Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-21

WASu Iue- CclIlUlS uSWS Vi CdIluQudhCl
and fire is considered, means Vale OF
Paradise-has passed through many
vicissitudes. Yet in spite Of them all
it is the mistress of the southern Paci-
fic, and the largest city along the coast
from artic to subantarctic zone, with
the single exception Of San Francisco.
1t is. indeed, the San Francisco of
the southern cross, city of cosmopo-
Titan life, of picturesque beauty. OF ro-
mantle tradictions, and Of vast COM
merce. The coincidence of fate which
has doomed these two queen ports OF
the Pacific to destruction in the same
mysterious manner within four months
Is indeed remarkable. Does 1t indicate
some titanic change In the earth's
crust below the waters to the west
ward, some agony of a world In travail
under the ocean bed? The scientists
and seismologists must answer, or at
least attempt an explanation.
City Founded In 1896.
Valparaiso is one Of the Oldest cities
in the new world. having been founded
in 1856 by Juan de Saavedra, a Spanish
soldier of fortune, who named 1t after
his birthplace In CASTLE. Its history
is intimately interviewer with the haz-
ardous achievements Of the Conquista-
dores, and the mad quest for the gold
of the Incas, which makes many of the
most interesting pages of American an
nuals. The galleons from Peru, home
ward boundward bound with cargoes
of gold and silver ingots, found 1t a
welcome stopping place on the south
ward voyage to the cape. and under
the rule of the Spanish colonists 1t
prospered rapidly.
III fortune first reached the ':.Vale OF
Paradise" when Francis Drake, the
famous English sea dog, began to
worry the Spanish lion in it's new en-
pire UPON December s. 1873. Drake
entered the harbor with his little fleet
and looted the town. John Hawkins,
that other celebrated English filibpster
in the days of "westward-ho," visited
the city in 1896, pillaging 1t even more
successfully than his forerunner, and
carrying away tons of plumber, after
ravaging the fort with fire and sword.
Four years later the Dutch pirate Van
Mort sacked the place in reprisal for
| the depredations committed by Spanish
troops in the Netherlands.
Earlier Quake Losses.
After these visitations of war came
series of natural disasters. In l730
and 1922 the city suffered severely
from the earthquakes which from
time to time rake the Andean district.
Shocks which partially destroyed 1T,
causing untold damage to life and pro
perty, occurred in 1889 and 1873. In
1853 almost every one of its principal
buildings was swept away by fire, and
in 1865, during the war of independ
ence, a Spanish fleet commanded by
Admiral Nunez bombarded 1t with dis
astrous effect. The latest disaster was
on June 30, 1899, when tidal wave did
great damage to the city and wrecked
the railroad.
"The Naples of South America" Is
title which is often applied to Valpar
also. 1t is the largest and most I'M
portant city in the republic of Chill
being the port Of the capital, Santiago
which lies about seventy-ive miles tc
the northwest, and with which 1t is
connected by railroad. 1t has popu
lation of about 10000 and is growing
rapidly although for many years II was
in a stagnant condition. In 1875 the
population was 97,737, and in 1885 only
az 900 The recent investments OF
American and European capital IN
Chilian enterprises and mines have
however. injected new life into the
city.
Seen by Traveller.
An interesting description OF the CIT!
as it was few months BEFORE the ais
aster, Is given by Charles M. Peppe.
in recently published volume OF trav
ala entitled Panama to Patagonia
He says:
4 "The city has many fine business
blocks Of modern construction, and tn
government buildings are unusually
! tasteful and harmonious. All bear tn
! impress Of Italian architecture. TN
commemorative spirit finds expression
; in group celebrating the heroism
Arturo Pratt. the young naval com
mander who gained unfading laurel
In the war with Peru On the Avenu
) Brazil ia bust Of William Wheel
: wright the son of Massachusetts,. VIII
provided steam navigation as we'll a
built railroads for Chilli There is ais
statue to Lord Cochrane, the Scotch
man, who took command of the Chill
ian fleet in the contest for freedom
from Spain, and helped to bring vic
tory.
THE port, as III natural, IL cosHlo
politnn. The German colony Is tn
largest, and after that comes the 1tal
ians, though in influence they are hard
ly so strong az either the English Q
the French. The French community !
self contained, and Is an importan
, factor in commerce. The Britisheri
: chiefly from Scotland, are in every
thing except retail trade. Though tn
English language is common Valpa
raise Is the only city in South Ameri
ca in which have heard German spo
ken oftener.
Vast Shipping Interests.
1.-THE shipping of Valparaiso
, vast and varied. a floating panoram
of many nations, like miniatur
Hamburg. The English lines main
tain a regular service of cargo an
passenger vessels, and also specie
service of cargo vessels to Liyerpoo
The steamers are of 5000 tons an
upwards The distance to Liverpool
by way Of the straits is $500 to $50
HlLLSoBO.