Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-20

There continues confusion of state
ments as to the magnitude of the dl-
saSter in Valparaiso caused by the
earthquake shocks which began on
Thursday, August 16, and continued at
frequent intervals throughout that and
the next two days. Dispatches from
Valparaiso to The Associated Press re
ceived last evening state that a mod
crate estimate of the fatalities is 1000
and that the property loss may be as
high as 250,000,000, which is as great
as the loss sustained by San Francisco
in consequence of the earthquake and
fire which devastated that city last
April.
A refuge who has arrived at Santi-
ago places the known dead at 100 and
other messages indicate that the first
reports of damages and casualties were
exaggerated. Dispatches to the state
department at Washington plce the
fatalities at about 500. These conflict
ing statements cannot at this time be
adjusted. 1t is evident that even yet
confusion and panic prevail at Val
paradise and until order is restored it
will be impossible to ascertain with
accuracy the loss of life and the dam
age to property.
The dwellings i'll the city have been
practically abandoned by me inhabi-
tantS, who are existing as best they
can in the plaZas and streets asd the
hills, without shelter from storm or sun
and with famine confronting them.
Food is already scarce and high, water
for drinking purposes is lacking and
i: Th4 Mt 10
doing all it can to bring in relief. The
Gripping of the railroads leading into
Valparaiso constitutes q serious factor
in the situation, as for an indefinite
period relief supplies can only be OBJ
tanned through other means of trans
portation, the seaboard affording the
best of these.
At Santiago many of the best public
and private buildings were wrecked.
The loss Of life there was augmented
by the panic which overcame the people
many of whom threw themselves from
the balconies of their homes and 50
were either killed or injured.
The destructive force of the earth
quake was experienced over large ex-
tent of the country, many towns sus-
tanning serious damage.
Valparaiso, Chile, Aug. 19.-At 7.30
o'clock last Thursday evening VAL
paraiso experienced an earthquake OF
great severity, and during that night
two shocks were felt.
Most Of the buildings Of the city
were either ruined or damaged.
The loss will be enormous, probably
reaching s25O.OOO.OOO.
Two thousand persons killed is con-
sidered to be a fair estimate of the
casualties.
Vina Del Mar. (three miles from
Valparaiso and having a population OF
over 10000, Quirihue, (225 miles TO
the southwark, with a population OF
25O0); Salto; Limache, G5 miles to the
northwest with a population of 650O);
Quillota. 0g miles to the northwest
with a population Of 50,O0OO. and VII
lagos all around We're destroyed.
Most of the damage was due to fire.
which started Immediately after the
| first shock.
The whole population is sleeping in
the hills, the parks or the streets.
Food is very scarce, milk costs two
Chilean dollars liter, and it is almost
impossible to obtain meat even at
higher prices.
The railroads are all destroyed.
Rain, which began TO fall immediate
ly after the first shock. stopped an
hour afterwards.
The nights are very cold and windy
and the people sleeping in the open air
are suffering fearfully.
The captain Of a steamship which
has arrived from San Francisco says