Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-20
EARTHQUAKE LOSS
INTO THE MILLIONS
500 Dead the Latest Estimate
From Valparaiso.
STREETS FILLED WITH RUINS
Parks and Hillsides Occupied by the
Refugees.
20 VICTIMS IN SANTIAGO SHOCKS
Great Damage Reported in Mining
Districts-Number of Villages
Totally Destroyed.
STREETS FILLED WITH RUINS
20 VICTIMS IN SANTIAGO SHOCKS

Five hundred persons are dead
at Valparaiso as. a result of the
earthquake shocks, according to
the latest advices from Santiago to-
day, based on the reports of refu-
gees who reached Santiago, Chile,
this morning.
The monetary loss at Valparaiso
runs into the millions. Six or eight
other cities have been DESTROYED.
The railroad, street railway, tele-
graph and telephone systems are
thoroughly demoralized.
The known dead in Santiago
number twenty. Madame Mont,
wife of Admiral Mont, who was re-
ported killed, is alive, but seriously
injured. 1t is expected that the
street railway and lighting systems
in Santiago will be restored TODAY.
SANTIAGO, Chile. Sunday, August 1s.-
mittee was organized here today and the
street railroad service was resumed. II
was feared that Santiago would be plunged
In darkness owing to lack of coal to supply
the gas works, but the officials OF the gas
company say that they have a sufficient
supply to last week. +'-.-=
Carlos Edwards, one of the proprietors
OF the Mercurio of Valparaiso has arrived
here on horseback from that city. He con-
Arff1S tha tI,at Af
ter and the principal avenue of Valparaiso
have been transformed into heaps of ruins
When he left the city the inhabitants were
wandering about looking for relatives and
friends. The majority of the Inhabitants,
he says, have sought refuge on the hills, in
the park and along the seashore.
The administration of the Victoria Thea
ter had disappeared even to their founda-
tions. The marine arsenal was only
slightly damaged, but not any of the private
residences were habitable.
In spite of the desolation perfect order
was maintained by the troops, which were
toria square. The military ambulances
were gathering up the wounded and the
dead. When Mr.. Edwards left Valparaiso
1t 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
The main hotel was standing and all the
guests escaped injury, but Mr.. Edwards
regards Valparaiso as being inhabitable
for the present. The squadron of cavalry
forming the presidential escort has started
from here for Valparaiso with instructions
to requisition all the cattle met with be-
tween this place and Valparaiso, and to
drive the herds to that city in order to
prevent famine.
Refugees on Ships.
A large number Of people have sought
various ships a. anchor n
the bay of Valparaiso
The report that the naval school at VAL
paraiso had escaped destruction is con-
frmed today A number Of families have
sought refuge in the schools, where they
are being cared for by the naval authori-
ties.
Medical supplies have been sent from
this city to Valparaiso, and everything pos
sible is being done to assist the homeless
people No accurate estimate OF the dam
age done by the earthquake can yet be
made, but it is considered certain that 1t
will run into the hundreds of millions of
dollars, and it is feared that commercial
crisis will follow the earthquake disaster.
1t Is believed that steps will Immediately
be taken to meet this situation. Business
is being slowly resumed here and at Val
paraiso-
with detachments of volunteers from the
army and fire departments, left this morn
ing for the purpose of establishing tele-
graphic communication with Valparaiso.
A train which left Santiago for the north
today arrived without any difficulty at
Calera. Contrary to the general belief the
tunnels were not wrecked and II is hoped
that trains will be running regularly to-
morrow.
The government has authorized the pro-
vincial governors to spend all the money
necessary TO help the earthquake sufferers
In their districts.
Prisoners Sang Hymns.
When the earthquake first shook this city
the prisoners in the penitentiary began
singing hymns. There was no loss of life
among them 50 far as known. but at VAL
paraiso the prison walls fell and crushed
14O prisoners to death.
A telephone message received yesterday
from Vina del Mar announced that the por-
tion of that town between the Royal hotel
and the custom house Is not seriously
damaged. but that the rest of Vino del
Mar is almost totally destroyed.
President Riesco has received dispatches
from la Serena, capital of the province OF
Coqumbo. saying that no damage has been
done in the north. but the majority of the
houses in the Amagada district have co..
lapsed, as did a hill between Valparaiso and
Vina del Mar, destroying railroad communi-
cation between those two places.
Despite the fact that the stores of pro-
visions here are intact n number of mer-
chants have considerably increased the
price.
Damage at the Mines
A great deal of damage was done at the
mines in the Noglais and Calera districts
number of houses have fallen at Talca,
fifty persons were killed there and one
hundred and fifty wounded. At Melipilla
IL is believed that all the houses will have
TO be pulled down, owing to the severe
shaking they received from the earthquake
and at Santa Turnino a number of public
buildings will have to be razed At Llaillai
seventy houses fell. number of small
villages in the Terremote district were
fatallY destrnYed Al Terremote the nnpii=