Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1877-06-23


Herald of Panama, received to-day, has
details of the disaster and the destruc-
ton caused on the South Pacific coast
by the earthquake and tidal wave Of
Nav 9. The towns of Arico, Iquique,
Porto de Habos, P;tbillon de Plea,
Chanavaya, Huanilla, Tocopilla, Cobb
ia, Mejilloncs, De Bolivia, Antafagasta
and Chanaralal are nearly all destroyed.
ABOUT 600 LIVES WERE LOST.
The destruction of property is estimated
at S21 .000, 200, confined mostly to the
coast, although the town of Tarapaco,
90 leagues inland, and the villages OF Pr
ca. Matilda and Cauchal, far in the in
terror, are more or less ruined. The
shipping OF guano from Southern depos-
its will be indefinitely suspended, and
all facilities in the way of launches,
chutes, wbarves, water condensers and
buildings of all kinds have been swept
away The destruction of and damage
TO shipping has been very great, and
was attended by very serious loss of life.
AT Molendo the railway was torn up
by the sea 100 feet, and at Ilo the rail-
way was also injured. At africa the
people were preparing temporary forti-
fications to repel the threatened assault
of the rebel ram Huasco at the very
moment when the roar OF the earth
quake was heard. The shocks were very
numerous. and caused immense damage.
The sea was suddenly perceived to re-
cede from the beach. and a wave from
10 to - feet high rolled upon the shore,
carving all before it. Eight times was
repeated this assault of the ocean, and
four miles of embankmenr of the rail-
way melted away like sand. Loco
motives, ears and rails were hurled about
by the sea like so many playthings, and
eft in tumbled mass of rubbish. The
United States steamer Wateree, strand
ed by the wave of 1868, was lifted bodi-
" and fioated two miles north of her
old position. The cable buoy was
moved two miles northward. Aler-
chandise from the Custom-house and
store was carried five miles distant. The
damage done was greater than that of
the calamity of 1868.
TIE EARTHQUAKE
has leyeled the Custom-house, Railway
Station, Submarine Cable Office, hotel,
British Consulate, Steamship Agency,
and many private dwellings. The peo-
Pile passed the night on the hills
Thieves began To rob, when the troops
fired apon them killing and wounding
several.
Iquique, built of wood and cane. tum-
bled down at the first onset Lamps
were broken, and the burning oil spread
ing over the debris, started general
confiagraticn. Threecompanieso of fire
men were instantly at their posts, al
though it was difficult 10 maintain an
upright position, shock following shock
with dreadful regularity. To procure
water. the two hest fire-engines were
stationed On the beach. Just then the
cry arose. "the sea- the sea,n and the
waves rushed in. The engines were
carried out by the reflux. and the fire
continued unopposed. Three elements
of destruction were busy ut one mo-
ment-
FIRE, WATER AND EARTHQUAKE.
The atfrighted people left the city to its
fate, flying to neighboring eminences
The fire destroyed large portion of the |
town. The earthquake leyeled nearly
all the rest, and water covers the ruins, |
which it took out in its reflux The |
water eondensers along the shore are
ruined-an irreparable loss for Iquique |
AS no palatable water is found there. |
Nearly four hundred thousand quintals |
of mira at lquique and at the adjacent
ports Of Molle and Pesasqua We're de-
stroyed Small loss of life took place,
probably l0persons in all. The coast
ing craft and small boats in harbor were
broken 10 pieces. As to africa, robbery
of goods lying in the street was attempt
ed, but a guard of citizens took such
severe measures that the robbers were
speedily checked. The splendid nitrate