The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-07-13
A GRAPHIC PICTURE OF THE PERUVIAN
EARTHQUAKE.

EARTHQUAKE.
Captain Collcy, of the ship Aida, whose
vessel was destroyed by the great earthquake
which occurred off the coast of Peru last
month, has just returned to this city A
HcrdM reporter yesterday afternoon visited
the Captain at the Office of Messrs. w. r.
Grace Il Co., No. 6G Pine street, and vas
given the following graphic account of the
occurrence:
SCENE OF HORROR.
Con the 10Th of last May" said the Cap
tain, 1--WE were anchored in the port of Pa
bcllon dc Plea. The weather was fine and
nothing unusual was noticed All of a sud-
den, about ten minutes past eight o'clock in
ths. .esepinSs. @e. experienced a very heavy
shock of earthquake. The night was very
dark, but simultaneously with the shock
blush phosphorcsccnt light seemed to burst
from the hiltops. The earth appeared to
have cracked open and to be vomiting forth
flames The first shock was immediately
succeeded by another still heavier, anG this
was followed by a great tidal wave. The
sight became at once terrific. There were
twcnty-scven vessels in the harbor. all drag
ging their anchors and floating about at the
mercy of the waves The sea was very hirh.
and currents were running in all directions
at the rate Of eight or nine knots an hour.
No small boats could keep ahoat. The laun-
chcs were put out, but the sea turned them
right over. In less time than it takes to tell
it an immense wave was bearing us to the
shore. Our ship, the Aida. struck the rocks
and commenced to break up very fast
-. T., L.
when [ left the wreck. When we struck
the depth Of water on the rocks was about
fifteen feet, but twenty minutes aftcrward |
threw the led over and found this had in
creased to ten fathoms The length of the
wave might be calculated from these data
Seven other ships were driven along shore
with US, and were lost. Al the other YES
sells in the harbor were seriously damaged.
Fortunately, however, the crews all got off
safely.
TIE TOWN DESTROYED.
''Thc 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 out the conhag.
ration, and on rcccding took with it all the
town; swrtpnfg tilt faivu aafagiitt4i5rE, g, 5td
as clcanly as new broom. The Inhabitants
who numbered about four thousand, had
takca to the mountains at the first shock OF
the earthquake. But the wave was toe
quick for some of them and about one hun.
drcd and seventy persons were drowned.
| NATURES BURST OF ANGER.
"Thc blue flames rising from the noun
tains, the burning town, the flying inhabi
tants aud the unmanagcablc vessels in tho
harbor made a sight never to be forgotten
We had absolutely no warning of the ter
riblc disaster. The direction Of the shock
seemed to be from north to south a vol
cano twenty eight miles to the north OF
where we were, which had long been quic
scent, broke out again. The greatest clcya
ton of the tidal wave that followed wa.
about sixty feet over the highest part of the
town. The place was considerable depot
for guano. All the guano boats, condenser.
and machines were totally destroyed. The
actual loss must have been very great anG
the damage to the town will not be repaired
for many years. We had twcnty-one men
all told, on the Aida, and none were lost
| The American Consul at Callao took charge
Of us and sent us home. For a fortnight
after the tidal wave had occurred there were
severe shocks of earthquake along the coas
ofPeru. We often experience slight shocks
in sailing in those regions, but never saw
the like of this before and never want tc
experience it again
|
| RECIPE WoRTH Ten DOILARS.-Tak,