The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-18

earthquake. OF great interest 70 the
weather bureau of this is the fact that
Thursdays record shows that the heavl-
est east and west movement was at a
minutes and 45 seconds past p. m,
and the strongest north ana SCUM
movement did not occur until minutes
later. The north and south movement
was the heavier, the earth movement
being over quarter of an inch.
At 1890 o'clock neither the state de-
partment nor the Chilean legation hStu
received any report of the earthquake
IN Chile.
Because Of the admiral bic construction
of buildings in Valparaiso the Chllean
charge here is not inclined to nelleVe
that the loss Of life mas been heaNy.
The city is one of the most modern III
South America and lacks the narrow
streets AMI frail buildings which are
common to so many cities in Latin
America.
EaIf the City Gone.
Berlin. Aug. 18.-AccordIng to a
telegram received by bank here from
Valparaiso, half of the city from
Alemdral to Gale Bella Vista. con-
tanning private and business houses
and warehouses. has been destroyed
De OWES Is Optimistic.
Pittsburg, Pa, Aug. 1S.-Count Julian
Segundo De OWES, commissioner OF
commerce from the republic of Chile. 10
Pittsburg, is inclined to believe the
earthquake at Valparaiso was not as
destructive as reuOrted. The count leIt
Chile April 2 last, and said that WnLe
he was there a number of earthquake
shocks had occurred. The business pOE-
ton of the city, he said, faced the
mountainous cliffs and he feared IN the
event of a heavy shock the mountain
would disintegrate and huge rocks and
buildings fall upon the business houses
Count De OWES said he thought there
could be little danger from fres as
most of the buildings are constructed
- Cd Sra niSh tile Frame
buildings are the exception and steel Is
used more than wood.
The count was much worried and said
if the disaster is as serious as report
ed, the most beautiful portion Of the
city was probably now in ruins and
countless lives lost. It was his opinion
that q heavy earthquake would also
cause great damage to the shipping
along the coast
Ortuzar Issues a Statement.
New York. Aug. 1S.=ConsuI Cen
eral Ortuzar for Chile in this city, IS
sued the following statement regard
ing the situation in Valparaiso:
up to the present moment we are
without official news as to the pro-
portions of the effect of the earth
Quake which occurred in the Cordif-
leras of the Andes had upon Valparat-
So The failure of communications
was due to the fact that the telegraph
lines which united Chile and Argen-
tina have been cut In the Cordlllefas
of the Andes and this is the reason
why we lack news. My personal opin-
ion is that the accident has not reach-
ed the proportions which has been
credited to it.
special cables received by the house
of w. r. Grace & Co., by way of Lima,
Peru, state that their building at Val
paraiso is safe and has not suffered the
least damage. This building is situated
in the most central part Of the city
and besides it is an old one. which
though grave, has not had the terrible
consequences which have been an
nounced. The central point of the
cataclysn must have been situated IN
the suburbs Of Ushpallatay, from
which Valparaiso in Chile and Men
doza in Argentina have received strong
commissions but not as of great pro-
portions as has been reported. w. R.
Grace & Co, have $50 employees in
Valparaiso and up to the present time,
according to their kilograms, every one
of them are safe"