Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-08-07
4 DELIGE IN pERT-

4 proverb which has long been popular in
Peru, tina. no rainfall occurs along the coast
has been disproved by terrible storm which
occurred on the 9th of July y letter from
Lima to the New York Herald gives the fol-
lowing particulars At about four O'Clock 7.
NJ. the sky assumed a threatening attitude,
and few minutes after the streets bore
evidence of the strength of the waterfall.
People might have been seen in every quar-
ter of the town hurrying to their dwellings,
or from thence to the nearest shops in search
of India-rubber cloth and other impermeable
aids. But of no avail the rain poured down
causing as much CONSERVATION as would
snow-storm in Havana; the fragile roofs con-
fessed themselves vanquished by their unex-
pected enemy. The water rushed uninter-
ruptedly through the fragile defences the
accumulated filth of centuries was filtered
through on the velvet carpets, the silken
curtains and the ormulu furniture of the old
palaces. The church-bells tolled out the
ptegayia. or the prayer to Heaven for
cessation of the dire invasion; the people
begged the elements TO change their attack;
even an earthquake would have been hailed
as a relief to such an inhiction. But the
heavens seemed pitiIess. About one O'Clock
in the morning the deluge ceased, and then
the miserable Inhabitants of the city found
that there was no rest, no comfort for them
in their dripping beds. The damage is two
fold. The public health has been seriously
endangered. Physicians say that colds and
coughs are unprecedentedly general, and
place in the world is more fatal for lung suf
terers than Lima. The injury to household
goods is stupendous. Many walls were un-
dermined and fell to the ground, burying all
hon u, fhn lob atatv Irna
not imply loss of life. In one establish
ment alone, that of one of the most wealthy
bankers of the city, thirty thousand dollars
worth of sumptuous furniture was utterly
ruined. The Palace of Justice, where the
| supreme and superior courts hold their sit
tings, was converted into lake. The great
library was drenched from the topmost to the
bottom shelves. Many inestimable volumes
of manuscript relating TO the early history of
Peru are now but masses of worthless pulp.
The streets were intransitable
The correspondent comments on the disas-
ter as follows: people in the United States,
provided against such events, regard a rain
storm with equinamity, secure in their we'll
fortified hohes, while Peruvians, unacquant-
ed with the fury of tempests, look upon them
with as much awe as the denizens of New
York would the shock of an earthquake. The
parallel is correct Rain in Lima and the
fearful rocking OF the earth IN New orK are
comparatively equally destructive. For earth
quake Lima is prepared and watchful-I may
say to the manor born; for rainfall New
FORK has her patent roofing and her umbrel-
las. The total damage will reach the neigh
borhood of half million of soles, or hard
dollars. What the result will be as respects
the health of the population the records o!
, the cemetery will declare. But the lesson
u has been salutary. Householders have unan-
!, imously decided to throw overheard the
e teachings of the old Spanish builders, ant
;, the romantic dwellings of Lima will shortly
i" be covered by substantial defences of CORFU
J. gated iron, sufficient obstacle to the new
It antagonist. One of the principal causes O.
. SO general disaster was the fact that many
- families were residing in Chonilos, the fash
= ionable watering-place about nine miles
r distant from Lima, and had their houses
closed here; consequently, when the doors
were opened on the morning after, the dis
comforted proprietors gazed gloomily upon
the wreck of what was once splendor and
elegance. Speaking commercially, trade will
| be benefited.