The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-05-17

Corresp )ndence N. Y. Herald.
SANTIAGO Moral, o. ,

L. Il.
At about eleven O'Clock yesterday morning
Chill was convulsed by shock of earthquake
the most powerful experienced in twenty
years, and at twenty minutes past five o'clocl
in the afternoon repetition OF the awful
phenomenon occurred OF about equal force
but somewhat lesser duration. These two
tenablores were also followed by numerous
minor shocks up TO this evening, but now,
that an unusually copious shower or rain has
fallen, the fear OF the danger has passed, and
the people are once more tranquil.
At that hour all the churches we're throng-
ed with worshippers, the majority, of course,
Deins women, engaged in celebrating the
Feast OF Annunciation. All places OF busi-
ness were closed, and the town wore a boli.
day aspect, all religious feast days being here
more zealOusly observed than the Sabbath
Suddenly slight thrill of the earth was felt
lasting two or three seconds, and then a vic,
lent trembling emotion ensued, followed
without intermission by a distinct rolling or
twisting movement, the whole pbepomenon
having duration OF about seventy seconIs
But in that brief period the city barely eseap.
ed being mass OF dusty ruin. The houses
rocked, creaking and cracking; church towers
swayed with sweep of three or four feet i'm
the air; the bells in the steeples were ruDe by
the movement, dogs barked, flocks of fright.
ened pigeons hovered over the city, and dis
mayed humanity rushed into the streets and
squares blanched with fear, shifting on their
breasts and uttering misericOrdia" Then
came lull of rest when the motion had ceas-
ed, aud in few minutes people we've back in
their houses and anxiously wondered whether
such terrible shock could have swept
through the land without having razed some
city to the ground. At present we have only
partial reports, and the gravest fears exist
that great damage has been done, either fur
ther seuhward or in Peru or Bolivia, to the
north OF us. Next came examinations of
walls and estimations of damage, but these.
it was happily discovered, were slight; so
slight, in TACT, as TO create some SURPRISE
One OF the walls OF the Archbishop's palace
was rent open, leaving fissure of about two
centimetres in breadth and one of the inner
walls of the InteDdeDcia, as also of the Cafe
Santiago, was similarly cracked its entire
height. Several fagstaffs were broken and
the interior walls and heavy earthen. tiled
roofs OF large number of dwelling houses
were considerably injured.
In the churches there was experienced
more or less panic, as the terrified assem-
blages hurried to the doors, and MANY per-
sons were confused and some severely tramp.
led upon. AT the church of the Merced it is
reported that two women had their arms
broken, and in most instances women were
the principal sufferers. But it must be said
also that in these panics most of the fault lies
with the gentler sex, for the women of San
tiaso, as OF NEST Spanish countries, insist up
on wearing long, trailing skirts, ard when a
rush is made, these being trampled upon,
their wearers are thrown down and scores of
others fall over them. 1t is asserted here by
those who We're present at the time that the
doors of the burning Church of the Campana
were by this means blocked full of human be-
ings and the world was appalled, by tragedy
in which over two thousand lives were lost.
This was eight years ago; but the ladies have
not yet altered their fashion. At one of the
churches here yesterday one of the officiating
priests immortalized himself. Upon perceiv-
ing the severity of the shock and the calamity
which 1t seemed to pOrtend he ceased in the
service, calmly recommended the conereca-
tiOn to leave the edi6ce, and, resigned,y turn
ing to the altar, bent his head Ieverently up
on his hand, as though engaged in silent
prayer, the perfect ideal Of piOus resignation
He maintained this attitude until all the
danger had passed.
At few minutes before one o'clock in the
diIeTHOOH d ScCOuu SNCck OCctlrreO, DuJ OF
slight force and duration and people generally
were becoming more tranquized up to twen-
ty minutes past five o'clock, when nearly ev-
erybody was at dinner, and then a third scene
OF panic ensued, as heavy, trembling and
swinging movement was ielt. Again the
houses creaked, trees quivered and swayed,
chandeliers, pictures ard all pendant objects
were swung violently about, aid the water in
the basins OF the fountains was, in numerous
cases, dashed over the brim, a height of rot
less than four or five inches, Servants rush.
ed pale and breathless into the streets and
cOurtyards with their masters and mistresses,
misericOrdids were again uttered by thou
sands Of voices, and in about fifty seconds the
storm had abated. Nothing very serious
seems to have resulted fiom this shock.
And now came the really anxious time as
night settled down upon the convulsed and
frightened city, and it was found that quite a
strong, cool breeze was prevailing. The more
experienced inhabitants aueured much dan
ger if this wir.d prevailed without rain for
amy length OF time, as rain is always the sup
plement to an earthquake, even though, as
here at present, rain may not be expected for
some weeks yet to coEie, this being only the
commencement Of the fall or rainy season
To be awake was at least bad enough but to
be asleep during an earthquake carries with
it something terrible in the mere anticipation
Awake one may rush into the patios, or al
least make an effort to escape; but asleep a
falling wall may prolong that sumber into
the haze of eternity. Hundreds Of people
slept in the pati0s, mprovising beds, and lay
to snatch what rest they might under the
| light OF the stars, while in the suburbs OF the
| city scores of poor persons, whose house:
were not built with court yards, slept in the
streets. l confess TO the most Appalling teal
l have ever experienced-aud | have fell
many-but they differed wildly from th
fear and found that young American den
| tist here was by no means 10th ot my com
pany as bedfellow. A room aone woul
have seemed lonely last night to either OF u:
and we slept together with our clothing Oh
ready Ior dash into the street, with th
doors ajar and light burning dimly.
| AT three O'Clock in the morning, while in
doing and restless sleep, weiwere awakened b
| a sharp shock, which shook the bedstead 81
that our bodies quivered; but, by the time w
fully understood it, il had ceased, and, wax
| ing and turning in nervous restlessness, w
pasted the remainder of the night.
| About seven o'clock this morning heavy
shower of rain commenced falling, and tn
Sabbath is damp and muddy one, but tha
| which brings us these inconvenience is Joy
fully hailed, ike "ihe bow in the heaven," a
the assurance that the danger is past. Sever
al slight tremGrs OF the earth have been fel
during the afternoon, but they indicate enl
the subsiding thrcbs OF the great subterran
can convulsiOns OF yesterday.
very singular accident, occurred on th
line of the Southern railway, about sixt
miles south OF Santiago, during the heav
earthquake of the morning. While the morn
ing train was running northward at full spec
and crossing country road it collided witt
a large ox-team wagon, containing six per
hn
completely demolished and all the occupant
were killed instantly. Dilisent search laile
to discover the heads of three of the victim:
nor were their names ever known for SOM
days afterwards. 1t is affirmed that the oxe
i became frightened by the shock of earthquak
which occurred moment previously, an
started across the track just in font of th