The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-06-21
FuH Account of the South american
Tidal WQce.

Tidal Wace.
The Star and Herald of Panama, lately
received, has details of the disaster and
destruction caused on the South Pacific
Coast by the earthquake and tidal wave
of May 9. The towns of africa, Iquique,
Ponta de Labos, Pabellon de Plea, Chan
avava, Huanillas, Tocpilia, Cabija,
Mejillones de Bolivia, Autofagasta and
Chanaralal are nearly all destroyed.
About six hundred lives were lost.
The destruction of property is esti-
mated at $2O,0OO,0 900, confined mostly to
the coast, although the town of Fara-
paca, twenty-three leagues inland, and
the villages of Plea, Matilda and Con-
chall, far in the interior, are more or less
ruined.
The shipping of guanofrom the South
ern deposits will be Indefinitely sus-
pended, as all facilities in the way of
launches, chutes. wharves, water con-
densers 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 Mallendo the railroad
was torn up by the sea three hundred
feet, and at Ilo the railroad was also in
jured.
At africa, the people were preparing
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 numerous, and caused
immense damage. The 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 assault of
the ocean, and four miles of the embank-
ment of the railroad melted away like
sand. Locomotives, cars and rails were
hurled about by the sea like so many
play-things, and left in tumbled mass
of rubbish.
The United States steamer Wateree,
stranded by the wave of 1868, was lifted
bodily, and foated two miles north of
her old position. A cable buoy was
moved a quarter of mile northward.
Merchandise from the Custom-house and
stores was carried five miles distant. The
damage done was greater than that ofthe
calamity of 1868.
The earthquake had leveled the Gus
tom-house, railway station, submarine
cable Office, hotel, British Consulate,
steamship agency, and many private
dwellings. The people passed the night
on the hills. Thieves began to rob when
the troops fired upon them, killing and
woundingseveral.
Iquique, built of wood and cane,
tumbled down at the first onset. Lamps
were broken, and the burning oil spread
ing over the debris: started general con-
fagration. Three companies of firemen
were instantly at their posts, although it
was difficult to maintain an upright po-
sition, shock following shock with dread
full regularity. To procure water, the
two best engines were stationed on the
beach. Just then the cry arose. j8' The
seap' "The sea!' and the waves rushed
| in. The engines were carried out by the
refux, and the fire continued unopposed.
| Three elements OF destruction were busy
at one moment-fre, water and the earth
quake. The affrighted people left the
city to its fate, flying to the neighboring
eminences. The fire destroyed large
portion of the town before it was sub
dued. The earthquake leveled nearly
all the rest, and water covers the ruins
which it took out in its refux. The
water condensers along the shore are
ruined, an irreparable loss for Iquique,
as no potable water is found there.
Nearly four hundred thousand quintals
of nitrate at Iquique and the adjacent
ports of Molle and Pisaqua were de-
stroyed. A small loss of life took place,
probably ten persons in all. Coasting
craft and small boats in the harbor were
broken to pieces.
Asin africa, a robbery of goods lying
in the street was attempted, but guard
of citizens took such severe measures
that the robbers we're speedily checked.
Away up on the Pampas, eleven miles
from Iquique, the splendid nitrate estab-
lishment, La Nueva Carolina, was COM
pletely destroyed. The sufferings of the
people of Iquique were intense. The
absence of water and the destruction of
the principal stores added to their hard
ships. 1t is estimated that the damage
done in Iquique will amount to nearly
four million soles.
Chanavaya, little town at the guano
loading deposit, known as Pabellon de
Plea, with four hundred houses, has only
two standing. Here the earthq uake was
followed by fire. There were no fire.
engines in the town, and the sea came in
|, and extinguished the flames, but as it re-
, tired, carried off all that remained of the
, place. In one of the guano cuttings
thirty laborers were buried by the falling
earth. Among the shipping at Havre it
] was terrible. The town of Tarapaca, two
or three leagues inland, and the villages
of Peca, Matella and Canchones, were
t more or less ruined. The loss of life is
/ reported as not being great.
, The earthquake was especially severe
at Chanavaya. The earth opened fifteen
meters in depth, and the whole surface
of the ground changed. At least two
, hundred people we're killed. The bodies
7 were floating in the bay, and pestilenct
was feared.
l At Heranillas, another guano loading
: station, the damage inflicted was fearful
l All the houses were destroyed. Guant
cuts have fallen in, and, as at Pabellon
d all loading must be suspended for a
= least two months. The wave which sue
l ceeded the earthquake and completed
s the work of destruction was nearly sixt,
Q feet in height. Many vessels were los
a | boro %nratbar with aavaroI IF thnsa ~,