EARTHQUAKES. 101 



\\ hilst the buttresses (at right angles to the latter) were in many case* wrenched off and hurled 



to the ground, an<l <>m- -t 1 on its foundation entirely separated from the wall. Borne square 



ornaments on th<- <..), in-- .,!' tin- >amc walls were moved into a diagonal position, and an angular 

 stone pinnacle was turned half round without leaving it* base. The formation of the site 

 occupied by Conception is alluvial ; northward and eastward are irregular and rocky tertiary 

 hills, from (lie foot of which the loose alluvial earth was parted by the great shock, and cracks 

 were left, varying from an inch to a foot in width. 



For many hours the earth was tremulous considerable shocks occurring at short intervals, 

 harassing and alarming ; nor was the surface ever long quiet during the three days following 

 the great shock. Between that and the 4th March, more than three hundred other shocks were 

 counted. Most though not all of them were preceded by subterranean noises, compared by 

 some to tin- nimhlin^ of distant thunder; by others, to the discharges of many pieces of artillery 

 far away ; and sometimes, though not often, the sound was unaccompanied by perceptible 

 motion. These sounds were always first distinguished in the southwest quarter, and usually 

 preceded the shocks two or three seconds. 



Simultaneously with the beginning of the convulsion, the water rose about a foot in the river 

 at Concepcion, and in the bay of Talcahuano, without first retiring, swelled up to high-water 

 mark ; but the great sea-waves came not for a long time afterward. Like Concepcion, Talca- 

 huano was in ruins ; and from the summit of the island of Quinquina a mass of rock, estimated 

 at more than 25,000 tons, had been hurled to the waters at its feet. Capt. Fitzroy learned that 

 the first great wave was " about half an hour after." The governor of the department reports 

 11 alas doce y media" (at half-past 12) ; and as, by his account, the town had been shaken down 

 at twenty minutes past 11, an hour and ten minutes had elapsed. First, the sea retired nearly 

 a mile, leaving in the mud vessels that had anchored in from four to six fathoms water. A few 

 minutes after, the first great wave approached in an unbroken wall of water, thirty feet high, 

 between the island of Quiriquina and the western shore of the bay. It broke over everything 

 within that distance of tide-level ; dashed the ships along like boats ; bore one from the stocks, 

 where it was nearly ready for launching, 200 yards inland ; removed 24-pounder cannon some 

 yards, and overturned them ; and finally rushed back with such a torrent, that everything 

 movable not buried under the ruins was carried out to sea. The inhabitants occupied the 

 heights back of the town, not less appalled at this display of resistless power than despondent 

 at the ruin it caused them. Ships were again left aground in the bay until half-past 1 p. M., 

 at which time a second wave was seen rolling through the same channel, with more impetuos- 

 ity than the first, whirling them about each other as they floated, and was only less destructive 

 in its effects because there was less left to destroy. Twenty minutes later, a third came onward. 

 But this was crested foaming like the breakers across a dangerous bar during a storm ; and 

 as it swept tumultuously along the shores bearing everything irresistibly before it, the roaring 

 noise was horrible. Quickly retiring, the sea was seen covered with the wreck of houses, 

 furniture, and goods of every character, from the shattered magazines. Apparent exhaustion 

 followed these efforts, for there were no more great waves, though for some hours the sea rose 

 and fell two or three times each hour, and both earth and water trembled. Eastward of the 

 island of Quiriquina, where the volume was not compressed within a narrow channel, the wave 

 was neither so elevated nor so rapid as that which passed between it and the peninsula. Several 

 days elapsed before the tide rose to within five feet of the usual marks ; and as late as the 

 middle of April there was still a difference of two feet, indicating an elevation of the coast to 

 that amount a fact substantiated by beds of dead muscles and limpets. At the same time the 

 island of Santa Maria, 40 miles distant in a S.W. direction, and the southern shore of the 

 neighboring bay of Arauco, were more affected. The former was upheaved an average of nine 

 feet, its north end having been raised two feet more than the south point, whilst the main 

 land S.E. of it was only left six feet above its previous height. 



At the time of the ruin, and until after the great waves ceased, the water of the bay was 



