The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-12-14

ashore, and visited Lima, the capital of
Peru, only about eight miles from the
port by electric cars-a really up-to-
date American line
Lima is fine city, and well up-to-
date. It has population Of zoe, 900
with fine paved streets and good street
car service. We took dinner with the
American minister and wife, Mr.. and
Mrs. Dudley Of California. They are
very pleasant people, and were highly
complimented by all who spoke of
them The hotel accommodations here
We're good. but we found it too cool
for comfort, so returned to the steamer
for warmer clothing after one night
OF IT, Minister Dudley the secretary of
the legation, and the American consul
general, were at the steamer to see us
of.
We left Callao Saturday evening, Oct.
6. and arrived al Valparaiso Oct. Is,
after making seven stops at way ports.
The Pacific coast from a little south
Of Guayaquil to about 200 miles north
Of Valparaiso is entirely barren of
vegetation save where it is irrigated,
for it has not rained there for ages.
The steamers sail most of the way in
sight of land, but one sees nothing but
barren mountains, not a tree to be
seen We had most beautiful sailing
all the way, not meeting with a storm
Of any kind. We both stood the trip
nicely and arrived here in good shape.
on our arrived here we found things
very much torn up by the earthquake
but really We're surprised to find that
50 much had been done to put things
right. All the public utilities were in
good shape such as the waterworks
gas, electric lights. electric street cars
telephones, etc. Also the streets were
we'll cleaned up and business was NOV
ing on much as ever.
We were met on the boat by parties
who escorted us to the best hotel in
the city where fine accommodations had
been engaged for us. We were really
surprised to find such accommodations
They were about equal to any to be
found in the United States in a city of
100000 people. The proprietor is an
American and we'll up to date We
find everything very expensive Just
now, and it is almost impossible to
rent house, so we will remain at the
hotel for a few months at least, until
we find home to suit.
Fully one-half of the city was de-
stroyed by the earthquake, and 1 do
not believe the newspaper reports
given at the time We're much exagger-
ated save in the number killed 1t
must have been a terrible thing. We
see long rows Of what were three
and four story brick buildings lying
in one mass of ruins All the theatres
were destroyed and many of the
churches. together with the cathedral
The eastern portion of the city for
four or five blocks back from the bay
suffered much more than other parts
| of the city, but there was scarcely a
building in the city that did not suffer
more or less, by way of cracked walls,
etc. The portion of the city that suf-
fered most was built on made land
and along the waters edge Where
there was anything like a rock founda-
ton the buildings that were well built
stood the shocks very well.
l called on the English consul the
other day and found the consulate in
building that runs through from
one street to another and both fronts
had fallen out and left only the par
titions and the roof standing The con
sui said that for several days he occu-
pied his Office with the end out. until
| they We're closed in with corrugated
! iron, before the walls could be put UP
which they were at when 1 made the
visit. He said his wife was thrown
| partly across the office, and that some
of his furniture was thrown out on the
/ street from the second floor when the
walls went out in a body.
The severe shocks that caused mos
Of the loss lasted about four minutes
and eye witnesses say that 1t seemed
the end Of the world had really come
for the ground under them seemed t.
be crumbling away, and everything
around them falling to pieces. Som,
Of the time it was difficult to stand
and almost impossible to walk with
out now and then falling.
Then screams came from every sid,
and pandemonium reigned everywhere
To add to the awfulness of the seen,
4 an unnatural red light shone over an,
A about the city Notwithstanding all tn
gas and electric lights were extin
guished by the shocks. 1t was a stead,
light and not like lightning, bu
doubtless caused by electricity in tn
air. 1t is said it was so light tina
persons and objects were readily dis
cernable.
For days the entire population o
the city lived in the open, or in tent
or huts built of boards or corrugate
iron taken from demolished building,
From what I can learn it was tryin
times, but the Gillian officials aros
to the emergency in great shape, an
shortly had things well in hand.
1t IS not an uncommon thing a
one walks along the street in most an
part of the city to see a portion of
! wall gone, or a great crack being re
paired. The hotel where we stop wa
injured as little as any building.
guess. and workmen have been bus
, repairing it ever since the earthquake
and it will take them two or thre
months longer. 1t is big building q
it has more than 100 rooms.
In the dining room we hear about a
: much English as any other languag
and on the streets and in the bushes
places English is spoken on every han,
2 1t is quite a hustling city. and ther
are many fine business houses her