Middletown transcript., 1877-06-16
EarthqualIe i'm Peru.

New YORK, June 1.-The Panama
Star and Herald of May Both, has a
Lima letter of May both, giving the
following particulars of the Peruvian
tidal wave and earthquake. At about
$50 on the night Of the 9th a severe
earthquake shock, lasting from four to
FIVE minutes, moved the entire south
ern coast, even reaching down as far
as Antofogasta so severe was the
movement that in many places it was
impossible to stand upright without
support. The first shock was succeed
ed BY several others of less intensity,
and then the sea, Teceding from the
shore,seemed to concentrate its strength
for the fearful and repeated attacks it
made upon the land.
At africa the people we're busily en-
gagged in preparing temporary fortif-
cations to repel a threatened assault OF
the rebel ram Huasear at the very
moment when the roar of the earth
quake was 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 recede from the
beach, and wave from ten to fifteen
feet in height rolled in on the shore,
carrying before it all that it met
Eight times was repeated this assault
Of the ocean. The earthquake had
levelled to the ground the Custom
House in great part, the railway sta
ton, the submarine cable Office, the
hotel, British Consulate, steamship
agency and many private dwellings.
Owing to the early hour Of the even
ing and the excitement attendant on
the proposed attack Of the Huascar,
everyone was out and stirring, and the
only loss of life reported is that of three
little children who were overtaken by
the water. Plumber commenced the
evil disposed improved the occasion to
rob the goods scattered along the
beach. and the Prefect, to enforce
order, was obliged to command his
troops to fire on the thieves. This oc-
casioned tumult, in which several
men were killed and wounded.
Arequipa, the chosen victim Of
earthquakes, was this time left intact.
Her own special volcano, the Misti,
left the honors of the fray to his dis
tant brother on the frontier, for it
would appear that the shock proceeded
from the laga, volcano situated on
the southern boundary between Peru
and Bolivia, and which has recently
been reported in activity. Iquique is
in ruins. The movement was expert
enced there at the same moment and
with the same super-human force. Its
duration was exactly four minutes and
twenty seconds, proceeding from the
southeast, directly from the location of
the Ilaga.
Houses built of wood and cane tum-
bled down at the first onset of the
enemy. Lamps were broken, and the
burning oil, spreading over the debris,
Immediately started general confa-
grafton. Three companies of fremen
were instantly at their posts, although
it was still difficult to maintain an up
right position, shock followed shock
with dreadful regularity. In order to
procure water, the two best fire engines
were situated on the beach, and the
work began. Just then the cry arose,
''the sea the seal" and the waves
rushed in, the engines were carried out
by the refux, and the fire continued
unopposed, three elements Of destruc-
ton busy at one moment.
The affrighted people gave up all
attempts at resistance and left the city
to its fate, flying to the neighboring
eminences. The fire destroyed large
portion of the town, the earthquake
leeeled nearly all the rest, and the
water covers the ruins which it took
out in its refux. Four entire squares
of buildings were swamped nd taken
by the waves, all the wharves we're
destroyed, the Custom House is gone,
the nitrate stores have disappeared,
the water cOndensers along the shore
ruined. most irreparable loss for
Iquique, as no drinkable water is found
there. Antofogasta, Mexillones, To-
copilla and Cobija, towns on the coast
of Bolivia, met with the same misfor-
tune of earthquake and tidal wave at
once, and are in an identical condition
with Iquique and africa.
At Antofogasta several lives were
lost. Mexillones was visited by tidal
wave IS feet in height, twO-thirds Of
the town being completely obliterated.
At Mexillones six persons were
drowned.
At Tocopilla little or nothing re
mains of the town. A mine called
ia Pena Blanca" !" four miles to the
southwark, sank in, smothering two
hundred workmen, forty of whom were
Cornish miners. Cobija, the principal
town on the Bolivian coast, has lost
three-fourths of its houses. The wave,
35 feet high, swept the main business
street, and left it as level as the desert.
WharYes and launches were all carried
out to sea. All of those towns are in
the greatest distress. Chill has escap-
ed without injury. The northern ports
of Peru were damaged but little, al
though the sea was running remark
ably high. Efforts for the relief of the
distressed are being made.
Chanavaya, the little town at the
guano loading depot, known as Pa
bellon de Plea, with 400 houses, to-day
has only two standing. Here, as at
Iquique, the earthquake was followed
by fire. The sea came in and extin-
guished the conAagration, but as it re-
tired carried off all that remained OF
the place. In one Of the guano cut
tings 80 laborers were buried by the
falling earth, and suffered amongst the
shipping. AT least 200 people were
killed, bodies were floating around in