The Washington herald., 1922-11-12

SANTA GO. Chile. Nov. 11.-North-
ern Chile was devastated by an
earthquake today. Already hun
dreds of deaths have been reported.
Tidal waves following the shock
inundated the coast. wrecking hun
drds of vessels. flooding towns and
drowning many victims.
Cable. telephone and telegraph
communications are disrupted north
OF VALPARAISO and no accurate estf-
mate of the loss of life or damage
was available tonight.
Fires followed in the wake of the
shock. adding their horrors 10
the devastation at Coquimbo, Anto-
fagasta, Chanaral. caldera and other
cities.
Flee I'm Terror to Streets.
Here at Santiago. inland, sheltered.
from the worst Of the shock, accu-
rate accounts of the holocause to
the northward are still unavailable.
The shock was severe here and there
were scenes OF terror beggaring de-
scription before dawn as streets
became filed with frightened ma
tives, many carrying househoic
goods snatched up at random.
Lights went out suddenly following
the first quake. This came exactly
at twenty minutes past midnight
and lasted two minutes. Buildings
rocked on their foundations, some
being damaged.
The first report from other cities
was tha Antofagasta had been de-
stroyed Sequina reported that a
tidal wave which swept Coquimbo
caused hundreds of houses to col
lapse. Whole families were washed
to sea. Ships were overturned.
Seventy Bodies Recovered.
A dispatch from Larsena confirm
ed the disaster at Coquimbo. report
Ing that seventy bodies had been re-
covered. Bhe survivors are camped
out on the plazas. Panic reigns in
The town.
Copiapo kilograms said that city
was laid in ruins by the quake.
More than fifty dead have been
counted and hundreds have been in
jured. Wounded are being carried
by scores from ruins of buildings.
Heaps of brick and mortar bury
many other victims.
A tidal wave at Antofagasta de-
stroyed boats and wharves. accord
ing to a telegram from the mayor.
which said the population was with
out food.
CIifTs Fall Into Sea.
Along the western coast of Chile
mountainous cliffs tumbled down al
most to the sea. The tidal wave
that swent in following the earth
quake probably wiped out whoie
little communities in many in
stances.
Ships at sea told of destruction of
small groups of adobe houses where
colored natives live in semi-poverty
near the oceans edge.
Apparently Coquimbo bore the
brunt of the shock. which was felt
over the entire South American con-
tinent. At Coquimbo. now reported
largely in ruins. the loss of life has
been estimated in the hundreds, with
wholesale destruction. making off,
cial check almost impossible.
Reports Villages Burning.
The steamer Flora. which was off
the little town of Caldera when the
quake rent the coast. reported that
the wharf at that place was smashed
, TO bits by the rush of the tidal wave.
Fires. the steamers wireless opera
tor said. were seen to break out in
villages along the shore line.
. At Valparaiso the damage was
! said to be small.
h At Larsena the natives. still In a
\ state of terror tonight. refused to
return to their homes. whence they
fed at the first quake. and remained
|, clustered in the public squares
Z Rude shelters were thrown up for
them. oficials being vowerless to
persuade them to enter the build
lngs that had rocked and tottered
in the earth shock
Copyright. 1877 hy United Press)