Middletown transcript., 1922-11-18
LIVES WIPED OUT
IN CHILEAN QUAKE
Hundreds Of Houses In Ruins,
Thousands Homeless
MAY REACH BEYOND 1000
complete Restoration OF Communica-
ton Expected To Reveal Further
Casualties And Property Damage
Effects OF Tidal Waves Felt For
Miles.

Santiago, Chile--With partial re-
establishment of commun ications,
Chile's earthquake catastrophe is re-
vealed in even greater magnitude than
first reports indicated. 1t is estimated
that at least 1000 dead and many
thousands are in distress, needing food
and shelter.
In addition to heavy casualties OF
dead and injured at Copiapo and Co
quimbo, it was reported SUM day that
200 were killed at Vallenar and the
surrounding district. Vallenar was
virtually destroyed and the survivors
are in critical condition. Il seems
certain that there have been casual
Ties in other towns and villages around
Copfapo. to the south, concerning
which no news is yet available.
Already "a bodies have been recov-
cred at Coquimbo, where it is known
there are 100 or more dead. AT Chan
aral number were killed by falling
houses.
1t was earthquake and tidal wave
combined that accounted for the vast
destruction in the Provinces of An
tofagasta, Attacame and Coqulmbo.
The movement of the ocea n is de-
scribed as phenomenal. 1t gave evl'
dence of terrific disturbance in the
bed of the Pacific itself. There must
have been such a tearing al the bot
tom of the sea that immense quaint
tis of water were sucked through
causinp a tremendous recession oi
waters along the Chilean coast.
, Five times the ocean swept outward
=. and came back in the shape pf grea
, wave, flooding the seaportB and II
!. some instances sweeping away thu
h waterfront. The violent effects OF th'
tidal waves were felt from Antofa
q gasta on the north to Valdivia on th'
. south, covering about 16 degrees o
, latitude, or more than 1000 miles.
f All types of craft lying in the var
ous harbors were swept on shore
:, wrecked or left high and dry, and
!. scores of small ports wharyes an
4 quays were destroyed. Chilean nava
20 vessels in the harbor at Thlcahuant
a about 800 miles south of Valparaiso
:. when they felt the forces Of the WI
:, ters slipped their cables and proceed
, ed out to the open sea.
a President Alessandri has ordere
the various Government department
:, to take all the measures. possible II
~ relief of the sufferers in the stricke
- districts, those most sorely Athlete
i, lying between Coquimbo and Copiap
The Navy Department has sent shil
=. along the coast to aid in the work.
- The report of the Seismologic
'" Institute says that the apparent focl
of the earth shock was 200 kilomete
from Santiago; the intensity OF Il
movement was recorded betwet
Nos. and 8 of the official seal
VI which runs up to 12. The total dur
ton was 3 hours 40 minutes and t
ng estimated radius 1900 kilometers in
en- transversal direction to the Andes.
Ill The Meteorological Institute sa
Sc that the earth shock comedies wi
ed the passage of sun spot over I
4se central meridian of the sun. T
mt earth shock commenced at the teri
,es nation of a day of abnormal he
of The sun spot referred to made its
of nearance on November and was t
srs largest observed this year.
Rear Admiral Martin, director Of I
NAVY Meteorological Service, discu
ing the earthquake, said 1t was s
ES nificant that 1t had, occurred just
the coniunctions Of Mercury and j.
Jn- tier and Neptune and the sun VIZ
approaching. The conjunction of M
curry and Jupiter occurred at /
'hs o'clock Saturday morning and the @
~ ers some hours afterward.