The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1922-11-24
QUAKE DEATHLIST
AT LEAST 1000
Waters of Pacific Recede, Then
Are Hurled Back to Engulf
Chilean Populace.
WARsHIPS ESCAPE TO OPEN
Scientists Point to Passage Of Sun
Spot and Torrd Heat-Big Waves
Rise and Ebb-Cause Death and
and Destruction.

Santiago, Chile.-Chile's earthquake
catastrophe is now revealed in even
greater magnitude than first reports
indicated. 1t is estimated that at
least 1000 are dead and many thou
sands are in distress, needing food
and shelter.
In addition to heavy casualties of
dead and injured at Copiapo and Co.
quimbo, it was reported that 500 were
killed at Vallenar and the surrounding
district. Vallenar was virtually de-
stroyed and the survivors are in a
desperate condition. 1t seems certain
that there have been casualties in
other towns and villages around Co.
piapo, to the south, concerning which
no news is yet available.
Already twenty-four bodies have
been recovered at Coquimbo, where 1t
is known there are 100 or more dead.
At Chanalarl number were killed by
falling houses.
It was earthquake and great sea
waves combined that accounted for
the vast destruction in the provinces
of Antofagasta, Atacama and Coquim-
bo. The movement of the ocean is
described as phenomenal. 1t gave
evidence of a terrific disturbance in
the bed of the Pacific itself. There
must have been rents torn in the bed
of the sea that immense quantities of
water were sucked through, causing
a tremendous recession of the waters
along the Chilean coast.
Several times the ocean swept out
ward and came back in the shape of
great ,ave, flooding the seaports
and in some instances sweeping away
the waterfront. The violent effects
Of these waves were felt from Anto-
fagasta, on the north, to Valdivioia,
on the south, covering about sixteen
degrees of latitude, or more than 1000
miles.
All types Of craft were swept on
shore, wrecked or left high and dry,
and at scores Of small ports wharves
and quays were destroyed. Chilean
naval vessels in the harbor at Talca-
houano, about 300 miles south of Val.
paraiso, when they felt the force OF
the waters, slipped their cables and
steamed to the open sea.
The report of the Seismological In
stitute says that the apparent focus
of the earthquake was 200 kilometers
from Santiago, the intensity of the
movement was recorded between lum-
bers eight and nine of the official
scale, which runs up to twelve. The
total duration was three hours forty
minutes and the estimated radius
1000 kilometers in a transversal di-
rection to the Andes.
The Meteorological Institute says
that the earthshock comedies with the
passage of a sul spot over the central
meridian of the sun. The earthsE ock
commenced at the termination of a
day of abnormal heat. The sun spot
referred to made it's appearance on
November and was the largest OBJ
served this year.
President Alessandri has ordered
the various government departments
to take all measure possible sor ths
relief of the sufferers.
Valparaiso, Chile.-A curious fea.
ture of the earthquake was the great
wave which occurred TWO hours ,nter,
indicating a terrific disturbance be-
meath the Pacific. The waters were
first sucked away from the coast and
then hurled back. This phenomenon
was repeated five times at Antofa.
gasta before the equilibrium Of the
sea was restored. There was a SINH
lar occurrence at other points.
Rear Admiral Martin, director of the
navy meteorological service, discuss
ing the earthquake, said it was signi-
ficant that it occurred just as the con-
functions Of Mercury and Jupiter and
Neptune and the sun were approach
ing. The conjunction of Mercury and
Jupiter occurred at 2:30 Saturday
morning and the other some hours
afterward.