Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-04
TEE COLLAPSE OF CoNCEpCzoN.
Tie Terrible Earthquake tl:ai Syyni-
lowed Up tho City.
Trom The san Francisco Call

Tren. the san Francisco Gail
There is at present stopping in this city an
aged gentleman, who has spent the greater
part Of seventy-fye years of an unusually adj
venturous lite abroad. The gentleman's name
is \. A. HOlcomb and he il now on his way
east to end his days, as he says. amid the
scenes OF his youth, after an absence of a
quarter of a century. In view Of the interest re-
Gently excited in earthquakes in the United
States, CdU reporter visited Mr.. HolcoInb
ard asked him TO relate some Of his experiences
during South American shocks. II Will tell you.
said he, ''Of the destruction Of the City OF Con-
eepcon The day was burning one In the at
ternOOn q slight shock of earthquake occurred,
but nothing was thought Of it. As night ap-
preached the heat appeared to become more
intense. / retired TO my hammock early that
night. / do not know how long slept. but
was awakened by the cries of many people.
arose to find the city in confusion. | looked at
Eay watch. 1t was 11:30. The people We're pre-
pairing to leave the town and seek the high
lands Of the mountains Great distress pre-
vailed among families members were missing
and we're sought for with walls and lamenta-
tions. The heat had become 50 that it was like
sitting in an oven and undergoing a gradual
baking.
II remember packed what avaiiables could
find in my vaiise and prepared to join in the
general migration. But departure had been de-
layed too long. had no sooner placed my foot
upon the main street of the town than there
came distant rumbng from the west. 1t in
creased in sound until it resembled the ap-
preach OF band Of hOrsemen over q wooden
bridge. AT the same moment the earth seemed
to to rise up perpendiCl!aTlF and crash
against tie sky. | heard the shTieks that went
from the fleeing people as | was tossed Ike a
bauble by the rocking earth. | recoect no
more. When | recovered consciousness it was
yet night. and heard the groans of wounded
people in agony all about me. Even as | opened
my eyes the earth trembled underneath me with
the restless motion OF the sea.
''All that night lay in that spot. agoniZed by
fears and terriers ndescribable 1t was useless
to move or attempt TO do anything in the dark
ness There were shocks of more or less sever
ity every few minutes, and as each sverpasSed
l heard .rOans of pain and expressions of fear on
every side. / hailed the first flush of dawn in
the east with a feryeut prayer Of gratitude
The sun rose over the Cur,leras like 4 circular
plate cf brass and revealed . dreadful scene.
The town of Conception lay in ruins ami hun
Gretis of its people were dead. Great assures
and openings iii the earth were visible here and
there. from which volumes OF gaseous matter
poured forth. How many We're swallowed up
III the assures and openings will never be known.
The suffering and destruction at the City of
Conception was only mite in comparison with
what took place in other parts OF the province.
At Telcahuana. the seaport OF the province,
some seven miles distant from Conception, 4
tidal wave over forty feet in height rolled in
from the ocean aud deluged the place ThOGs-
ends Were swept away. The following day the
shore was streTn with corpses and masses OF
dead fish"