520 



EARTHQUAKES IN CHILE. 

 Earthquakes at La Serena Continued. 



[From "El Progreso" of April 2.] 



EARTHQUAKE OF APEIL 2, 1851. 



At ten minutes before seven this morning there occurred the most severe and prolonged 

 earthquake of which we have any memory. Houses oscillated as pendulums moved by a power- 

 ful machine, the earth throbbed (vibrada) as does the heart when overwhelmed by terror, and 

 the dust which the violence of the shock threw up deprived the atmosphere of its transparency. 

 The duration of the earthquake was twenty-three seconds, and it is believed that its movement 

 was from the southwest. 



Nearly all the mojinetes in the city (a sort of niches constructed during the colonial epoch 

 principally for the family coats of arms), either fell to the ground, or have been very severely 

 injured. The greater part of the arches of the church of La Compania have been sprung, for 

 which reason the temple has been ordered to be closed. No doubt they were much weakened 

 by the fire which occurred before the last repairs. The loss is important, as it was the best 

 constructed of all the churches. The cathedral has scarcely suffered less, many of its arches also 

 having been sprung, the stones settling at least two inches, and some of the pieces that fell being 

 more than one third of a vara in length. The ornaments fell from over the door of (the church 

 of) San Francisco, causing the death of one woman, and horribly wounding another, who is 

 probably now dead. One of the arches of the brick bridge across the river also has settled. 

 The palace of the tribunals of justice is considerably injured, there being a notable rent at the 

 doorway. The old government palace is almost completely ruined. Two arches of the fine 

 house building under the direction of Mr. De Baines for Senor Cousino, though broken, will be 

 easily repaired. Among private houses none appears to have suffered so much as that of Senor 

 Aristea, the whole parapet which was not thrown down being completely ruined. Perhaps 

 there is no house which has not suffered in its roof, partition walls, plastering, or outer walls. 

 Yet we have escaped from the violence and duration of the shocks with less injury than might 

 have been expected ; and we trust that no greater injuries have been occasioned at Valparaiso 

 and the South, for nearly every severe earthquake felt at Santiago has occasioned greater 

 damages elsewhere. The strata of gravel on which the city is erected diminishes the risk of 

 injuries by earthquakes. 



Architects in our country should take into account the many shakings to which its buildings 



