The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1906-08-23
EARTHQUAKE LOSS HEAVY
Property Loss il Even Placed - High
a. $3.50 900 900. or More Than Ev-
cry Stuck and Stone Of the Com
munity Can Possible Be Worth
Known Dead Placed by Refugee a
100. But Figures Still Run a. High
m 1000.

=
100. But Figures Still Run a. High
a. 2.00o.
There continues confusion Of state
ments as TO the magnitude of the
disaster to Valparaiso caused by the
earthquake shocks which began on
Thursday, August 10, and continued
at frequent intervals throughout that
and the next two days.
Dispatches from Valparaiso 10 the
Associated Press state that a moder.
ate estimate of the fatalities is 1000
and that the property loss may be as
high as $3.50, 100000, which latter il
as great as the loss sustained by San
Francisco in consequence of the earth
quake and fire devastated that city
last April
A refugee who has arrived at Sarti-
ago places the known Valparaiso
dead at 100, and other messages in
| dlcate that first reports of damages
| and casualties were greatly exagger-
ated. Dispatches to the State De
partment at Washington place the
fatalities at about 500. These con-
filcting statements cannot at this time
be adjusted. 1t is evident that even
yet confusion and panic prevail at
Valparaiso and until order is restored
it will be impossible to ascertain with
| accuracy the loss to life and prop
erty. The dwellings in the city have
been practically abandoned by the in
habitants, who are existing as best
they can in the plazas and streets
of the city and the hills adjacent to
1t, without shelter from storm and
sun and with famine confronting
them. Food is already scarce and
| high, water for drinking purposes is
lacking, and disease is feared. The
government is doing all it can to
bring in relief. The Gripping of the
railroads leading into Valparaiso con-
tlnues a factor in the situation for
an indefinite period. Relief supplies
can only be obtained through other
menas of transportation, the seaboard
affording the best of these.
AT Santiago many of the best pub
lie and private buildings were wreck
I'd. The loss of life there was aug
mented by the panic which seized the
people, many of whom threw them
selves fro mthe balconies of their
homes. The destructive force of the
earthquake was experienced over a
large extent of the country, many
towns sustaining serious damage.
Facts About Valparaiso.
The capital of the province of Val
paralso, Chile, and the chief seaport
OF the republic, is situated on base
OF the Pacific, 68 miles GIG miles by
| rall) west northwest of Santiago,
with which it is connected by rail.
The older and business portion of the
city extends along the shore of the
bay, while on the slope of the sur
rounding hills are the finer residence
suburbs. Vina del Mar, few miles
to the east, is noted suburb and sea-
shore resort. Valparaiso enjoys a
mild and equable climate, the average
temperature being So degrees F., the
average for January 63 degrees and
for July 53. The average annual
rainfall is about 1875 inches. The
town has some we'll constructed
streets, and a square with many monu-
ments. The more important monu-
ments include statues of Columbus.
William Wheelright, who built the
nrst railroad in South America, Tho
mas Cochrane (tenth Earle of Dun
donald, who organized the Chilean
navy, and a fine monument to the
navy, surmounted by a statue of Ad-
mlral Pratt. The fort is strongly for
tined, and the government maintains
large naval arsenal. The chief
manufactures are cotton goods. ma
chlnery and iron works; other inter
ests are the manufacture of tobacco.
oottllng Of mineral water, sugar re-
Inning, brewing and distilling. The
harbor is very accessible and has a
complete system, of docks, warehouses
and shipyards.
valparaiso has been the port for
Santiago since 1854. It was visited
by terrible earthquake in 1855 and
oombarded by Spanish fleet in 1866
During the civil war of 1891 is was
taken and partly sacked by the con.
gresslonal troops. The population il
l9oO was 1864, Of whom $4,000
were foreigners.
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