New-York tribune., 1902-05-11
A SOUTH AMERICAN EARTHQUAKE
EYEWITNESS ON BOARD A NAVAL VESSEL DE-
sCRIBEs EXPERIENCE AT AFRICA
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The destruction of ST. Pierre Martinique. by
the volcanic disturbance Thursday. and the
results of earthquake among the islands in the
neighborhood of Martinique and in Guatemala,
call to me an experience on the west coast or
South America in August. 1868. There had been
several shocks felt early in the month. but the
one August l3 will never be forgotten by those
who witnessed it, because of the devastation and
ruin that was caused along the coast, especially
at africa where our vessel, the double ended gun
boat Wateree. lying and near to her the
United States storeship Fredonia, and the Peruvian
corvette Amer a.
About o'clo- k in the afternoon the officers on
the Wateree were startled by heavy vibrations OF
the ship, and all knew from other expert
ences that it earthquake, erybody, Off
GERS and sailors rushed deck and. looking
shoreward, saw the town. the plains and the
high land to the southwark enveloped in clouds OF
dust, while huge pieces of rock were falling from
the crest of the Moro into the sea. When the
clouds Of dust became lighter II that
many of the buildings tumb!ed down and
people We're rushing along the street nearest TO
the sea. Immediately following these vibrations
the waters OF the harbor became much disturbed
and the vessels began to spin about on their cables
There was an ebb and flow of the waters for
some time after this. and houses. boats gardens
and even bodies, were swept rapidly 70 sea. and
then would be returned toward the shore Be
rising OF the sea- and the Wateree was lifted with
suCh iorCe rH'rd 1. re ytb SrSat sneed snJ fnrce Al
the same time the Fredonia was carried over on her
side and In "A few moments with the force OF
an avalanche the returned breaking the ship
apart and sweeping every overheard The
only persons saved were four officers and two OF
the crew. The America was also thrown on her
beam ends, and her captain surgeon, several other
officers and many OF the crew were drowned. The
vessel afterward was carried inshore by the tidal
wave and when the receded, she was left
high and dry about a thousand feet from the
beach.
The wateree was carried about fve hundred feet
further inland than the America twhere & she may
her boats. her paddebox was broken and she
suffered much other damage. Her damages were
so great that il would have cost more than her
value 10 have got her ahOat, hence, she was sub
sequenty sold at auction. and the buyer ntted her
un as a resort and a museum. An English bark
and' two other vessels were completely wrecked.
The city was confused mass OF ruins Even
the upper part Of the town, which. from its ele-
vation escaped the encroaChmeut Of the sea had
not a single house wall left standing Even the
large custom house. structure Of stone masonry.
was wrecked. During the night following there
were between sixty and seventy shocks OF earth
quake. or less severe.
This same earthquake upheaval did great damage
Calao and at Pisco. Al Arequpa, with Popu-
lation OF one hundred thousand not a single
house was left standing, and az the Chineha Isl
ands, fifteen miles from the coast and one hun
dred miles below Callao the damage was tre-
mcndous. especially among the shipping there
New-York, May 10. 1892. NAVY