The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-06-30
The Great Tidal Wave,


Captain Colley, of the Ship Aida, whose
vessel was destroyed by ths!Sreai earthquake
which occurred OFF the coast Of Peru last
month has returned TO New York. He gives
the following graphic account of the occur
renee;
On the 9th of May, said the Captain, we
were anchored in the port of Pabbellon de
Plea The weather was fine aud nothing
unusual was noticed. All of q sudden, about
ten minutes past eight o clock in the evening
we experienced heavy shock Of earthquake.
The night was very dark, but simultaneously
with the shock blush phosphorescent light
seemed to burst from the hilltops. The
earth appeared to have cracked open and to
have vomiled forth flames.
The first shock was Immediately succeeded
by another still heavier, and this was followed
by great tidal wave. The sight became at
once terrific. There were twenty-seyen yes
sells in the harbor, all dragging their anchors
and floating about at the mercy OF the waves.
The sea was very high, and the currents
were running in all directions at the rate of
eight or nine knots an hour. No small boats
could keep atloat. The launches were put
out, but the seas turned them right over In
less time than it takes to tell IL, an immense
wave was bearing us to the shore. Our ship,
the Aida, struck the rocks and began to
break up very fast.
There were eighteen feet Of water in her
when left the wreck. When We struck the
depth of water on the rocks was about fifteen
feet, but twenty minutes atterward ! threw
the lead over aud found this had increased to
ten ti,thoms The leugth of the wave might
be calculated from these data. Seven other
ships were driven along the shore with us
and were lost. The other vessels in the
harbor were seriously damaged. Fortunate
ly, however, tho crews all got off safely.
The people ON shore were not so lucky.
The shocks of earthquake had laid PROSTATE
all the buildings Of the little town. The
Kerosene lamps used to light the houses had
been broken and the town began to burn up.
When the wave came it put ont the cOnfagra.
ton and on receding took with il all the
houses, stores-in fact, everything in the
town, sweeping the place where it had stood
as clearly as q new broom. The inhabitants,
who numbered about 1900, had taken to the
mountains at the first shock Of the earth.
quake. But the wave was too quick for some
of them and about 40 persons were drowned.
The blue flames rising from the mountains,
the burning town, the flying inhabitants and
the unmanageable vessels in the harbOr made
- oAEhh hNNNA 70 hN AtA Ehlktlls ~ nAA hhoNr
lutely no warning OF the terrible disaster.
The direction Of the shock seemed to be from
north to south.
a volcano tweuty.eight miles to the north
of where we were, which had long been
quiescent, broke out again, The greatest
elevation Of the tidal wave that followed was
about sixty feet over the highest part of the
town. The place was a considerable depot
for guano.
All the guano boats, coudeusers and ma.
chimes were totally destroyed. The actual
loss must have been very great and the dam.
age to the town will not be repaired for many
years. We had twenty.one men, all told on
the Aida, and none were lost The Amer.
can Consul at Calao took charge of US and
sent us home. For fortnight after the tidal
wave had occurred there we're severe shocks
OF earthquake along the coast of Peru. We
often experience slight shocks in sailing in
those regions, but | never want to expert.
ence il again.