Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1906-08-22
EARTHQUAKE LOSS HEAVY

Property Loss is Even Placed as High
as $3.50, 100000, or More Than Ev-
cry Stick and Stone OF The Com
munity Can Possible Be Worth
known Dead Placed by Refugee at
100, But Figures Still Run as High
as 1000.
There continues confusion of state
-ments as to the magnitude of the
disaster to Valparaiso caused by the
earthquake shocks which began on
Thursday, August l6, and continued
at frequent intervals throughout that
and the next two days.
Dispatches from Valparaieo TO the
Associated Press state that d moder-
ate estimate of the fatalities is 1000
and that the property loss may be as
high as $25O,OO0,0O0, which latter is
as great as the loss sustained by San
Francisco in consequence Of The earth
quake and Are devastated that city
last April. r
A refugee who has arrived at Santi-
ago places the known Valparaiso
dead at 100, and other messages in
dieate that first reports of damages
and casualties were greatly exagger-
ated, Dispatches to the State De-
partment at Washington place the
fatalities at about 800. These con-
fiicting statements cannot at this time
be adjusted, 1t is evident that even
yet confusion and panic prevail at
Valparaiso and until order is restored
it will be impossible to ascertain with
accuracy the loss to life and prop
erty. The dwellings in the city have
been practically abandoned by the in
habitants, who are existing as best
they can in the plazas and streets
of the city and the hills adjacent TO
it., without shelter from storm and.
sun and with famine confronting
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 in relief The crippling Of the
railroads leading into Valparaiso con-
tinues a factor in the situation for
an indefinite period Relief supplies
can only be obtained through other
menas of transportation, the seaboard
affording the best Of these.
At Santiago many of the best pub
lie and private buildings were wreck
I'd. The loss of life there was aug
mented by the panic which seized the
people, many of whom threw them
selves fro mlhe balconies of their
homes. The destructive force of the
earthquake was experienced over a
large extent Of the country, many.
towns sustaining serious damage.
Facts About Valparaiso.
The capital Of the province Of Val,
paraiso, Chile, and the CHIEF. seaport,
of. the republic, is situated on i base
of the Pacific, 6S miles Ill 6Emites by
rail illsswest orthWest .offzaSSaat atsaso,,
wit Fhlch at IS connected by rail-;
The oldersand business portion of the
city extends along the shore of the
bay, while on the slope of the sur
rounding hills are the finer residence
SUBURBS. Vina del Mar, few miles
TO the east, is noted suburb and sea-
shore resort. Valparaiso enjoys a
mild and equable climate, the average
temperature being IS degrees F., the
average for January 65 degrees and
for July 53. The average annual
rainfall is about 1875 inches. The
town has some we'll constructed
streets, and square with many monu-
ments. The more important monu-
ments include statues of Columbus.
William Wheclright, who built the
first railroad in South America, Tho
mas Cochrane (tenth Earle of Dun.
donald), who organized the Chilean
navy, and fine monument to the
navy, surmounted by statue of Adj
mlral Pratt. The fort is strongly for
titled, and the government maintains
a large naval arsenal. The chief
manufactures are cotton goods, ma
,chlnery and iron works; other inter
ests are the manufacture Of tobacco,
bottling of mineral water, sugar re-
lining, brewing and distilling. The
harbor is very ACCESSIBLE and has a
complete system of docks, warehouses
and shipyards.
: Valparaiso has been the port for
Santiago since 1854. It was visited
by terrible earthquake in 1855 and
bombarded by Spanish fleet in 1866.
During the civil war of 1891 is was
taken and partly sacked by the con-
gresslonal troops. The population in
l9oo was 1864, Of whom $4,000
W1r0