The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-06-01
THE TIDAL WAVE.
Great Destruction ON the Peruvian
Coast.

500 Lives Losf-Many Vessels Wrecked.
NEW YORK, May 80. The Panama Star and
Herald OF the 21st says that CallaO was visited
the morning of the 10th by a species of tidal
wave or rather gradual upheaval OF the sea,
which caused serious damage. The docks and
piers of the Murelle darsena were the principal
sufferers, together with some stores along the
shore line, which were completely carried away.
Vessels made fast and lying alongside the out
er walls of the dock were lifted fully eight feet
but, strange to say, not damaged. The tidal
wave is known to have extended as far south as
the nothern boundary of Chill, and resulted in
almost completely destroying Antofagasta,
Iquique, africa, Tambo de Moro, Pabellion de
Pico and lilo. Although severe shocks of
earthquake were felt they caused little dam
owing to the frighttul upheaval and ingress of
the sea. The fourishing town of Iquique, the
principal port for nitrate shipments, is left as
complete ruin now as it was after the fright
full earthquake and inundation of 1868. At
africa the sea washed over the town to the hill
back of the church and destroyed much valuable
property. The wreck of the United States
steamer Wateree which was carried inland
couple of miles BY the tidal wave of 1868. was
again foated and carried mile or two further
up.the coast. The lower part of Antofagasta,
which is the port celebrated for the Coracoles
mining district in Bolivia, is reported as COM
pletely destroyed. The smelling and other
works, near the shore are all swept away.
guano deposit suffered severely. and some half
dozen fine vessels are reported ashore and COM
plete wrecks. The sea in some places is stated
to have risen over 60 feet. Between 500 and
lendo, 300 feet Of railway, which runs along
the shore, was destroyed. At lilo the town and
railway were seriously damaged, although no
loss Of life is reported. Anxiety prevails as to
the fate of africa and lquique. The steamer
Santa Rosa left africa on the 9th. and reports
hot xuhi1a updar VIC cynerIQOcpd the sh0nk Of
an earthquake and saw tidal wave AT
Arequipa strong shock was felt but no dam
age was inflicted on the city.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 31-An account from
the Honolulu Advertiser of the great tidal wave
of May 10, says it appears to have occurred
simultaneously all over the group at Kahouli.
On the island of Mandi the first unusual SUBJ
sidance of the sea was noticed about quarter
before in the morning. The difference be-
tween the highest and lowest water mark at
various localities was ascertaned to be as fol-
lows: Hilo on the east side Of Hawaii, 81 feet;
Hslakakua Bay on the west side of Hawaii, 30
feet; Kaiahe on the west side of Hawaii,
feet; Kahuli on the north side of Moni, % feet;
Labaa on the south side of Moni. y feet:
Lahaina on the south side of Moni. IL feet;
Honolulu on the south side of Oahu, feet, 10
inches; Nawiliwil on the southeast side of
Kauai, 3 feet. In some cases the difference in
height of the water is accounted for by the
confguration of the coast and outlying reefs.
The volcano of Kilanet has been unusually
active of late. A steamer arrived at Hilo on
Wednesday, I'd inst. AS she passed down the
coast on the following night the light OF the
crater was unusually brilliant. On Friday at
245 p. NJ, several pretty severe earthquake
shocks were felt, followed few minutes later
by jet of lava thrown up from the floor of the
crater near the east bank through crack
which had evidently been made by an earth
quake. Lava continued to spout at this place,
gradually ascending the steep bluff to its sum-
NIT, thed moving along the isthmus connecting
the large crater wtbsthe smaller one of Kilaue-
ski, down into the pit of which the lava ran.
This continued for six hours, the lava being
thrown up 10 numerous jets along the line at
different heights, at times reaching 100 feet
Frequently there would be at least 80 of these
jets at once, making magnificent display in
the locality of this eruption. Its general char
acterstcs appear ia be ideutically the same as
those of 1882, 1910 and 1861