Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-18
VALPARAISO CITY
NEARLY DESTROYED
Meager Reports From lIl-Fated
Chilean Port
CONCERNING EARTHQUAKE
Situation Declared Similar to San
Francisco.
PEOPLE HAVE FLED HOMES
Business Houses Closed-Telegraph
Communication Interrupted-Fires
Which Followed, Now Declining.
Situation Declared Similar to San
Francisco.
PEOPLE HAVE FLED HOMES
Business Houses Closed-Telegraphi'

NEW YORK. August 1s.-Wessel Duval &
Co., which does n large business in South
America, especially in Chile, has just re-
ceived the following dispatch from Val
paraiso:
Town nearly destroyed. Particulars later
when shakes cease.
This dispatch was timed 1855 a.m but II
is not known whether it was filed yesterday
morning or this morning.
The Central and South American Tele-
graph Company reports that the situation
In Valparaiso is similar to that which oc-
Cured in San Francisco. Their manager
reports that all places of business have
been closed and the delivery and operating
staff is much demoralized. No messengers
have reported for duty and deliveries can
only be made on application to the office.
Many people have left the city.
Consul General Adolfo Orsugar for Chile
In this city issued the following statement
today regarding the earthquake at Valpa-
raiso:
up to the present moment we are with
out official news as to the proportions Of
the effect of the earthquake, which oc-
CURED in the Cordileras of the Andes had
upon Valparaiso. The failure Of commune
cations was due to the fact that the tele-
graph lines which unite Chile and Argen-
tina have been cut in the Cordileras Of the
Andes, and this is the reason why We lack
news. Ny personal opinion is that the ac-
cident has not reached the proportions
which has been credited to 1t. Special
cables received by the house of w. r.
Grace and Company by way of Lima, Peru.
state that their building at Valparaiso is
safe and has not suffered the least shock.
This building is situated in the most crowd
ed part of the city, and besides 1t is an old
one which makes me suppose that the
shock, although grave, has not had the
terrible consequences which have been an
nounced. The central point of the cata-
clysm must have been situated In the sub
urbs Of Uspallatay, from where Valparaiso
in Chile and Mendoza in Argentina have
received strong commissions, but not of as
great proportions as have been reported.
w. R. Grace and Company have $50 en-
ployes in Valparaiso, and up to the present
time. according to their telegrams, every
one of them is safe
One Town Totally Destroyed.
Special Cablegram to The Star.
LIMA, Peru, August 1s.-The latest ad
vices received here concerning the earth
quake disaster at Valparaiso says that
hundreds were killed, and that the prop
erty loss will amount tc millions.
The town of La Liqua, between Valpa-
raiso and Coquimbo, was totally destroyed.
Reports Cable Working.
GALVESTON, Tex, August 1S.-The man.
ager of the cable company here reports the
cable working to Valparaiso this morning,
but that there is no communication via the
land lines to Santiago de Chile or Buenos
Ayres
Fires Declining.
LONDON. August 49, 235 pm.-A private
cable dispatch received this afternoon from
Valparaiso says the fire there continues in
the business quarters, but is declining
Another private cable dispatch received
at 21o this afternoon says business has
been resumed at Valparaiso