The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-06-20
EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTH AME-
RIGA.
NEW YORK, J
i0HH

received to-day, has details of the
Disaster and destruction caused on
South Pacific Coast by the earth
quake and tidal wave of May 9th.-
The towns of africa, Iquique, Ponta
de LAGOS, Pabellon de Plea, Chana-
yaya, Huanillas, Tocpilia, Cabija,
Mejillones de Bolivia, Autofagasta
and Chanaraial are nearly all des-
troyed. About six hundred lives
were lost.
The destruction of property is es-
timated at $2O,OO0,0O0, confined
mostly to the coast, although the
town Of Farapaca, twenty-three lea
CUES inland, and the villages of Plea,
Matilda and Conchall, far in the in
terror, are more or less ruined. The
shipping of guano from the Southern
deposits will be indefinitely suspend
I'd, as all facilities in the way of
launches, chutes, wharves, water con
deusers and buildings of all kinds
have been swept away. The des-
truction Of and damage to shipping
has been very great, and was attend
ed by very serious loss of life. At
Mallendo the railroad was torn up by
the sea 300 feet, and at lilo the rail
road was also injured.
At africa, the people were prepar-
ing temporary Notifications to repel
the threatened assault of the rebel
ram Huascar at the very moment
when the roar of the earthquake was
heard. The shocks were very nu-
merous and caused immense damage.
Tie sea was suddenly perceived to
recede from the beach, and waves
from ten to fifteen feet high rolled up
on the shore, carrying all before it.
Eight times was repeated this as
sault Of the ocean, and four miles of
the embankment of the railroad melt
ed away like sand. Locomotives,
cars and rails were hurled about by
the sea like so many playthings, and
left in q tumbled mass of rubbish.
The United States steamer Wate-
rec, stranded by the wave of 1868,
was lifted bodily, and foated two
miles north of her old position. A
cable buoy was moved quarter Of a
mile northward. Merchandise from
the Custom House and stores were
carried five miles distant. The dam
age done was greater than that of the
calamity of 1868.
The earthquake had leveled the
Custom House, railway station, sub.
marine cable office, hotel, British
Consulate, steamship agency, and
many private dwellings,. The peo
pie passed the night on the hills. -
Thieves began to rob when the troops
fred upon them, killing and wound.
ing several.
Iquiqne, built of wood and cane
tumbled down at the first onset
Lamps were broken and the burning
oil speeding over the debris, startec
a general confagration. Three com
panies of fircmen were instantly a.
their posts, although it was difficult
to maintain an upright position
shock following shock with dreadful
regularity. To procure water, Thu
two best engines were stationed or
the beach. Just then the cry arose
"The sea! The seap' and the waves
rushed in. The engines were car
ried out by the refux, and the fir'
continued unopposed. Three ele
ments of destruction were busy a
one moment-ire, water and thu
earthquake. The afrighted people
left the city to its fate, flying to thu
neighboring eminences. The fire
destroyed large portion of the towl
before it was subdued. The earth
quake leveled nearly all the rest, ant
water covers the ruins which it tool
out in it's refux. The water conden
sers along the shore are ruined, al
irreparable loss for 1quique, as nj
potable water is found there. Near
" four hundred thousand quintals o
nitrate at Iquique and the adjacen
ports of Molle and Pisaqua were des
troyed. A small loss Of life tool
place, probably ten persons in ALL
Coasting craft and small boats in tn
harbor were broken to pieces. AS il
africa, a robbery of goods lying il
the street was attempted, but guar'
of citizens took such severe measure
that the robbers were speedily check
ed. Away up on the Pampas, eleye
miles from Iquique, the splendid nj
trate establishment, La Nueva Caro-