The Washington times., 1906-08-18
ValparaiSO'S Main BuSi-
ness Streets a Mass
of Burning
Ruins.
NO RESCUE WORK
TILL QUAKE STOPS
Communications Again In
terrupted by Flight Of
Cable Operators
From Offices.

NE 4DHhy aug. I8.-Ile buEl-
ness section OF Valparaiso, Chile. is
almost destroyed. and the fires when
broke out. following the earthquakes,
are still raging. The greatest havoc
has been wrought among the build
ings on Gales Blanco. Condcu and
Esmeralda, the principal wholesale
and retail streets Of the city, where
many Of the buildings are d mass OF
FUILs.
The residential section Of the city has
also suffered severely. and many lives
have been lost.
No News From Santiago.
This is The news that comes in a. brief
dispatch received ia this city today di.
rect from Valparaiso. The stricken city
is cut of from communication with
other cities OF Chile, as the inland wires
are all down. and nothing definite IS
known as to what has happened in San
t.ago. the capital. and other cities
which are in the usual earthquake zone
Of the country. The earthquake struck
.he city without q trem0r Of warning
There were TWO distinct shocks follow
ing one after fhe other lu rapid success
sion. Tie first shock was felt shortly
before o'clock. The city suddenly
seemed 20 swing backward and forward.
Then came q mighty jolt THAI topplet
over many of the huge buildings When
the second shock rocked The city, whole
rows Of buildings went down.
Hundreds Instantly Killed.
Hundreds of persons went down 20 In
stant death. win the falling buildings
Many others were Iefc living, but i'm
prlsoned ga the ruins.
Fire broke out in various parts Of the
city following the first shock. Every
branch OF the citv.s service IS paralyzed,
and the flames swept through tho
wrecked buildings unchecked
These fires continued to burn all day.
and as night came. down over the
stricken city the flames lit up the
heavens. and the dun, heavy clouds Of
smoke settled into the streets where
thousands OF homeless people wandered
aimlessly about.
Whole Population Panic-Stricken-
The whole population IS panic-suicken.
/ The calamity has proved too great for
any one TO care IUr anything except att
tending TO his Immediate wants. The
fuU force OF the blow yshiCh has fallen
on the city IS not appreciated even uy
/ the residents of Valparaiso
THAT The business section OF the city IS
doomed was known after tho second
shock had passed. II was hoped for
q while that the Bellaylsta section ou
/ the hills behind the city. where the best
/ residences are located. would escape
IirSs soon broke out there. however 10
/ add 10 the ruin and Increase the panic
! Of The people
Landslides Cause Casualties.
! Communication on all sides 20 land
ward IS cut OF The telegraph lines
are down and the railroad tracks at
many POINTS are badly twisted. il IS
/ impossible 20 estimate the area of the
district effected by the earthquake
/ 1t IS equally as difficult 90 give any
/ idea of the number OF casualties. 1t IS
believed. however. that several hundred
! persons lost their lives. Many bodies
are still buried In the ruins. Landslides
| have occurred at different points ABOUT
/ the city adding 20 the loss OF hie.
] Another dispatch received here IFoIl
+ Lima. Peru, says that nearly all the
| houses in Valparaiso are damaged
| either by the oartnquaEe.se hre.
According to this dispatch the SHOCKS
I iD the city continue o4~ ttTz ~ q .-l'.,-,- -
/ Flames had not been checked az the time
/ the message was sent last night ana
/ further loss was expected.
/ lTp 10 80 this morning no ad1llolfs4
/ r eyy-s from Valparaiso had been FecelN-
; "a bv the cable companies here The
I cabla OparatOrs left Valparaiso aReln
I last night. but the reason has not becu
/ learned. Il IS expected however. Lhat
/ az offceg in Valparaiso VII be re-
/ opened some time during The day
/ Early Cable From Valparaiso.
4 dispatch received from Valparaiso
before the second flight OF the cable
onerarors says that communication
yri+b the interior was practically stop
ned after the first shock and the food
/ s,,nplv IS running low The author
/ lries already have taken control OF
tbis phase of the situation with the
hone OF preventing actual starvation
! before relief can come in
/ All OF the people wno have been eh'e
TO do so have left tie city. The soldiers
DoIice and firemen are doius au in their
/ ,y--r 10 briug order out of chaos. ouu
with the streets impossible from debris.
fires raging on all sides and the air
black with smoke. IL is impossible for
/ them 70 DO much.
Fire Apparatus Useless
/ The scenes Thursday night were
awful. When the firemen attempted 70
drag their apparatus into the fire zone.
they found the streets cholged with a
/ tangle Of wires and the debris OF col
/ iapsed buildings. With the streets filed
with hysterical people some knee:ing IN.