Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1889-11-20
ALEGEyD OF CdLLiO.
Hor the Island Mountain Of san Loren
20 Got It, Name.

that took place IN Cailao, Peru, IN lao.
said the capn breaking in on spirited
discussion touching the best quality OF oil
for pinnacle lamps. 1t is needless 10 say
that earthquakes had not been mentioned
or even thought of by any one present
except the cap'n himself But if the
cap'n said earthquakes why earthquakes
it was, and the sailors placed themselves
in convenient listening attitudes.
"Was you there, capn p asked the lub-
Der.
Certainly was been there several
times. This seismic dis
"How old a man are you, cap'n?'
"Forty-two on my last birthday" re-
piled the cap'n. Say he continued, as
he OWNED the drift of the lubber's ques-
ton, ''if it wasn't for the sailors here !
would pipe down on this story at once.
You, measly, lop cared idiot, did you
'spose Imeant that was in Callao at the
time of earthquake l43 years ago? Hash I
the fact possibly been jammed into your
skull that was there since the upheavaly Z
II | didn't have sense enough to sit and
listen to intelligent remarks Id keep my
figure head closed" and the cap'n looked
daggers at the wretehed lubber.
Don't be too hard on the poor Gu s,
cap," suggested one of the sailors. "He
amt never been nowhere or don't know
nothing"
That's fact" said the captain, some
what Modified but do get water log
ged laying up alongside Of such unrea-
sonable folks, but / reckon III have 10
stand it. Now, if somebody will tell me
what was talking about III get under
way again
earthquakes :" shouted the sailors.
80 it was" said the cap'n, again re-
suming his reminiscent expression. "The
desperate disaster of which spoke took
place at six bells on the night Of Oct. IS
1746. The people were first turned 'u'
by tremendous shock and low rum
bling II lie like thunder. The first sels
mic shake was followed by 200 Lighter
PERKS lasting over period OF lwenty-iou'
hours Deep. booming noises came iron
lar out under the sea. and the upheaval
kept on until they pumped up great Il
lal wave eighty feet high. Callao wa
built on rising coast, with the Iowei
portion of the town clustered al ug th'
locks. Like all seaport towns this wa
the most thckly populated part. WheI
the biz wave rolled in on shore it was ac.
compauied by powerful shock which
broke off the lower edge of the city. AnG
when the wave retreated it carried The
town and $1,000 people with 1t down int
the sea.
"Tm now coming to the most curiou,
incident of that terrible nigh" continued
the capn. Before the trouble the har
bor was clear. bu now an island mcun
tan 400 feet high rears its head near the
northern shore Of the harbor. a light
house graces the top of the island, which
IS down on the map as San Lorenza. and
one of the pretiest and most romantic oI
the many Peruvian legends is told in con-
nection with the naming Of the island
It was named after San Lorenza, the man
who discovered the mountain, and Is a.
intensely interesting story when told in
Spanish. heard it in that language
myself but as none Of you fellows under
stand Spanish I'll tell it in English.
"Mr. Lorenza, or San, as they called
him for short, was fisherman, and went
out to sea every night in his frail Peru
Wan bark to fish for hake and haddock.
The native fisherman has light skilf OF
canoe in which he plies his calling and
one paddle. He sits on his knees in the
stern of the boat and fishes with line
200 feet long, u.ing his front finger for
pole. On the fatal night Of Oct. 28 San
had lust got bite when he heard the
ominous rumble Before he could either
and the fish or grab his paddle he felt
himself going up into the air. 1t was So
lark that Fan couldn't see anything, 50
clulched both gunwales Of his boat and
hung on. Presently there came another
Jerk. aud the fisherman went up few
feet more.
The unhappy man was too frightened
to move. 50 he sat there, going up by
Jerks, until daylight. Then San peerec
over the edge Of his boat and found him
.elf sticking on top Of a mountain 400
feet in the air. The peak was 50 sharI
that it pierced the bottom Of his boat an'
stuck up four feet above Sans head H'
still hung on to his fish line, which hac
81, b,,,.-.. r,,,I..r.l dangling from the hook