The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-11-13

Destitute
j n Ch i | e
Towns Virtually Destroyed by
Earth Shocks Followed by
Huge Tidal Waves in
South America.
500 Dead at Vallenal

hsVS ftUkttrSs tSVNf btuut Utsf
turbances at Los Angeles haibor.
which puzzled observers tor u time.
we're said last night by seanien possl-
bly, 10 BE- due 10 earthquake reported
In South America. The tide ebbed
mud flowed five times between HIS ..
m. and 1880 y. M. Three different
currents were noted In the channel nj
different intervals. Two seemed 10 he
flowing out 10 sea and the others com.
Ing In.
Santiago. Chile. Nov i2.--By A. P)
with partial rc.establishment of
communications chilc's earthquake
catastrophe is revealed In even great
er magnitude than first reports indi
Gated. II IL estimated that at least
! 900 are dead and many thousands
are In distress, needing food and shell.
ter.
In addition 20 heavy casualties OF
dead and injured at Copinpo and Co.
1uimbo, Il was reported that 600 were
killed at vallcnaf and the surround
Ing district. vallenar was virtually
destroyed and the survivors arc In
critical condition. II seems certain
that there have been casualties IN
other towns and villages around 70.
plapo to the south, concerning which
no news In yet available.
~ Bodies Recovered.
Already "a bodies have been re.
covered nj coquImbo, where II IN
known there are 100 or more dead.
At chanaral number were killed by
falling houses.
II was the earthquake and tidal
wave that accounted for the vast de-
sxuction In the provinces OF Antofa-
gaAta, Atncama and Coquimbo. The
movement OF the ocean ID described
as phenomenal. II gave evidence OF
Il terrific disturbance In the bed OF
the Pacific itself. There must have
| been shch tearing at the bottom OF
the sea that immense quantities OF
water were sucked through. eaufIns
= tremendous recession OF the water
along the Chilean coast
Several times the ocean swept out
ward and came beck In the shape OF
great wave, flooding the scaports
and IN some instances. sweeping
away the water front. The violent
effects Of the tidal waves were felt
from Antofagasta on the north. to
yaldivia on the south, covering about
16 degrees 81 latitude, Or more thhn
1900 miles.
Seacrat Wrecked.
All types Of craft, lying In the Va
rious harbors, were swept on shore.
wrecked or left high and dry, and ~
scores Of small ports. wharves and
quays were destroyed. Chilean naval
vessels In the barbor al Talcahus
ano, about 900 miles south OF Val
paraiso. when they felt the force Of
tho waters, slipped their cables and
proceeded out 10 the open sea.
President Alessnndrl has ordered tbs
various government departments 70
take oil measures possible for the
relief OF the sufferers In the stricken
districts, those most afflicted lying
between coqinmbo anH copiapo. Tho
Navy department has sent ships along
the coast 10 aid IN the work.
Darkness Adds f0 Terror.
Coauimbo, Chile. Nov f2.--tBy A.
P.p--fhe port Of coquinibo was awak.
encd at 1886 Friday night by violent
earth shocks and. In q few minutes
the popnlace was running about the
streets in terror, partially clothed and
seeking the nearby hills. The PANIC
was increased when the electric iigbtk
went out in some parts Of the town.
coincideDt with the shocks. the sky
was Illuminated by electric discharges
and fires broke out. After the FIRST
shocks the sea receded for consid'
crable distance and then swept back
In an immense wave, extending from
Coqulnbo 10 La Serena, seven miles
TO the northeast. flooding the tqau
and the whole coast line.
Tho tidal wave added TO the terrors
Of the people. many Of whom cried
out for aid. Again the sen reccded
for distance OF 800 yards beyond ths
low tide mark; then seemed to gather
force and came back In al immense
wave. estimated al 30 meters IN
height. which completely destroyed
the Baauedano quarter. number
Of big lighters we're picked up like
chips and carried beyond the railway
bridge. which Ia ave blocks from the
low tide mark.
New Shocks Recorded.
Santa Clara, Cal. Nov. ls.-1hs
aeismograph nj hanta Clara university
registered "a long and Violent earth.
auBke shock from sac 10 gs2s hatur.
day evening Father 4. j. itleaId an
nouDccd today. The waves eaint from
an estifnnted distance ~ 1924 miles,
probably ia the Pacific ocean vest of
chile. it VIA aaid 10 bt one ~ the
most violent shocks IN recent years.
slsoeIss last over Three Hours.
(. Santiago. Chile. Nov ig.-tfiy a. ~
The report Of the archaeological in
ailfute says thai the apparent focus ~
the earth shock vas 200 kliomsisFs
from santiago The total 5uTstios
was ! houta. 20 minutes snsi the eslls
mated radius sen kliinsetefs IN
lfansversal direction to the Andres.
The Meteorological institute safa
That the earth shock comedies stih
The passage uf sun sIat ever fte
central i4lii.4 - fs .s4fs4 41fsF fs64E