Las Vegas age. [volume] (Las Vegas, Nev.) 1905-1947, 1906-08-25

confusion OF statements as to the Tag
nitude of the disaster at 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 to the
Associated Press received tonight state
that a moderate estimate Of the fatal
tiles is 1000 and that the property
loss may be as high as $3.50, ,OO0, eco,
which latter is as great as the loss sus-
tanned by San Francisco in cOnse-
quence of the earthquake and fire
which devastated that city last April.
\ refugee who has arrived at San
tiago places the known dead at 100 and
other messages indicate that the first
reports of damage and casualties We're
greatly exaggerated.
Dispatches to the state department
at Washington place the fatalities at
about 800. These conflicting state
ments cannot at this time be adjusted.
1t is evident that even yet confusion
and panic prevail at Valparaiso. IN
til order Is restored it will be impOssi-
bic to ascertain with accuracy the loss
Of life and property.
The dwellings in the city have been
practically abandoned by the inhabit-
ants, who are existing as best they can
in the nearby hills without shelter
from storms and sun and famine con-
fronting 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 relief The Gripping OF the
railroads into Valparaiso constitutes q
serious factor in the situation, as for
an indefinite period relief supplies can
only be ordered through other means
of transportation, the seaboard offer
ing the best of these.
At Santiago many of the best public
and private buildings were wrecked.
The loss of life there is augmented by
the panic which seized the people,
many of whom threw themselves from
the balconies of their homes. The de-
structiye force of the earthquake was
experienced over a large extent of the
country, many towns sustaining serious
damage.
Galveston, Texas, Aug. l9.-Latest
advices from the cities of South Amer
lea that were ruined by earthquake
portray the desperate conditions of
the people from hunger, thirst and
cold. The report that Santiago de
Chile is practically destroyed is CON
firmed Both Santiago and Valparaiso
are seething masses of flames. The
authorities are dynamiting buildings in
both cities in the path of the flames in
the effort to save parts of the city.
The earthquake broke the water mains
SO that the fire departments are prac-
tically helpless.
| From 5000 to 1O,OCO are reported
/ killed.
By far the greater part of the peo-
/ pie of both cities are homeless and
have lost everything that they possess
ed. They are fleeing in multitudes
/ into the mountains in every direction.
Great suffering is reported on ac-
count of the cold Gt is midwinter in
the southern hemisphere.) All are
without sufficient food and water.
The suffering is increased by con-
stantly recurring shocks that have
felled many of the buildings left stand
ing after the first big tremor.
No attempt has been made to re-
move the bodies from the ruins be-
cause of the necessity for all who can
work to fight the fires that are sweep