Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-18

| sailors and marines. N.NN
The American merchantman, Rosa
Rivers, the English ship Chanarcillo, and
the French bark Eduardo we're totally
lost
The great force Of the upheaving Of the
waters Of the bay set these vessels all
adrift, with the exception Of the Wateree,
she dragging her anchors, and for seve-
raj moments they were in incessant col
lision.
As / said before, all the edi6ces in this
town were completely destroyed, and
among them was the customhouse, con-
tanning more than four millions Of dol
lars worth of goods, all Of which, Of
course, shared the same fate.
Commander Gillis, after the disaster,
endeavored 10 supply the wants of the
people, literally dividing with them the
limited amount of provisions at his COM
mand, and aiding the efforts Of the popu'
lace to ameliorate their condition. His
conduct is very highly spoken Of by the
authorities, and by his exertions many
lives have been saved. DIR. Winslow, Of
this ship, and DR.. Dubois, of the Fredonia,
especially distinguished themselves.
The towns of Iquique, Moquegua, Lo-
cumba and Pisagua are also reduced to
ruins. In the first named, the rising Of
the sea destroyed more lives than did the
earthquake itself at other points; over
six hundred persons we're drowned, and
now people are perishing from the want
| Of water.
The damage done is immense. The
customhouses Of Iquique and africa have
been totally ruined, and more than eight
million dollars worth of property de-
stroyed in them alone.
The loss of life is estimated at one
thousand eight hundred in all the points
definitely heard from.
This morning an express has arrived
from the great mineral province of Hu-
ancavelcs, and reports that all Of the
cities of that department are reduced to
a shapelese mass. We are waiting anx-
iously to hear from the southern cities of
Puno and Cuzco, for the movement ap
peared to come from that direction, and
in all probability they have suffered the
same horrible catastrophe.
The reports of the condition OF the
sufferers are terrible A famine is threat.
ened, and the government here, as well
as private mercantile houses, are busy
preparing to dispatch vessels freighted
with all necessary articles. Admiral
| Turner, in the United States flagship
Powhstan, sails to day for Africa to aid
our unfortunate sailors there, and has
generously offered to convey all the
material possible that the Peruvian gov
ernment may wish to send. The different
guano companies have come forward and
| subscribed $500, 900 to aid the sufferers
Congress will soon make appropriations
| for the injured, and although the calamity
is terrible for the moment, it will GER
tainly give employment to many persons
| who, while idle, only think of plunging
the country into civil war, and killing by
powder and ball those whose lives seem
destined to be sacrificed by higher and
more fearful power.
On the 18th inst, we also felt in Lima
the most severe earthquake experienced
in Peru for eight years The duration of
the movement was about three minutes
and half, and the shock, instead of fol-
lowing the usual vertical motion, appear
ed to be lateral, and consequently was
regarded as all the more dangerous. The
aspect of the city during the movement
was truly exciting Every one in Lima,at
the first coming of the shock, always
seeks the protection of an arch, or the
threshold of door is selected as safe
place, and on this occasion, those favor
ed spots were speedily occupied In an
incredibly short space of time the great
public piazza was filled with frightened
men, women and children, and, as if by
common instinct, all assumed suppliant
position-every one on their knees-and
The air resonant with the shrieks, lamen-
tations and petitions, addressed princi-
pally to heaven; the houses shook visi-
bly, and the high towers of the cathedral
swayed to and fro like ships mast in a
storm. The great length of the shock
was particularly alarming; but fortu-
nately no damage took place in this city +;
but Callao, the unfortunate, the bonn
barded, pest-ridden, revolutionized city,
suffered terribly. The earthquake was
felt severely there, and the people re
membering the great calamity OF 1853,
fastened to place themselves beyond the |
reach of danger. At ten o'clock at
night the sea commenced to become |
agitated, and shortly after, that hour a
tremendous wave burst over the line of |
houses edging the shore, and in some
cases completely gutted them of their |
contents. The panic was extreme. Not |
one thought was given TO the pre-
servation Of property; but all'endeavors |
were directed to personal safety. Yet no |
lives were lost Throughout the night |
the sea continued thus, and the |
ships were swung in all directions by the |
force of the different currents. Several |
vessels collided, but no damage of i'm
portsnce took place. The men-of-war
and steamers left the dangerous neighbor-
hood of the bay, and proceeded out to
sea, waiting for daylight and quiet
The next day passed quietly, but
Callao was doomed TO suffer still greater |
misfortunes During the night fire was
discovered proceeding from hotel situ-
ated in the center of the business portion
Of the town, and despite the unremitting |
labors of the troops, police, FIRE engines
sent from Lima, aud of the citizens, the |
conhagration was not overcome until
ffty-sev houses and stores had been
utterly destroyed, and less Of a million
and a half Of hard dollars inflicted upon
the unfortunate victims.
The effect of the earthquake along the
immediate southern and northern coasts
has been very severe The Chinchas and
the cities Of lea and Pisco, on the adja-
cent maitland, were handled roughly,
and in lea more than forty hdhses we're
overthrow. The number Of lives lost at
that place will not exceed twelve. All
the churches in the capital are thronged
with persons praying for the Divine
mercy, and the almost entire population
Of Callao have left their homes and are
..ak;ng aafetv in this citv