EARTHQUAKES IN CHILI. 523 



razed; though parts of the walla were bul^-d out, and the roofs of many were dUpUced, 

 ii limiilivil i.'in.-iiiiiii- uninhabitable, and a great number in want of repairs, which were com- 

 menced ut onrr, the neighborhood brin^ urged to it by want oi habitations. 



All the churches, th lai racks, of old ami In- ivy construction, and the old<-r edifices in gen- 

 eral, MiH'.-ivd HK'ii ui less. Brick and mortar walls and cornices split (le trizaron) in the shock, 

 but buildings, bound together by numerous wooden braces and ties, remained uninjured. 



Providence in this calamity has not tailed to favor Valparaiso, for there was no one killed; 

 even a child having been saved who had fallen from a hill amidst the ruins of the house in 

 which he was asleep. 



The trembling of the earth continued for several days, the shocks being repeated with great 

 frequency during the first, and gradually diminishing during the last, until the oscillations 

 completely ceased. 



Many families some because they were without houses, others intimidated by the frightful 

 phenomena took refuge in tents which they set up in the plaza and among the hills. 



Among the effects of the earthquake, some peculiarly capricious were noted. The motion 

 appeared to be in ramified veins with different directions : for this reason very ancient and 

 ruinous houses were seen uninjured by the side of new ones in ruins. In the same house all 

 the things of one room fell and were broken, while in the adjoining room nothing was moved. 

 Iron grates were thrown out by the pressure in some houses, while the fragile glass of 

 windows resisted it. Some articles of furniture were seen falling from the south towards the 

 north, and others from east to west. In view of the effects, it would be difficult to account 

 for action producing results so contradictory. 



With respect to property, Santiago suffered less than Valparaiso ; but it had the misfortune 

 to enumerate three victims who had sheltered themselves beneath the arch of a church. The 

 mint, in which are the government offices and residences, and other public edifices, suffered 

 injuries, as also some of the private residences. 



Various villages in the departments of the two provinces, as Quillota, Casa-blanca, Renca, 

 and houses of some estates, shared in the ruin. 



On the 4th rain fell unexpectedly, and completed the destruction of the furniture in 

 houses the roofs of which the earthquake had opened or injured. 



The loss in houses and furniture in the two provinces may be estimated at one million 

 dollars; though there are not wanting persons who put it down at a larger sum, which we deem 

 an exaggeration. 



This loss has fallen entirely upon proprietors or families, and in no degree upon trade. 



The pay of mechanics and the cost of building materials immediately rose on account of the 

 haste all made to repair the injuries done to their houses. 



The greatest activity in repairs and reconstruction succeeded the panic of the first moments ; 

 and within a month there will disappear from this city all the vestiges that now sadden the 

 streets. Meanwhile, a conviction is forced upon the people of Valparaiso that well constructed 

 houses upon solid foundations, and with stout wooden braces and ties, are able to resist the 

 most violent convulsions of earthquakes. 



[From the " Comercio de Valparaiso " of April 2.] 



The custom-house clock still marks eighteen minutes to seven, a moment when the city was 

 profoundly alarmed by one of the most severe earthquakes. The oldest residents of Valparaiso 

 do not recollect to have felt one more violent or of greater duration since that which occurred 

 in 1822. The motion of the earth continued nearly seventy seconds, and was succeeded by 

 other less severe shocks at intervals of some minutes, the phenomenon continuing to threaten 

 us during the whole day. 



