the greatest difficulty.
earth, there arose vast and impenctrablo
cloud, composed OF dust, sand, and even
gOOdly-sized gravel stones, and what tho
attending darkness allowed to remain
visible, the dust that gathered In the eyes
obscured entirely nom View. IL Was
fortunate circumstance that the party OF
which Mr.. Brown was . member had Az
ready commenced the ascent OF the noun
tain when the dust-cloud arose, for IN any
other direction there lurked almost Ger
tain death. The sensation ono experiences
In a flrst-class earthquake, accoruin8
our narrator, ID that Of being thoroughly.
even ontrageously, shaken about q !, soous .
four men. In the great du:t-ciooo .sss ~
imnosslblc for one person to scc snothe
M hIs elbow, and ~ the shocks conIIuco rnIa
md incrcased. men, women and cnnusn
wsrr thrown ssaInst each other Win tsr
ribie force. and to speak adequ1ex o. toe
terror and confusion snas Pseyu onS
~ w"s'1 covered We tie earth did noe extend
hiss.r & thsn twenty or thirty fset, ana In
n'srd n.ss.rd,nc ne, Inc mountain short distance,
~ nnobstructed view Of the scene was sf.
Spricd. The Spanish American cities arc
,vepcraliy richly endowed with church
s,sIlficcs, adorned with towering steeples,
and these were the first TO assume an ap.
pearance Of rcstlessness. For momens
they appeared to dance on their base, ano
then swayiny wildly to and mo, fell ~ 2
mass TO thc eartn, ctusaing
whatever moved or lay underneath.
Next the large class Of houses oeeann 70
show tte eject Of the repeated snocks,
and. oue affsr snothH, thy gave wy
~ - ~ r ~ G1onn4nR =