The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-08-25

1
| constant, strong earth shocks which
| occurred all that night causing the
| greatest CONSERVATION. which was
heightened by the pealing of the fire
| bells announcing the breaking out OF
fires In various quarters of the city.
| Each shock was followed by walls and
prayers for the people who were
kneelng in the rain and mud.
The first great shock lasted four
minutes and fifty seconds. Such long
| shock had never occurred before in
the memory OF any inhabitants of San
tiago. 1t caused the bells OF the
churches to ring. pictures swung out
from the walls and there was great,
heaving motion OF the ground. Experts
say that the only thing which saved
Santiago from complete ruin was that
| the motion was circular. The princi-
pal shock was from Valparaiso to San
tiago and Meripilla. with its center at
Linache.
| Valparaiso. Aug 21-The loss OF life
of the earthquake of Thursday. Aug.
| 16, probably will not be short of 5000,
while the property destroyed is esti-
mated at s100 900 600, and possibly is
far in excess of that sum.
Order is being maintained with the
utmos. severity by the military, police
and armed citizens patrols. who are
empoW cred to shoot loote-s on the
spot Over 100 have been shot. The
authorities are showing the utmost en-
ergy in the protection of property.
With the first terrific shock OF the
earthquake buildings collapsed, their
walls falling with a tremendous noise.
The inmates in many cases were un-
able to escape The shock was fol-
lowed almost Immediately by fierce
storm, the wind prostrating walls that
had been weakened by the earthquake
and these broke trolley wires, which
flashed necessarily. The second shock
was even heavier than the first.
| Five minutes afterward fires started
in every direction and Immediately the
whole town, which had been momen-
tarily In darkness, was illuminated by
gigantic flames. The fremen made
desperate fight, though there was but
| little water, as most of the mains had
been broken by the early tremor. The
| Victoria theater (opera house) and the
naval club were utterly destroyed by
the earthquake and the National thea
ter succumbed to earthquake and fire.
The Club de Septiembre. the Church
OF La Merced, the buildings of the
=.
buildings, the city hall and many other
buildings were destroyed by the earth
quake. The destruction by fire, how
ever, was infinitely larger, and prob
ably sixty per cent Of the commercial
houses were totally ruined. Ii Brazil
avenue alone nearly thirty blocks of
buildings from three to five stories
high were destroyed.
Valparaiso, Aug. 2l-The greatest
| damage occurred in the provinces OF
Valparaiso and Aconcagua. The town
Of Abarca suffered severely. Llai Llai
is reported to have entirely disap-
peared. and Limache and Hero Niejo
have been almost totally wrecked At
Vina Del Mar three-quarters OF the
houses are in ruins.
The losses in the entire country are
estimated at $50.0o0,0 900.
The authorities of Valparaiso have
taken over the feeding Of the people,
and provisions are being brought in
from places that were not destro, ed.
Slight earthquake shocks are con-
tinuing. The people have not returned
| to their homes but are sleeping cI the
| surrounding hills and In the streets
and squares. The fires have all been
extinguished. More than 100 men
taken in the act of committing rob-
berries have been shot.
Lima, Peru, Aug 21-Thore was an
other heavy earthquake shock at Val
paraiso last night.
According to the latest reports re-
ceived here from the scene of the
earthquake the town of Quillota, about
twenty-six miles from Valparaiso. and
having a population Of some 10000
people, has been completely destroyed.
At Lima this morning there aas
| slight shock and Huacho was shaken
| by an earthquake yesterday.
| VALPARAISO, Chilli, Aug. 19.-At 1852
O'Clock last Thursday evening VAL
paraiso experienced an earthquake OF
great severity and during that night
eighty-two shocks were felt.
| Most of the buildings Of the city are
either burned or damaged. The loss
! will be enormous, probably reaching
$3.50, 100000.
Two thousand persons killed is con-
| sidered to be q fair estimate OF the
casualties.
Vina Del Mar, three miles from Val
paraiso and having population OF
over 10000; Quirivue, 225 miles to the
southwark, with a population OF $500;
Salto, Limache, fifteen miles to the
northwest, with a population OF $500;
Quillota, twenty-five miles to the north
west, with a population OF 10000, and
villages all around were destroyed.
Most Of the damage was due to hre,
which started Immediately after the
first shock The whole population Is
sleeping in the hills. the parks or the
streets.