The New York herald., 1871-05-15
Graphic Description of the RumblingS,
Tumblings and Commissions.
The Effects in Santiago, Valparaiso, Talca,
Gillian ard Elsewhere.
An Intrepid Priest at the
Altar.
SANTIAGO, March &c. 1871.

ceiyed here to-day from Curco In the southern part
OF the valley IN which this city stands, and applying
the sentence to the whole OF chile think 1t sums
up the situation with a terrible terseness.
At about eleven O'Clock yesterday morning Chile
was convulsed by q shock OF earthquake the most
powerlu! experienced IN twenty years. and at
twenty minutes past FIVE O'Clock In the afternoon II
repetition OF the awful phenomenon occurred OF
about equal force, bnt somewhat lesser Duration
These two major tens6,ores were also followed by
numerous minor shocks up TO this evening, but
now, that an unusually copious shower OF rain has
fallen, the fear OF the danger has passed. ana the
people are once more tranquil.
The exact time at which the city or Santiago was
affected was four minutes before eleven O'clock
that being Indicated by tile stopping OF the town
clock in the plaza the tower Of the lntendencla
At that hour all the churches were throngcd with
worshippers, the majority, OF course, being women
engaged in celebrating the Feast OF Annun-
cation. All places OF business were closed,
and the town wore holiday aspect all
religious feast days being here more
zealousy observed than the Sabbath. Suddenly
q slight thrill OF the earth felt lasting two
three seconds anu tiien violent tremnlng emotion
epsaed, followed without intermisson by Il distinct
rolling or twisting movement, the Whole phenome
non having duration OF about seventy seconds
But in that brief PERIOD the city barely escape
being mass or dusty ruin. The houses rocked,
creaking and cracking; church towers swayed with
sweep OF three four feet the air; the bells in
the steepcs were rung by the movement. dogs
barked, nocks OF frightened pigeons hovered over the
city, and dsmayed humanity rushed into the streets
and squares banched with fear shifting on their
breasts and nttering '1nfseTiCOrdfd ~ Then came
a lul OF rest when the motion had ceased, ana In
few minutes people were back in their houses ana
anXiously wondered whether such terrible shock
razed some city to the ground. At present we have
only partial reports and The gravest fears exist tnat
great damage has been done, either further south
ward or in Peru Bolivia 10 the north OF Us. Next
came examinations walls and estimaLons or
damage, but these 1t was happily discovered, were
slight; so slight, in fact, as to create some
surprise. One OF the walls OF the ArchDisnop's
palace was rent open, leaving fssure OF
about two centimetres in breadth and one OF the
inner walls of the Intendenca, as also Of the CAFE
Santiago, was similarly cracked its entire height.
Several fagstairs broken and the interior walls
and heavy earthcrn-ted roofs OF u large number
OF dwelling houses were considerably injured.
! In the churches there was experienced more
less panlc as the terrified asscmbages hurried TO
| the doors. and many persons were contused ana
some severely trampied upon. At the Church OF the
! Merced 1t Is reported that two women had their
| arms broken, and in most instances women were
the personal sufferers. But It must be said also that
in these panics most OF the fault lies with the gentier
sex, for the women Of Santiago, OF most Spanish
countries, INSIST upon wearing long, trailing
skirts, ana when rush Is made these being tram
pied upon, their wearcrs are thrown down ana
scores OF others fall over them 1t is asserted here
by those who were preseut at the time that the |
doors OF the burning Church OF the Coinpaua were !
by this means blocked iul oi human benls and the |
world was appalled, oy tragedy IN which over two |
thousand lives were lost 1nis was eight years ago;
but the ladies' have not yet altered their fashion. /
AT Of the churches here yesterday one OF the Of
iica;ing priests iinmofiaZed nlmseI. Upon per- |
cciyng the severity Of the shock and The calamity
which Il seemed 10 porlend ne ceased |
TO leave the cdIhce, ana, resigncdly turning TO
the altar, bent mead reeereutiy upon his mana,
though engaged III silent prayer the perfect IDEAL OF
piouS resignation. lie maintained this attitude I
unrii all the danger had passed.
