94 EARTHQUAKES. 



occurrence in Chile, it was supposed we might collect much information that would aid to dispel 

 doubts on several points. Clever men had asserted that the pressure of the atmosphere was 

 least ; that earthquakes were of electrical origin ; that there were emanations from the earth, 

 rendering it sterile, and generating diseases often wholly new ; that extraordinary meteoric 

 phenomena accompanied them ; that, for hours in advance, the atmosphere was of a sultry 

 closeness, almost insupportable ; that they are intimately connected with volcanoes ; that they 

 permanently elevate and depress districts of much extent ; and a multitude of other terrestrial 

 consequences of great interest to mankind. How far this has been done will be seen in the 

 sequel, for which it seems proper to prepare the reader by a succinct notice of the well-authen- 

 ticated attendant phenomena of preceding recorded terremotos in Chile, as a partial apology 

 for contributing so little to his information. In Appendix A will be found specified each 

 tremor and shock that occurred at Santiago and Serena from November 1, 1849, to September, 

 1852, a period of nearly three years, with such brief facts as it was possible to note. Of old 

 earthquakes : 



1570. 



The first shock mentioned by the historians of the country occurred on the 8th February, 

 15*70, destroying Concepcion, the then most promising and flourishing city of the infant colony. 

 A frightful roaring noise which preceded enabled most of the inhabitants to escape from their 

 dwellings, and an instant afterwards the earth sank, so that the ocean flowed over the sites of 

 their homes; and to this day a part of old Penco remains beneath the waves. For five months 

 subsequently the earth continued agitated, and the sea unquiet ; and the whole kingdom expe- 

 rienced the subterranean thunders which threatened to rend its surface into fragments. The 

 courses of rivers were changed, fields inundated, even the mountains menaced a new deluge, 

 and no part escaped some injury. On the authority of Padre Miguel Olivares,* it is stated that 

 more than 2,000 .persons perished. The cathedral of Santiago was among the ruins. 



1647. 



Don Jose Carvallof says, that the earthquake of this year, though most destructive at San- 

 tiago, was felt throughout all South America. It gave no warning, but in an instant levelled 

 the city with the ground. This was on the 13th May, at 10^ p. M. ; and the extent of the loss 

 may be estimated, when that of the churches, according to the Bishop, was more than $300,000. 

 Several MS. accounts of it are still in existence, a part of which have been printed by two 

 authors ; but they so abound with the religious superstition of the time, that few of the data 

 tending to illustrate the phenomena can be received. One of the most elaborate is a letter from 

 Bishop Villaroel to the President of the Council of the Indies, which bears date 9th June fol- 

 lowing. He says he was not able to verify the direction of the centre of disturbance, though 

 from some of the efiects, and the fact that the noise was as great about Yaldivia and Concep- 

 cion, it was to the southward. The shock lasted, with terrific noise, from seven to eight minutes ; 

 and though the moon was high, the air was so filled with dense clouds of dust that the scene 

 was one of horror, and the boldest thought the day of judgment at hand. It was affirmed that 

 the noise was heard from the summit of the Andes, fifteen leagues distant. Cracks were opened 

 in the earth across the plaza; and those of the roads, to a distance often or twelve leagues 

 from the sea, threw out sand and foul-smelling water. There were seventy shocks within 

 twenty-three days, and destruction was spread on the plain from the vicinity of the river 

 Maule to the Chuapa. A heavy storm of rain and snow followed the great shock; and all the 

 bake-ovens having been destroyed, the houseless people endured great suffering. Six hundred 

 is the smallest number at which the dead were estimated ; the Real Audiencia reported to the 

 King one thousand. A letter from the Oidores bears date July 12, 1648, more than a year 



* Historia de Chile, MS. t Historia de Chile, MS. 



