The Republican journal., 1922-03-23

are now deceased, OUT MIS- T. ~ WV
kels, mentioned as Emma" in the letter,
10 still . resident OF Searsport. Inc Mr..
Curtis mentioned in the letter, who was
mate of the Resolute, is Mrs. Nickeis'
brother, Captain Henry G. Curtis, re-
tired Searsport ship master.
Yours truly,
LINCOLN COLCORD
Husnillos, Chill, May Is, 1877.
Capt. J. C. Nickels,
Searsport, Me.
Desr SIR
Since l last wrote you q most terrible
calamity has visited the SHIPPING and
towns 1t these southern guano deposits.
On the 9th inst, at $50 p. M, occurred
one of the severest earthquakes ever ex-
perienced by anyone here, followei by
tidal wave. will try to describe it, but
the terrors must be imagined.
On the morning of the 9th found on
heayins in the starboard chain, (having
REINFORCED the ship the day before), that 1t
had unshackled at 80 fathoms and that
the anchor was Loaf. Ne got the spare
anchor over as soon as possible, and then
took in the guano lying alongside, which
vas finished at Up. N. When l came on
board at .. m and found that the mate
had not time before supper to overhaul a
range, told him that 1t was so late he
might let the men get supper and over
haul the range afterwards. But he, think
ing it better to finish at once, did SO before
eupper. The men had just finished their
supper and hoisted the boat when the ship
began to tremble.
At first we experienced trembling
which increased for one-half minute or
more: it kept growing stronger, lulling at
times. It shook the ship like leaf, and
YOU could hardly stand on deck. The
shock lasted in full strength perhaps two
or three minutes; then it passed away.
Then came most terrifying noise from
the shore; rocks rolled from the meyptains
into the water, making deafenlpg roar,
~Hc5 in the intense q rkkness was aPpsl-
rlinI.
Ter this subsidized, tperhaps ten minutes
.fter the earthuuake), Captain Adams OF
min Theobald shouted to me to slip stem
moorinas. as his ship was coming down on
us. before we could slip, they parteo,
and we swung half around. We lmmedl,
.tely let 10 the starboard anchor and PAID
nut all the chain on deck. All TINS was
caused by the first receding wave.
Then the tidal wave came in like boil
ing cauldron, ships taking anchors ana
chains with them as though they We're
feathers; and, in the rush, vessels shot
round and round and collided with each
other. going at the rate OF eight to ten
miles per hour. All we could do with the
ship was to try to steer her. Everywhere
around US we could hear crashing vessels.
One vessel crossing our bow earned away
the iibboom and fittings attached.
After lull of perhaps fifteen or twenty
minutes. again the ships began to revolve
and twist about, and again vessels crash
ed and eroaned in collision. Several were
sunk at about this time. Howbeit, Z.
mighty God kept US clear OF all vessels
doing us serious damage, until ll.3O to IL
midnight, when the British bark Samuel
backed stem first into the stem OF tins
ship, striking US about the upper part oil
the stem moulding, and breaking two
planks only. Soon after, Eat this time the
rush of the tide was greatly diminished,
= the British ship William Leavitt struck
this ship, carrying away the bumkin on
the port aide, crushing the main rail for a
length of ten feet, etc. Again we swept
clear; but soon after the ships circled
completely around each other, and being
entanaled, we dashed them together to
prevent farther damage. For the remain
der of the night the tide became greatly
Diminished, and at last subsidized. witt
frequent shocks of earthquake.
When daylight broke, all in sight was
wreck. Two ships were sunk, the Genevs
and the Avonmore. The crew of the for
mer were saved. but the fate of thu
Avonmore was shocking Captain Cor
field, her master, was an old acquaintance
of ours. having been with Us in Caliao ane
Lobos the lsst time, as well as knowing
IF hA
CAPTAIN Coombs, at the Chincha Islands
He had on board Mrs. Coriield, mos
smiabIe lady, and three of the lovlies'
children ever saw; Harold, the eldest, I
years, Mabel, 2 years, and an infant tive
months old; together with the nurse
Captain Trick OF the British ship Arctic
was visiting them. They all went dowr
together; and only Captain Cortleld, witt
Harold. who died in his fathers arms al
hour after, were saved. On the next two
days his family were found one by one
ana services and prayers were read oveI
them. The poor father, who was SO PROUD
< Of them all, is nearly heart broken; he has
been our guest, and we have done all II
our power to alleviate his sorrows. Be-
sides these, eight seamen were drowned
from the ships that sunk and went ashore.
At q. M, as soon as dared, l sent
E01101 ~ Vua1 ~ u ma NoA ssS oA ~SeAo
the ship c. +. Sargent Of Yarmouth,
which vessel was lyina clear and appar-
emily. uninjured. Ihave just brought her
hack on board tonight. She behaved
splendidiy, and lam proud of her bravery.
had her forward three times while we
were in collision, to avoid falling spars.
Since the earthquake we have had fire.
ouent moderate shocks. but Of course ma
ture will not find its equilibrium atonce
after such convuisions. The Governor
house and safe, the Consul's building. the
houee and Office of the Captain OF the Port
containlEg every ships Register, have
Reen swept away. Only lew novels re-
main ct the upper part Of the town
0tronae to soy, we have saved the iaun-
cheo. which hung ON alongside through
the whole AFFAIR. Out of the fleet Of n
veaseis at Pabello de Plea. only two e.
canod without damage; ten are sunk. and
he runt are seziously injured. At the
town * Psbeilo de Plea only one house
rennined standing. and about 100 livea
weso loat on shore, but only one IN the
.HeeG Ahout one bali Of the ships ct Loboa
Point vers lat a seriously damaged.
At daylight 10 commenced aided ~
M e N Cooova's crew. to clear our
80 lIom ~ Gkip william Leavttt The
$500 = ~ ships were .aroaad each