The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1868-10-24
THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE.
--
"A VISIT TO THE PLACES OF DEsoLA-
TIoN a FEW DAYS AFTER THE GA.
TAsTRoPHE.


A VISIT 10 THE PLACES or DEsoLA-
T1oN a FEW DAYS AFTER THE GA
TAsTRoPHE.
The shock was felt along the coast
from Callao in Peru, to Coquimbo IN
Chile, and also in the southern part
ofChile, on the 18th Of August; tile
time in the northern part was be-
tween 500 and $40 in the evening,
whereas in the south twas 8 o'clock;
the damaged or destroyed towns are
Chala, Piseo, africa, Tacna, Arequi-
pa, Pisapua, Mejillones, in Peru /;
Iquique and TalcahuaHa, in Chile.
In africa the earthquake was felt at
o'clock l6 minutes, and lasted nearly
six minutes, during which time the
greater part Of the town was destroy
ed, and many inhabitants were buri-
ed in the ruins. The more substan-
tial buildings stood the shock. Some
of the oldest inhabitants say 1t was
the severest and longest shock they
had ever experienced. The poor
people had hardly recovered from
their fright, when they saw the water
in the bay rise higher than usual,
which occurrence put them into d
new alarm. and everybody who
could, fled to the adjacent hills to
save their lives. The water rose
about eight feet (some say ten Others
six feet above high water, and then
reached about one mile, leaving the
whole bay dry. The receding water,
however, had such strength as to
draw the anchors of the American
ships-of-war Wateree, the America,
an English bark (Cyren Syres,) and
several other vessels. The wave re-
turning carried everything before it
and reached about half way into the
town, taking with it the wounded
and dead, as ] have not seen s ngle
person engaged in this occupation
Dnring the nights Of the 18th and
14th there must have been a terrible
stale Of affairs in the town. The mob
were drinking all night and Of course
robbing all who fell into their hands.
The whole town is completely stFewn
over with empty bottles. In some
places ] found the tables prepared for
supper with everything untouched,
which shows with what extreme
haste the people had to leave their
houses. Four heavy pieces of ord
nance were washed from the fort,
which is on an Island in the bay. and
one was carried about one and a half
miles. One large gun carriage is in
the middle of the ruins. The most
miraculous escape was made bya sea
captain after the earthquake. He
was at the dock experimenting the
shipment Of some goods aboard his
vessel. He had two sailors ofhis crew
with him and a small boat; these
two men he sent on board to bring
some of the crew on shore to assist
in burying the dead and to take care
of the wounded tile boat reached the
ship and brought off six more men
before the water rose when they
were about half way back to shore,
they felt a very heavy swell OF the
sea, and also saw the water recede,
when they put to sea,Hnd after being
tossed about for some time, they came
near the Wateree, and by means OF
ropes were taken aboard of her and
saved the captain was still at the
wharf when the water commenced to
rise he jumped into a launch, TAX
ing with him the family of a friend
who was near by, and was carried
twice into the town and back again
Aln fsVt7n Il In.,AoA g, ,ssfs 20,
ly into house, where the wave could
not take him back again; in this
manner he and the family We're save
ed. The water rose tifty-six feet
above the high-water mark. In this
way the wave came and returned
three times the second wave was,
however, the heaviest. This set the
Wateree $50 feet from shore, high
and dry, the third one brought the
America on shore, the hulks of the
English bark and brig were placed
about one hunded yards from the
beach, dry; the American storeship
Fredonia was too fast anchored to
have her anchors drawn, and after
the sea had calmed nothing could be
seen of her, nor of two other sailing
vessels. The number of lives lost in
the ships are as follows: steamer
America, ls5 men (others say S5 !;
Wateree. l Fredonia, q English
bark, s.; other vessels not known
How many inhabitants were losl
here cannot be stated, as many lef
the place Immediately after the ca
tastrophe. Some estimate the. loss
including that of the ships, to be 500
definitely, nothing can be said aboui
! it, and the exact number will nevei
be known, as many of the dead wert
buried without it being known
who they were and how many wer,
] carried into the sea cannot be told
| The former town of africa presents
the most terrible aspect. The place
| which | had seen a few months agt
in the most fiourishing state, and tn,
suburbs all coyeredwith gardens ant
trees,is now q total mass ofFuin, no
one house remaining fit to dwell in
The street is not to be seen, the place
where formerly the houses stood pre-
sent the same view as the street, ev
cry part covered with boards, tiles
| bricks, furniture, bedding and mef
/ chandise, &C., everything mixed to
gether. In some places l have founI
a terrible smell Of dead bodies but i
seemed to me rs ii the authoritie
| were not at all inclined to abate tn
same. In I9uique the oceurrenc
took place at six minutes past fin
4 o'clock. The shock lasted six mir
\ htes, and the water rose sixty fee
| The greater partaof The town is 4,
| stroyed, including all tho busines
| houses. Some houses were carried
+ distance of three or four blocks int
the town, and landed IN the street
The number Of lives lost is estimate
at two hundred. The steamer San
iago Of the p. S. n, Company, W.
at anchor at Chain at the tinae of Il
occurrence. Her cable was broker
and the ship was carried over roc
without damage, and having steal
up, she put to sea. AS soon as Il
news reached Caldera, the America
man-of-war powhatan, which NJ
, lying there, was supplied with BIZ
visions and water for the relief Of II
sufferers. She sailed from Calde
OH the 18th at 10 +. NJ. Ari0uopa
the foot Of the volcano RIiste, NJ
nearly DESTROYED, the number 81 liv
lost IS said tobe 5000. In Calla0 al
! Lima the damage was very friflin
! In Payta we received the news til
Quito and six other towns ID Eeua