WITH regard To the extent OF the motion IN the |
tem0i0r have jnst described 1t Is dicut to esti-
the rise or fall OF the eart. ou at the time Of
Its occurrence happened To be in the ROOMS OF |
young New York artist VINO ls here painting Andine |
scenery. Large paintings upon the walls were found,
after the excitement was over, to. have swung ANA
remained two ana nail incnes Off the level; but THIS
can only indicate partially the vibration, for there
was considerable Irction the heavy frames chaed
the wallis, ana The nails supporting the lower edges
oil the frames were lu some cases broken OF, while |
IN every instance the pictures had been thrown or
from their supports. The rooms rocked so pro.
ducc sensation oil gddlness, and the umDers |
creaked with sound fuly as loud IA the ceaking OF
a wicker basket when heavily strained. On the op-
posite side Of street Is large building, intended
Tor a Legislative and onicIai neIdauarteis m a par
tial state OF complexion. and tie walls OF TINS struc-
turc seemed 10 sway with sweep OF two ieet from
All Jew minutes before one O'Clock In the after. |
noon second shock occurred but Oh silght force
and durafion and people generally were becoming
more tranuuilli2ei up to twenty mintes past nve
O'Clock, when nearly everybody was at dinner, and
then a third scene OF panic ensued, "a heavy
trembling and swinging movement was lelt. Again
the houses creaked trees quvered and swayej,
chandeliers, pictures and all pendant objects were
swung Violently about, and the wafer III the basins
Of the fountains was, III numerous cases, dashed
over the brm, height OF not less than four five
nfl nn1 al fYf..
the streets aud courtyards with their masters and
mattresses. nt,Sericordias were AGAIN uttered by
thousands OF voices, ana in about iitg seconds the
storm had abatel. Nothing very serious seems 10
have resulted from this shock.
And now came the really anxious time as night
settled down upon the convused and frightened
city, end It was found that quite strong, cool
breeze was prevailing. Tue more experienced IN
hap!tants augurcd much danger liz this wind pre-
vailed without rain FOR any length OF time, as rain
Is always the supplement To an earthquake even
though, here ~ present, rain may not be expected
for some weeks yet TO come, THIS being only the |
commencement OF the fail. or rainy season. To I've
awake was at least Dad enough, but TO be asleep
dnrng an earthquake carries with It something ter
rIDe In the mere anticipation. Awake one may
rush into the pat,os, at least make an effort to
escape; but asleep falling wall may ptUlong that
s!umber into the haze OF eternity. hundreds peo-
pie slept In the pat.oS, improvsin2 BEDS and lay
snatch what rest they might under the Ignt OF the
stars, while In the suburbs OF the city OF poor
persons. whose houses were not built VITA court
yards, slept n the strce,s. confess to the most
appaing lear nave eyer eYper,enced-and i cd nave
and found that young American dentist here was
10y no means 10th OF my company as bedeilow.
room alone would have seemed lonely last nght To
either OF u.s. ana we slept together VITA our clothing
on, ready for dash into the street, with the doors
ajar ana q hight barning dim!J.
Al three O'Clock In tne morning, while In DOING
and restless sleep, we were awaSened by sharp
shock, which shook the bedstead so that our bodies
quivered but, by the time we fully understood it, it
had ceased, and, waxing ana turning IN nervous
restlessness, we passed the remainder OF the night
About seven O'clock tn,s morning heavy shower I
OF rain commenced ialing and the Sabbath IS
damp and muddy one, bat that which brings Us |
these Inconvenience II IOyluliy hailed, like .thc
bow IN the heavens.o "a the assurance that the !
danger IL past. several slight tremors OF the earth
nave been leit during the afternoon bat they indi.
cate only the subsdng throDs OF the great subter
ranean Commissions OF yesterday. Each OF the
heavier shocks was accompanied by the neavy I
rumbng noise beneath the earth, resembling the