530 EARTHQUAKES IN CHILE. 



soil. In the city, water is found at two varas. In La Chimba there are places where one is 

 compelled to go to eighteen or twenty. The houses between the hills, others say, are those 

 which have suffered most, which indicates motion in the same way. It was accompanied by a 

 great noise, heard also at some of the lesser shocks, though every time more lightly. 



The same paper of the 30th says : 



After having written our article on Tuesday respecting the earthquake, Wednesday morning 

 passed tranquilly, and alarm was beginning to disappear, when the return of slight shocks at 

 night again created violent excitement. We believe that it is time for quiet again. The phe- 

 nomenon was repeated yesterday (Thursday), but every time it was with less force ; and it would 

 be very remarkable if we should again experience what occurred at first. The last example at 

 Valparaiso is a case in point, and there are an infinity of others it would be useless to mention. 

 Great earthquakes almost always end so, ceasing as it were by degrees. 



As to losses, some have been experienced, but it is not becoming to exaggerate them. We 

 insist in saying that the crockery and glass ware broken in the stores will not exceed from two 

 to four thousand dollars. If to this be added the injury to walls, fences, and houses it will be 

 necessary to rebuild, we do not deny that the cost may amount to all that present wealth has 

 gained over poverty of the past. 



On the other hand, many of the adobe walls thrown down by the earthquake should have 

 been down a year ago, and would have been if the decree specifying them as ruinous had been 

 complied with. 



IFrom "El Pueblo" of Copiap6, 27th May.] 



At twenty minutes past one o'clock this afternoon we experienced an earthquake even more 

 terrible than that of April 2d at Valparaiso. Its duration a little more or less than two 

 minutes was accompanied by strong horizontal shocks from north to south. The population 

 is still alarmed by the slighter tremors that have taken place from minute to minute up to 

 eight o'clock at night, the hour at which we are writing. The destruction has been quite of 

 moment. More than a dozen houses are entirely down, and there is not a single one which 

 has not somewhat suffered. All the parapet and enclosing walls have come to the ground. In 

 Calle del Commercio there is not a store which has not suffered considerable loss. The cafe de 

 Meneli has been nearly all prostrated, as has a part of the interior of the apothecary's shop in 

 the Calle del Commercio. Messrs. Langlie's crockery and glass-ware establishment has expe- 

 rienced no little loss, which has also occurred to Sefior Gomez and the Seilores Felin. 



The fact of its taking place at noonday saved greater destruction. Meanwhile we recommend 

 to the police, that, for the security of passers-by, they cause every ruinous wall to be pulled 

 down. There are other details which we shall give in the next number. The earthquake was 

 not preceded by any noise, and the day was clear and serene. 



The same journal on the 28th says: 



Between half-past one of the afternoon of the 26th and midnight of the 27th there were more 

 than a hundred earthquakes; indeed, it may be said that we experienced a continuous though 

 gentle oscillation, interrupted from time to time by strong shocks. * * * The atmosphere 

 has continued clear, serene, and of an unexpected stillness. 



It is feared that this earthquake came from the south, because it was felt with somewhat 

 greater force at Chaiiarcillo and lighter at Tres Puntas, although in both mineral districts much 

 damage has been done. By an express from Cerillos yesterday, we learned the destruction of 

 the houses there. Although no one was killed, nor a single person wounded, very great injury 

 was done in the houses used for mining purposes at Chaiiarcillo. 



In the city, a crack opened in the earth about fifty yards long and a quarter of a vara wide, 

 from which water issued. It was in La Vega, on the side next to the grave-yard. 



