The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-04
p E r u.
Terrible Rain Storm and Most
Disastrous Consequences.
The City OF Lima Inundated and Damages
Half Million Of Dollars.
Sudden Surprise and sufHsring-A New Fact
in Natural History-Movements of the
United States Squadron on the Coast.

LIMA, July Ia 1878.
proverb has long been popular In Peru that
no rainfall occurs along the coast. The believers
in this tradition and their name was Legion. were
painfully disappointed on the night OF the 9th
instant, when the cities OF Lima and CallaO were
fairly flooded by the drippings from the clouds,
which fell in such quantities to cause o damage
In few hours OF more than half million OF hard
dollars. The general idea Is that when
Pizarro landed In Peru one of the officers In
his train pretended to certain knowledge Of
architecture and to the climaterlc influences
on different zones Surprising that Lima was
exempt from all heavenly moisture, this wouldbe
savant advised that the roofs OF the dwellings
should be constructed rs lightly as possible In
order to afford free ventilation, no fears being en-
tertained Of watery visitatons. The Indication
was adopted and the houses were covered with
slight canes, on which was placed composition of
mud and refuse, technically known as torta )" and
through the interstces OF which new Asmodeus
could easily perceive the peculiarltes of the family
circle This compound offers no resistance to the
rain, and, indeed. no barricade was deemed
necessary.
RAIN AND UPHOLSTERY RUM
At about four O'Clock p M. on the day have
mentioned the sky assumed threatening aspect,
and few moments after the streets bore eloquent
evidence Of the strength OF the waterfall. People
might have been seen in every quarter OF the town
hurryng to their dwellings, or from thence to the
nearest shops in serrch 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 the Havana; the fragile
roofs Immediately confessed themselves van
qushed by their unexpected enemy and
would gladly have thrown up the sponge
had they possessed that desirable object
for the preservation OF the goods they supposed
to protect. The magnificent interior OF the Lima
houses furnished, as possibly those Of few capt.
tails in the world with the most extravagant prod
ucts OF the looms Of Brussels and the most expensive
articles from Partisan factories, speedily assumed
disheartening aspect. The water rushed unn-
terruptedly through the fragile defences; the &C
cumulated filth OF centuries was filtered through
on the velvet carpets the silken curtains and the
ormuu furniture Of the old palaces, raised in &C.
cordance with the suggestions Of the conqueror's
architect. Fathers, mothers, sons and daughters,
aided by the Inevitable heatnen Chnee, an
exotic plant lourisbing finely in Peru organized
into battalOns for home defence, and the instru-
ments used against the foe were laughable enough
Under the streams Of water falling on their de-
voted heads were placed bathtubs, spittoons,
pitchers, basins, glasses, fshbows, wristbands,
mats and extraordinary looking objects OF China.
ware. Beds and bedding were Of second consdera-
ton First the family cruciHx, or saint, was re-
moved to place OF safety; secondly the carpets
and piano were placed under guard, and lastly the
distracted parents were induced to bestow some
Of their attention on the wardrobes OF their az
WISHING FOR AN EARTHQUAKE
The church bells tolled out the plegartd or the
sion; the people begged the elements to change
their attack; even an earthquake would have been
hailed as relief to such an infection. But the
About one O'Clock in the morning the deluge
was no Ts no como
them in their dripping beds.
is twOfOld. The public health has been seriously
endangered Physicians say that colds and coughs
are unprecedentedly general, and no place In the
The injury to household goods is stapendous.
Many walls were undermined and fell to the
ground buryng all beneath the debris, CALI" for
tunatcly, does not imply loss Of life. In one
establishment alone, that OF one OF the most
wealthy bankers of the city, $4,000 worth Of sump-
tuOus furniture was utterly ruined.
The Palace of Justice, where the Supreme and
Superior Courts bold their sittings, was converted
into lake, and the litigants have been compelled
TO abstain from their legal quarres until the
floors dry enough for the continuance Of the
The great library was drenched from the topmost
to the bottom shelves. Many lnestlmabe volumes
are now but masses OF worthless pulp.
The streets were intransltable, and even at the
present moment iocomoton Is dangerous over the
States, provided against such events, regard q
rainstorIn with equanimity, secure IN their well
fortified homes While Peruvians, unacquanted
with the fury OF Jempests 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 York are comparatively equally destruc-
tive. For earthquake Lima is prepared and watch
full may say TO the manor born for rainfall New
York has her patent roofing and her umbrellas.
The total damage will reacn the neighborhood OF
half million OF sOles or hard dollars. What the
result will be as respects the health of the popula-
ton the records OF the cemetery Will declare But
mum
has been salutary. Householders have unanimous
ly decided to throw overheard the teachings OF the
old Spanish builder, and the romantic dwellings, of
fences Of corrugated iron, sufficient obstacle to
the new antagonist. One OF the princl-
pal S q disaster
I'm ChonlOs, the fashionable watering place about
nine miles distant from Lima, and had their houses
opened on the morning after, the discounted pro-
prietors gazed gloomily upon the wreck OF what
was once splendor and elegance. Speaking
trade will be benefited.
MOVEMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES SQUADRON.
The United States steam frigate Pensacola,
Captain Upshur, bearing the broad pennant Of Adj.
mira stedman, Commander-in-Chi of the
American naval forces in these waters, left
await the arrival Of the Omaha. Captain
short stay in port Admiral Stedman and his OH.
ali Of ar" s az pomac and
naval, Who visit this sensitive and observant
country, were as courteous as the officers OF the
Pensacola it would be better for the prestige OF
tion Is like growing chd-it must be caressed
and petted when its faults tend towards the ex.
cusable side. Jealous of any supposed slight, and
always ready to imagine insult, our sister Peru In
the family OF Republics SHOULD ever receive atten-
ton at the hands OF her model-the United states
NEW MEXICO.