Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-08-21
.lmsndral Quarter is Transformed Into
Heap Of Ruins.
ORDER IS COMING OUT OF CHAOS
Street Railway ssrviOs Resumed and
Relief Work is Being systsmstissd.
sKoR EIGHT OTHER TOWNS DESTROYED
Twenty Persons Known to he Dead
at Santiago as Resalt of Earth-
auakes which Began
Thursday. r.,

SANTIAGO. Chile. Aug. D.-Five hundred
persons are dead at Valparaiso as a result
of the earthquake shocks according to the
latest advloes based on the reports Of refu-
gees who reached this city this morning.
The monetary loss at Valparaiso runs into
the millions Six or eight other cities have
been destroyed The street railway and tel
egraph and telephone systems are demoral-
lied. The known dead in this city number
twenty. Madame Mont wife OF Admiral
Mont, who was reported killed, is alive but
| seriously injured 1t is expected that the
street railway and lighting systems in this
city will be restored today.
Situation L. Clearing.
Sunday, Aug. H-The situation 10 be-
coming clearer. relief committee was
organized here today and the street rail-
way service was resumed. 1t was feared
that Santiago would be plunged in dark
| ness owing to a lack OF coal to supply
the gas works, but the officials of the gas
company say that they have sufficient
! supply to last a week.
Carlos Edwards. one OF the proprietors
of the Mercurio of Valparaiso, has ar
rived here on horseback from that city
| He confirms the reports that the Almsndral
| quarters anu tne principal avenue OF val
paraiso have been transformed into heaps
of ruins. When he left the city the in
habitants were wandering about looking
for relatives and friends. The majority Of
the inhabitants there have sought refuge
! on the hills In the park and along the sea-
shore. The administration building and the
Victoria theater had disappeared even to
their foundations. The marine arsenal was
| only slightly damaged but not many of the
private residences were inhabitable. In
| spite of the desolation perfect order was
maintained by the troops, which were BIZ
vouacked on Grand avenue and Victoria
square. The military ambulances were
gathering up the wounded and dead
| Loss Comparatively Small.
When Mr. Edwards left Valparaiso II
was impossible to determine the number
of persons killed, but according to his esti-
mate the number of lives lost was small
| when, the extent of the catastrophe was
taken into consideration. AT one depot he
saw nifty bodies. The main hotel was
standing and ell the guests escaped in
jury. but Mr. Edwards regards Valparaiso
as being uninhabitable for the present
The squadron of cavalry forming the
presidential escort has started from here
for Valparaiso, with Instructions 70 re-
quisition all the cattle met with between
this place and Valparaiso and to drive
the herds to the latter city in order to
prevent a famine
large number OF people have sought
refuge on the various ships at anchor in
the bay of Valparaiso.
The report that the naval school at VAL
paraiso had escaped destruction Is con-
hrmed today. number of families have
sought refuge in the school building where
they are being cared for by the naval
authorities Medical supplies have been
sent from this city TO Valparaiso and
everything possible is being done to assist
the homeless people. No accurate estimate
OF the damage done by the earthquake can
pyet be made. but IT is considered certain
that 1t will run into the hundreds Of mil
lions of dollars. and It is feared that a
commercial crisis will follow the earth
quake disaster. II is believed that steps
will Immediately be taken 10 meet this
situation. Business is being slowly re-
sumed here ana at Valparaiso.
Troops Are AZ Work.
The ministers Of war ana the interior
with detachments OF volunteers from the
army and fire departments left here this
morning for the purpose OF re-establishine
| Geographic communication with Valpar-
also. A train which left Santiago for the
north today arrived without any difficulty
at Calera Contrary to the Feneral be-
lief. the tunnels were not wrecked and II
Is hoped that trains will be running regu-
larry tomorrow
The government has authorized the prov
inciai governors to spend all the money
necessary to help the earthquake sufferers
In their distress.
When the earthquake FIRST shook tbs city
the prisoners in /. the penitentiary began
singing hymns There was no loss OF Hfe
among them so far as known. but at VAL
paraiso the prison walls fell and crushed
40 prisoners TO death.
telephone message received here today
from Vina Delmar. announced that the
portion OF the town between the Roysi
hotel and the custom house Is not seriously
damaged, but the rest OF vina Delnar is
almost totally destroyed
Reports from other Places.
President Rieseo has received dispatches
from Laserena, capital OF the province OF
coquimbo. saying that no damage has been
done In the north, but the majority OF the
houses in the Amagada district have col.
lapsed. as did a hill between Valparaiso
and Vina Delmsr. destroying railroad com
munics ton between these two places
Despite the fact that the stores OF proyi.
sions here are intact n number OF mer-
chants have considerably increased the
price OF provisions
A great deal Of damage has been done
at the mines in the the Nogiais and Calers
districts. A number OF houses have fallen
at Talca; nifty persons were killed there
and $50 were wounded. At Melipiila II Is
believed that all the houses will have to
he pulled down. owing to the severe shsl-
ing which they received. and at Calvador
and Santa Turnino number of public
buildings will have 10 be raEed At LIaiI-
lsi seventy houses fell. number OF small
villages in the Terremote district were to-
tally destroyed. Al TerTemote the popu-
lace tried to pillage the busuess hovscs
OF Rose Innis. which had remsined stanS-
ing. hut the employees OF the frm suesess-
fully defended the place