The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-06-27
A GREAT EARTHQUAKE.

Whole Towns DESTROYED and Hundreds of
Lives Lost Along the South Pacific Coast.
We CLEAN the following particulars of
the recent earthquake and tidal wave
that caused such terrible loss of life and
property along the south Pacific coast:
At about $50 on the night of the ninth
2 severe earthquake shock, lasting from
four to five minutes, moved the entire
southern coast, even reaching down as
far as Antofagasta. So severe was the
movement that in many places it was m
possible to stand upright without sup
port. The first shock was succeeded by
several others of less intensity, and then
the sea, receding from the shore, seemed
to concentrate its strength for the fearful
and repeated attacks it made upon the
land. Leaving Callao and proceeding
southwark the first port visited was Pts
co, where the damage was not great.
At Mollendo the railway was torn up
by the sen for a distance of 800 feet,
since repaired, and a violent hurricane
afterward set in from the south prevent
ing the approach of all vessels, and I'M
roofing the houses of the town. At Ito
the railway was also injured, but to no
great extent. At africa the people were
busily engaged in preparing temporary
Notifications to repel q threatened as
sault Of the rebel ram Hauscar at the
very moment when the roar of the earth
quake wa heard. The shocks were very
numerous, and caused immense damage
in the town, the people flying to the
Moro for safety. The sea was suddenly
perceived to reccde from the beach, and
a wave from ten to fifteen feet in height
rolled in upon the shore, carrying before
it all that it met. Eight times was re-
peated this assault of the ocean. The
earthquake had leveled to the ground
the custom house in great part, the rail-
way station, the submarine cable office,
the hotel, British consulate, steamship
agency and many private dwellings,.
Owing to the early part of the evening
and the excitement attendant on the pro-
posed attack of the Hauscar, every n
was out and stirring, and the only loss of
life reported is that of three children
who were overtaken by the water. The
progress Of the wave was only stopped
at the foot of the hill on which the
church stands, which point is further in
land than that reached i'll August, 1868.
Four miles OF the embankment of the
railway melted away like sand before
the assault of the water; locomotives,
cars and rails were hurled about by the
sea like so many playthings and left in
a tumbled mass of rubbish. The United
States steamer Watcree, stranded by the
bore of 1868, was lifted up bodily and
hoated two miles north of her old posi-
ton. The cable buoy was moved a
quarter of a mile northward. Merchan-
disc from the custom house and stores
was carried by tho water to q point on
the beach five miles distant. The dam
age done was greater than that of the
previous calamity, as the new buildings
erected since 1868 were Of G more costly
and substantial class. The next morning
the scene was pitiful. The shocks still
continued; the sea was yet dreadfully
agitated; the only two vessels in the bay,
anchored far out, escaped injury, but
all the launches and boats had been de-
stroyed. The people passed the night on
the hills. Plumber had been commenced;
the evil-disposed improved the occasion
to rob the goods scattered along the
beach, and the prefect to inforce order
was obliged to Command his troops to
fire upon the thieves. This occasioned
a tumult in which several men were
killed and wounded. From the interior
supplies of food and clothing were sent
down. Tacna and the other island towns
felt the shock but slightly. Arequipa,
the chosen victim of earthquakes, was
this time left intact.
Iquique is in ruins. The movement
was experienced there at the same mo-
ment and with the same superhuman
force. It's duration was exactly four
minutes and twenty seconds, proceeding
from the southeast directly from the To-
cation of the Ilaga. The houses, built
of wood and cane, tumbled down at the
first onset of the enemy. Lamps were
broken, and the burning oil spreading
over the debris, Immediately started a
general contiagration. Three companies
of tiremen, German, Italian and Peru
Wan, were instantly at their posts, al
though it was still difficult to maintain
an up light position, shock following
shock with dreadful regularity. In Or
der to procure water the two best fire
engines were stationed on the beach,
and the work began. Just then the cry
arose "The sea! the sen !" and the
angry waves rushedin-the engines were
carried out by the rehux, and the fire
continued unopposed. Three elements
of destruction busy at one moment.
Fire, water and the earthquake The
affrighted people gave up all attempts at
resistance, and left the city to its fate,
flying to the neighboring eminences.
The fire destroyed q large portion of the
town !; the earthquake leveled nearly
all the rest, and the water covers the
ruins which it took out in its refux.
Four entire squares Of buildings were
swamped and taken by the waves; all the
wharves were destroyed; the custom
house is gone I; the nitrate stores have
disappeared; the water-condensers along
the shore ruinel-a most irreparable loss
for ,Iquique, as No portable water is
found there. Small loss of life took
place, probably ten persons in all. The
GrimaneZa, a water-boat, was stranded
on the island in the harbor. The Brit
ish bark Caprera and a German bark,
the Zoermis Voss, sank.
All the coasting crafts and small boats
in the harbor were broken to pieces and
drifting about in every direction. On
board occurred the loss OF life alluded to.
The project Immediately began the work
of reorganization. AS in africa, robbery
of the goods found in the streets was at
tempted, but al urban guard was formed
of the citizens aud such severe measures
resorted to that the robbers were speedi-
ly checked. 1t was now discovered that
the cable was injured, and the dispatches
sent to Lima and africa for help
and water principally were detained.
Away up OF the pampas, eleven miles
from Iquique, the splendid nitrate es-
tablishment, Ella Nueva Carolina" was
completely destroyed the town of
Tarapaca, twenty-three leagues inland,
and the villages OF Plea, Matilda and
Ganchones more or less ruined. The