The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-18

Except for few private messages received early today reporting an earth quake in Chile. and damage to build- ings in Valparaiso. no definite news has been as yet received. The early reports. coming from different points. stated that the earthquake had result ed in great loss of life and widespread damage to property.
 Up to II o'clock tonight. however there has been nothing to confirm these reports. @
 The Associated Press correspondent at Buenos Ayres cables that it Is feared the town of Los Andres. in the provinces of Aconcagua. has been de- stroyed. At the same time he points out that Buenos Ayres has no direct communication with the disturbed dis trict No official information has reach ed Washington from Chile. and while positive information is lacking. New York officials of cable com 3anies hav- ing connection in South America to- reports of the earthquake were exag- gerated.
 All cables reaching New York from Chile and Valparaiso ca. ly tonight were evidently much delayed, according to the statements of these odicials, who are themselves unable to get and fnfor- nation bearing on the situation other HHan the IaCl Lftdt dn EdEtAiQu6&C h0@ occurred. that the disturbance has dis arranged telegraphic apparatus and in- terfered with communication.
 There is much anxiety tonight among those who have friends and relatives in Chile. The cable companies and newspapers are making every ef- fort to secure definite information. It IS pointed out that the entire absence of any word from official sources in Val- n Chffe be taken as indicating considerable ex- aggeraticn in the reports of loss of life and extent of damage.
 New York. Aug. 1T-The City or Valparaiso, Chilli. Is reported badly damaged by earthquake. One report received here is that the situation in Valparaiso will be as serious as the San Francisco disaster
 Practically every building in the city is damaged and there are fires in differ ent parts of the city. Many persons are reported killed and wounded. The earthduake has interrupted cable facil- ities to lower South American points and communication is restricted to the route via Lisbon.
 Another report from Valparaiso IS that the loss of life has.not been con- firmed. Fires are burning In various parts of the city.
 valparaiso is a fortified seaport of Chili, and the most important commer- cIal town of the western coast of South America. 1t has a population of about l50,000. It is the capital of a province of the same name and is situated on a large bay In the Pacific Ocean. seventy Ave miles west-northwest of Santiago, with which it is connected by rail.
 The Bay of Valparaiso, which is well sheltered on three sides, is bounded py ranges of hills rising to from 1,6oO to 1.700 feet high. on the slopes of which a considerable portion of the City of Valparaiso is built.
 On the south side of the bay are the spacious suburbs of Nuevo Malecom and Gran Avenida. from which pass out one of the finest of the thoroughfares of valparaiso, the Avenida de Las Del icias. The lower central section of the city is constituted by the Almendral. having regular and attractive streets and containing the principal business houses. the park the Plaza Victoria ana the National Theatre
 To the northwest of this city In the mart of the city known as the Puerto lor Port) in which are situated the greater number of the public buildings ana the vast warehouses which lina inc auays and docks Tn this portion of the city. however. narrow and crooked streets are stili feature. but