Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1906-08-21
ACCOUNT OF AFFAIR AS
SANTIAGO UNDERSTOOD 1T

Santiago, Chile, Aug. 21.-Only now
can the seriousness of the catastrophe
begin to be appreciated. The greater
part of many houses are unsafe for
habitation and the authorities have
organized a special corps to pull down
tottering buildings. In most of the
streets it is not safe to walk on the
pavement owing to falling debris.
Santiago resembles a camp. The pub
lie squares and principal avenues are
crowded with people sleeping in the
open. The night of August 16 was
rendered dreadful by the flashing of
lightning and pouring rain. Electric
cables and wires were swapping as a
result OF the constant strong earth
Shocks which occurred all that night,
causing the greatest of CONSERVATION,
which was heightened by pealing fire
bells announcing the breaking out of
fires in various quarters of the city.
Governors Report to President.
No really definite news has been re-
ceived here from Valparaiso except
the governors official report to the
president, outlining the situation and
adding that he was earnestly rushing
reinforcements of troops, which to-
day were here, by forced marches.
The governor informed the president
that he had caused the construction of
sheds on Brazil avenue in order to
shelter homeless families. He esti-
mated that provisions on the way TO
Valparaiso would be sufficient to last
a month. The water supply, however,
was short, owing to the destruction of
the water works. Difficulty is ex-
.perienced in burying the dead owing
to the panic prevailing. The state of
affairs existing at Valparaiso furnish
es a serious outlook for Santiago,
since many homeless residents of the
former place will make their way here
and there is not sufficient accommo-
dation or food in this city for the des-
titute people of Santiago.
Standing Houses Pulled Down.
The task of the authorities in the
present situation became easier today
on account of the fact that the tele-
graph an dtelephone lines were re-
established between Valparaiso and
Santiago, enabling the governor of
Valparaiso to consult at length with
the authorities here
The people arriving here from Val
paraisO confirm the alarming reDorts
as TO the extent of the catastrophe.
but they declare that the local author
tiles have taken the most energetic
measures to maintain order and pre-
vent pillaging. All persons caught
robbing are shot on the spot.
The people arriving here estimate
that so per cent of the buildings in the
Terremote district have been destroy /.
ed by fire. All reports agree that Ad- .
mendral and the southern districts of ,
Valparaiso suffered the most severely /
According 10 some reports Valparaiso .
may be said to have been totally de- .
stroyed il being asserted that all the .
houses which remained standing have
been shaken and that they must be
pulled down.
Shock Unprecedented in Length.
The first great shock lasted four
minutes and fifty seconds. Such a
long shock had never occurred before
in the memory of any Santiago inhabi-
tant. Experts say that the only thing
which saved Santiago from complete
ruin was that the motion was circular.
The principal shock was from Valpar-
also TO Santiago and Meripilla with
its center al Llmache. The last two
mentioned towns were destroyed as
were Quillota and Llaillai Approx
matey, the earthquake was announced
by the naval observatory two days
previous 10 it's occurrence.