The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-06-21
Fun Account of the South american
Tidal WaUe.

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 $40, 200, 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 lilo the railroad was also in
iured.
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
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 fred upon them, killing and
wounding several.
Iquique, built of wood and cane,
tumbled down at the first onset. Lamps
were broken, and the burning oilspread-
ing over the debris, started general con-
fagration. Three companies of fremen
were instantly at their posts, althoug h 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, "The
seal" "The seal" 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 a 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. Coastine
craft and small boats in the harbor were
broken to pieces.
Asin africa, robbery of goods lyinl
in the street was attempted, but quart
of citizens took such severe measures
that the robbers were speedily checked
Away up on the Pampas, eleven mile
from Iquique, the splendid nitrate estab
hshment, La Nueva Carolina, was com
pletely destroyed. The suferings of tn
people of Iquique were intense. Tht
absence of water and the destruction o
the principal stores added to their hard
ships. 1t is estimated that the damag
done in Iquique will amount to nearl.
four million soles.
Chanavaya, little town at the guam
loading deposit, known as Pabellon d
Plea, with four hundred houses, has onl,
two standing. Here the earthquake wa
followed by fire. There were no fire
engines in the town, and the sea camel
and extinguished the flames, but as it re
tired, carried off all that remained of tn
place. In one of the guano cutting
thirty laborers were buried by the fallin
earth. Among the shipping at Havre
was terrible. The town of Tarapaca, tw
or three leagues inland, and the village
of Peca, Matella and Canchones, wer
more or less ruined. The loss of life
reported as not being great.
The earthquake was especially sever
at Chanavaya. The earth opened fftee
meters in depth, and the whole surfac
of the ground changed. At least tw
hundred people we're killed. The bodit
: were floating in the bay, and pestilent
was feared.
At Heranillas, another guano loadin
station, the damage inflicted was fearful
All the houses were destroyed. Guar
7 cuts have fallen in, and, as at Pabello
all loading must be suspended for
least two months. The wave which su
ceeded the earthquake and complete
S the work of destruction was nearly six
3 feet in height. Many vessels were 10
p have forathar with saverol of those 4