The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-16
TIE HORRORS OF A NIGHT.
CITIES DESTROYED BY EARTHQUAKE.
FIRE, IND TIDAL U1yE
Vivid Pes Picture Of the Recent Astounding
Calamity In south Americn-A Ficurfshing
Coast Made Dcsoiate In ~ Few Hours.

From, NE BntDn ficsyiis,r.
VALPARAISO, May N.-A few days before
the events an about TO narratc took place. the
volcanic mountains Of San Pedro and San Pablo
were observed to be sending forth high in air.
from their lofty peaks. flames. stones. and
ashes. AT night the reflected light illuminated
the heavens. at times giving reddish glare to
the passing and ovcrhangng clouds and would
gradually disappear. Now and then a glmmer-
ing whitish light would brightly be reflected
from some bursting forth of the flames at the
crater's mouth, and with these frequent changes
the night would pass away. Daylight gave the
appearance of n dense smoky cloud hanging
high above and around the volcano Al the
foot hills OF these mountain ranges were stu
atcd the cities of Calama. San Pedro and Chui-
chui. all Of which were destroyed.
Wednesday. the 9th day Of May, 1877. was re-
markable for the extreme heat and sufocating
atmospheric cloudy day. In the evening at
$50. without any announcement by the usual
rumbling, underground sound preceding an
earthquake. the earth began TO shake slightly
at first. and then the shaking gradually in
creased in strength. For the space of three
minutes the motion Of the ear,h's surface was
undulating. rocking. and uplifting The shock
was distlnrly felt from CallaO. Peru. along the
cuast OF Bolivia to Nallivia in the southern por-
ton OF Chill. its central point. OF action and
Increment Of the trcmor the startled popuacc
OF the many different seacoaSt cities hurried
forth from their dwellings and found them
selves ar ely uDl" tp inaintnn their fOuthOld
in the public streets some there were
who fell upon their hands and knees. The
darkn"ss OF tho night. the grinding Of the
walls of the buildings one against the other the
crushing, breaking. cracking sound Of timber.
The tumnl ling down of walls and clouds Of dust
crockery. glassware. &c.. as they fell. the ring
INK Of III. church and the other bells with the
sway OF the earth-thesc. together with the cries
| % despair and shricks Of women and children.
| mingled with the loud prayers Of mercy. were
| but norton 81 I'll" horrors Of the pas~in., mo-
ln"nts. with diminished force Tor hours after
shak" after shake occurred. and. To- add ~ the
| misiVrtun"s of many oi the cities. flames broke
| iorth from III" ruined houses.
| Bravery the mon contendcd with the new
| enemy, which was fast gaining the upper hand.
| Inc blazing hames as they shot upward were
seen miles away NJ sea on sliphOard The light
| oi the coniiagrMion upon the Jagged. shapeless
| runs Of buildings ~ the backgrounds. and
| the reflection of the flames upon the passing
| ii9rinS. w srarrd pale ia'es "i inc women az
! they hnsillv passed Two and fro. hunting some
dear ono gr anxious for III" welfare Of relatives
AMI friends. gave perhaps faint picture Of the
| last day. Amid such sad and gloomy scenes
| IN. cry .nrose forth and was repeated from every
| side. - The tidal wave!' Men gave W IN perfect
| despair. and with the women and children in
| tent on preservation. they sought. mad
| dencd with Albright. the steep hili-idrs for
| SAFETY Mothers wcr" separated from their
| children. husband from wife everything was
Confusion and confonndcd the sick arose from
security. and they. too. rushed on with the rest.
many 81 them Iarishing in the attempt
Tn" sea gradually left the shore. and. falling
back for at least onc-third OF mile. as If t. gain
| strength and velocity for its fearful coming
| leap, rising sixty feet in height it advanced.
boiling, rolling. and tunhling over and over.
| with d"afvning noise. bearing all before II IN
| it, course: vessels. some of them. sank in it,
embrace and were never seen again: others
| chung Ia their anchorage and for time were
buried IN III" wave, were lifted up and IN safety
| swaying from side 10 side settled at last in
.tV n
| 20 the land. whore they wrr" dismantled or
| broken in pieces. The tidal wave. gaining in
force and power with lis onward rolling motion.
seemed striving iorthe final struggle. and run
ninE it, fearful course II soon entered the thrice
doomed cltirs, putting out the flames of tho
burning buildings and raising dense volume
OF smoke and steam. In rcceling the wave took
with i all that remained undcstroved
With IN" appearance OF daylight was dscov-
cred the wr"ck of what few hours before had
been ilourlshing cities. now u desoatc waste.
An Industrious thriving people were homeless
and houseless and soon 10 suffer the pangs of
hunger and thirst, of ruin and despair. Tho
beach wil- srewn with the wrecks OF their prop
"riy. and IN" sea had destroyed their pruvis-
ions. For fv" day the Tidal waves rose and
fell grow ng ca' Day loser IA force. Il is sup
posed - hc III" most disastrous wave cVerexpr-
rirn'ed on TINS roast. aud ~ have been caused
tN suht 'rrancun earthquake under the sea.
AMI '"nn"ird with the volcano of san Pedro.
ti"- ana towns nave been ruined. some Of
th'm never to h" rebuilt IN all probability.
Among the places which have suffered IN
lquiquo africa CohiaCa Iamn SIN Pedro. P-sca So
Cnui-Chui Tamho dr Mora. Molrndo Palnlion
i" Pea, Puntu de- Lobos iluduiliOs Toeopillo,
M|illoncs ir Rolivia, Antoiogasta. Constitution.
and IArna. Many of the min = have been sunk
or badly injured. and the losses sustained by
the people are inealfulahlc Tn" Carmen mnr
fell out of plumb and buried thirty-hve miners
and an oyersc"r in it, ruins The trading
steamers If tn" couSt took deck loads II suffer
ing woman and children to Coquimbp and VAL
utrHiSo, where they wore cared for 10y "a liberal,
charitable people. and the Chilli Government
Immortality upon receipt oi Information Of the
stat" OF Affairs along the coa~t sent men oil war
steamers loaded with clothing. provisions, and
water for the relief If the suffering.
tn" following i related hy a captain Of a ves-
sci on the coast. AT the time of the shock his
wife was playing the piano. Home. sweet
home, and his two daughters were present
singing the song, They ran up the companion
WAY ON deck. and few moments later the tidal
wave left the vessel broadsido Ia the incoming
current The heavy roller struck and broke
the vessel into pieces, and all were left AT the
mercy Of the sea. The Captain. an expert swim
MGR endeaNorcd 10 assist his family. but was
prevented 10y n" Chinese servant seizn.. him
10y the arm, 10 free himself. and in the eX-
element Of his situation he was compelled To-
strange the Chinaman. He found that his
whole family had disappeared from sight.
Compelled TO support their Wives