346 AJsnsruAL report Smithsonian institution, 1962 



ARRIVAL OF THE MAREMOTO 



The inhabitants of the coastal towns, upon running outdoors at 

 the arrival of the temblor de advertencia some 15 minutes before the 

 large shock, noted that the sea was disturbed and that a small oscilla- 

 tion seemed to be taking place. Being experienced in this sort of 

 thing, they continued to watch the ocean. During the big shock the 

 sea was disturbed, and in some instances it rose a little ; in others, it 

 fell. Then, suddenly they noted that the sea was beginning to retreat 

 from the shores, exposing the ocean floor to distances well beyond 

 the lowest tides. When this happened, the fire alarms were sounded, 

 and firemen and carabineros systematically went through the streets 

 warning everyone of the impending danger. The people fled afoot 

 and on horseback to the hills and waited. Those on horseback made 

 repeated trips to save the old and infirm. After 15 to 30 minutes, the 

 sea returned, advancing upon the shore in a wave that was, in places, 

 over 20 feet high. Tlie wave rushed over the land, covering and 

 carrying away the houses, killing the animals that could not be evac- 

 uated, and carrying off some of the people who, for one reason or an- 

 other, had not left their homes. Plate 5, figure 1, shows the remains 

 of Puerto Saavedra (figs. 1 and 2). In Queule (fig. 2), according to 

 press reports, nearly 500 people were lost because they returned to 

 their houses too soon or because they had failed to notice the warning 

 of the receding water. 



In several villages along the southern coast, such as Carelmapu 

 (fig. 3), the mariscadores, or shellfish collectors, took advantage of 

 the recession of the sea to wander over the exposed sea floor collecting 

 shellfish in their baskets. When they had collected more than the 

 usual quantity of mussels and locos, they returned to the shore, climbed 

 upon the hills, and waited for the water to return. The waves con- 

 tinued all afternoon. The third or fourth wave was reported as the 

 highest. Several days later, a group of mapuchis or Araucanian 

 Indians sacrificed a Y-year-old boy to the gods of the sea to calm the 

 remorseless surf. 



The maremoto carried away all coastal docking facilities and sank 

 innumerable small boats. About 200 people were lost on Isla Chiloe 

 (fig. 3), where, fearing the earthquake, they took to small boats to 

 escape the shaking earth. In Ancud, for example, the sea withdrew 

 past Isla Cochinos (fig. 4) , carrying the small boats with it. Upon the 

 return of the sea in a thunderous breaker, all were lost. 



Several larger ships were sunk near Valdivia. One notable example 

 is the M.V. Ganelos^ which may still be seen obstructing the Eio 

 Valdivia. A ship of 3,000 tons was washed onto the beach on Isla 

 Mocha. 



The sea wave produced the most serious effects from Concepcion to 

 the south end of Isla Chiloe. The maximum height seems to have 



