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

slightest rr6InOT OIL warn
ing an earthquake visited this city at
8 o'clock last night bringing instant
death to hundreds of persons ana
leaving many hundreds more imprls-
oned in the ruins, many of whom VINO
We're burned to death before aid could
reach them.
Fire started Immediately after the
first shock and every branch Of the
city's service was paralyzed. Panic
and CONSERVATION indescrtbaDle 1oi-
lowed, and those who escaped. death
and injury became frenzied with fear
aid could render little assistance to
the victims. The business section Of
the city is almost entirely destroyed
and fires are still raging. We are suf-
fering here a repetition of the horrors
OF San Francisco.
As night comes on the city Is every
where aglow with unobstructed fires
and clouds OF choking smoke and va
Dor settle into the streets and houses
where throngs of homeless ones are
wandering about crazed by the awful
calamity It is almost impossible to
ascertain how wide an area of cOun-
try the visitation has laid waste Moth
ing has been heard from Santiago, the
capital city of Chile, and 1t is feared
that the fate of that city is as bad or
worse than that OF Valparaiso.
No TeIegraphic Communication.
Photographic communication is cut
of in every direction and every one
here is too much depressed by the cal
amity at home to seek information of
other places No trains have arrived
in the city or left it since the first
shock came. as all of the railway tun-
nels are filed and miles Of track on
the surface are twisted and rendered
useless. Tt is only known from gem
eral accounts that death and destruc-
ton are on all sides. There We're two
distinct and terrific shocks the second
one following almost instantly after
the first and completing the work of
destruction
The day had been unusually calm
and pleasant At o'clock the whole
city seemed suddenly to swing back
ward and forward and then came
sudden jolt of such mighty force that
rows Of buildings toppled to the earth
as if made of brittle plaster. Whole
rows of buildings went down IN a few
seconds. Soon after the shock had
subsidized it became known the bust
ness part Of the town was doomed
From the Bella Vista section little was
heard. but before the midnight fires
we're seen burning there and 1t was
learned that that section Of the city
also was doomed.
The city stands upon a formation of
granite gneiss, which seemed to acceu-
tuate the force of the shock Before the
stunned people were given time to re-
aIze the magnitude Of the calamity
again the city was hsaken with 4
violence greater than before. The eartn
in places lifted and pitched buildings
forward. In other places there was a
terrible tremor that shook every struc-
ture to the ground This shock contin-
ued longer than the first. When it mad
subsidized fires were blazing I'd and
thousands Of terrified persons were prav-
3ag, and panic swept the city.
Many iandslides have occurred around
the city, and scores Of lives have been
lest At present it is impossible to state
the number of dead in the entire civ
but it is believed there are several b1n-
dred, many OF whom are stil in the
ruins. 1t has laid waste the best part
Of the business portion Of the city and
has doubtless nut Chile back years in
the scale of civilization
The captain of the German vessel
Yran, which arrived today at Coquimbo.
stated that when 20 miles at sea he
could see the flames raging In Val
parsiso. Many inhabitants are terrified
with fear Of other shocks and the work
Of rescuing the bodies is proceeding
very slowly.
The Bella Vista district referred to.
which is on the hills behind the citv Is
the most select residence district Of Val
paraisO, and apparently suffered the
same fate that overlook Mob Hill in San
Francisco.
Train Fails to Arrive.
Buenos Ayres. Aug. 1S-A teIe-
gram received here from Punta De
Wares, says that a train from Santiago
Chile. due TO arrive there yesterday
evening had not yet reached the for
mer place.
Seismic disturbances on the Chilean
side of the Andes continue. FurtheI
severe shocks were felt Yesterday
evening, the first at $40 and the
second at $50.
The director OF telegraphs here ha,
received a telegram from Lapaz. 30.
lfvia. announcing that according to g
= message from the chief official Of the
telegraph company at Tacna, Val.