The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-06-16

THE DISASTROUS TIDAL WAVES.
Further Details-Six Hundred Lives Lost
S20,O0o,O00 in Property Destroyed
PANAMA, June 2.-Ds the arrival of the
steamer 0rova from Callao, ON the 18th ult
We have fuller details of the disasters suffered
on the coast from earthquakes and tidal
waves. The towns of africa, Iuuique, Ponta
de Lobos, Pabclon de Plea, Chanayaya, lIu.
anillos, Tocopilla, Mejillones de Bolivia, An.
tofagasta and Chanaval are nearly all destroy.
ed, About GOO lives only were lost. The
destruction of property is estimated at $50,
900, 600, confined mostly to the coast, although
the town of Tarapaca, twenty.three leagues
inland and the villages of Plea, Matilda and
Canchones, far in the interior, were more or
less ruined, The shipping of guano from the
southern depots will be indefinitely suspend
ed, as all the facilities in the way of launches,
Chutes, wharves, water condensers and build
ings of all kinds have been swept away.
The destruction Of shipping has been very
great. At Pabillon de Plea the vessels lost
were the American ship Alnda, German ship
L. +. Gabian, English bark Lady Bellian,
and Italian banks Silvia b. and Pietro b. At
IluhllllbN bilt NtAHtlh lDSl NtEt lut american
ship Geneva, crew saved; English ships Avon.
moor, Conway Castle, Conference and the
hulk Gabriel Casio. On the Avonmoor one
of the captains children was killed in his
arms, All on board the Gabriel Castro were
lost. A large number of ships were driven
ashore and more or less damaged. On shore
the Governors building and every other
structure except few huts were destroyed.
At Punta dc Lobos the ships Hayre (French)
and Shamrock (English) were lost, and four.
teen injured. Two vessels have arrived at
CalaO bringing some of the wrecked survivors
of the disaster. The effects of the calamity
upon Peruvian affairs will be particularly dis.
astrous. The nitrate interest has suffered
irreparabe loss from the recent disasters.
-Four hundred thousand quintals of nitrate
were destroyed, and all the works either
ruined or badly injured.
The Panama Star and Herald of May 30th
has u Lima letter Of May 20 giving the follow.
ing particulars AT about $50 on the night
of the 9th severe earthquake shock, lasting
from four to five minutes, moved the entire
southern coast, even reaching down rs far us
Antaiagasta. So severe was the movement
that in many places il was impossible TO stand
upright without support. The first shock was
succeeded by several Others of less intensity,
and the sea receding from the shore seemed
to concentrate its strength for the fearful and
repeated attacks it made upon the land.
AT africa the people were busily engaged
in preparing temporary Notifications to repel
threatened assault OF the rebel ram Hauscar
at the very moment when the roar of the
earthquake was heard. The shocks were very
numerous and caused immense damage in
the town, the people flying to the mario for
safety. The sea was suddenly perceived to
recele from the beach and a wave from ten
to fifteen feet in height rolled in upon shore,
carrying before itall that it met. Eight times
was repeated this assault of the ocean. The
earthquake had leycled TO the ground the
custom house in great part, the railway sta.
ton, the submarine cable office, the hotel,
British consulate, steamshipagcncy, and many
private dwellings,
Owing to the early hour of the evening and
the excitement attendant on the proposed ut.
tack Of the Hanscar, every one was out and
stirring, and the only loss of life reported is
that OF three little children, who were over.
taken by the water. Plumber commenced.
The evil disposed improved the occasion to
rob the goods scattered along the beach, and
the project to enforce order was obliged to
command his troops to fire upon the thieves.
This Occasoned tumult, in which several
men were killed and wounded.
At lquique houses built of wood and lime
tumbled down at the first onset Of the enemy.
Lamps were broken, aud burning oil spread
ing over the debris Immediately started a
general conhagration. Three companies of
iiremeu were instantly at their posts, although
it was still difficult to maintain an upright
position, shock following shock with dreadful
regularity.
In order to procure water the two best fire
engines were stationed on the beach and work
began. just then the cry arose, "The sea !
the sea ~ and the waves rushed in. The
engines we're carried ont by the renux, and
the fire continued unopposed. Three ele-
ments of destruction busy at one moment
The afTrighted people gave up all attempts at
resistance and left the city to its fate, flying to
the neighborng eminences. The fire destroy
ed large portion Of the town, the earthquake
leveled nearly all the rest, and the water COW
ers the ruins which it took out in its reAux.
AT Terapilla little or nothing remains of
the town. A mine called LA Perra Blanca, -
four miles to the southwark, sank in, smoth.
ering 200 workmen, of whom 40 were Cornish
miners. Cobiga, the principal town on the
Bolivian coast has lost threetourths of its
houses. The wave, 30 feet high, swept along
tue DuhluPhs stTttt anu ltit u Us level Us lnt
desert. Wharyes and launches were all car
ried out to sen. All of these towns are in
the greatest distress.
Chill has escaped without injury. The
northern parts of Peru were damaged but
little, although the sea was running remarka.
bly, high Efforts for reliei of the distressed
are being made. Chanavaya, the little town
at the guano loading deposit, known as Pab-
ellos de Plea, with four hundred houses, to.
day has only two standing Here, as ut
lquique, the earthquake was followed by fire.
The sea came in and extinguished the con.
fiagration, but, as it retired, carried off all
that remained of the place. In one of the
guano cuttings thirty laborers were buried by
the falling earth and suifocated amongst the
shipping. A. least two hundred people were
killed. Bodies were floating around in the
bay and pestilence is feared.
At Huanillos, another guano loading sta.
ton, the damage inflicted was fearful. All
the houses were destroyed. The wave which
succeeded the earthquake aud completed the
work of destruction was nearly sixty feet in
height.
A., Agsan;.,o1 D,,,, J,,,,,aL Co., Nh