The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-01-08
A NOTABLE EARTHQUAKE.
The Story OF the Collapse Of the CITY OF
Conc :pcion.'

The Story OF the Collapse OF the lily VI
Conc pcion.'
There is at present stopping IN this
city an aged gentleman, who has spent
the greater part of seventy-five yeaks
of an unusually adventurous life abroad
The gentlemans name is A. D. Hol-
comb, and he is now on his way east TO
end his days, as he says, srnid the
scenes OF his youth, after an absence of
. quarter of century. I'm view of the
interest recently excited IN earthquakes
in the United States, Call reporter
visited Mr.. Holcomb and asked BIN to
relate some of his experiences during
South American shocks. II will tell
you," said he, "of the destruction of the
city of Conception. The dav was burn
ing one. In the afternoon a slight
shock of earthquake occurred, but
nothing was thought of it. As night
approached the heat appeared to be-
come more intense. / retired to my
hammock early that night. l do not
know how long / slept, but L was
awakened by the cries of many
people. I arose to find the city
in confusion. I locked at my
watch It was half-past IL. The
people we're preparing to leave the town
and seek the highlands of the noun
tains. Great distress prevailed among
families; members were missing ard
were sought for with walls and lamen-
tations. The heat had become so that
it was like sitting in an oven and I'M
dergoing gradual baking.
II remember I packed what availa-
bles could find in my valise and pre-
pared to join in the general migration.
But departure had been delayed too
long. had no sooner placed my foot
upon the main street of the town than
there came distant rumbling from the
west. It increased in sound till it re-
sembled the approach of band of
| horsemen over o wooden bridge. At
the same moment the earth seemed to
me to rise perpendicularly and crash
against the sky. I heard the shrieks
that went from the fleeing people as
was tossed like a bauble by the rocking
q 1TUU. L G6CO11cCU liz ulO1c. " ACA l.
recovered consciousness it was yet
night, and I heard the groans of wound
ed pes ole in agony all about me. Even
as / ope. ned my eyes the earth trembled
undernea.h me with the restless mo-
ton of the sea.
sA1I that night I lay in that spot,
aeouized bv fears and terrors indie
scr;bab1e, Is was useless to move or
attemnt to do al, thing in the darkness.
There were shockA of more or less Sc
yerftv every few NH utes, and as each
SILVER psssed I hear.' groans OF pain
and expressions of far on every
side. 1 hailed tbs first hush OF dawn
in the east with a feryent prayer OF
gratitude. The sun rose ovel tee cor
dilieras ike a circular plate CT ~ ir aos
and revealed dreadful scene Inc
town of Conception lay III ruins - NJ
hundreds of its people were dead.
Great assures and openings In the earth
were visible here and there, from which
volumes of gaseous matter poured
forth. How many were swallowed up
III the fssures and openings will never
be knowh:
"The suffering and destruction at the
city of Conception was only d mite in
comparison with what took place ID
other parts of the province. At Telta-
huana, the seapor. of the province
some seven miles distant from CRacep-
cion. a tidal wave over forty fet4 IT,
height rolled in from the ocean and dee-
uged the place. Thousands were
swept away. The following day the
shore was strewn with corpses and
masses of dead fish. San Francisco
Call.