222 CONCEPCION. [CHAP . xiv. 



fell over the fires, and flames burst forth in all parts. Hundreds knew 

 themselves ruined, and few had the means of providing food for the 

 day. 



Earthquakes alone are sufficient to destroy the prosperity of any 

 country. If beneath England the now inert subterranean forces should 

 exert those powers, which most assuredly in former geological ages 

 they have exerted, how completely would the entire condition of the 

 country be changed ! What would become of the lofty houses, thickly 

 packed cities, great manufactories, the beautiful public and private 

 edifices ? If the new period of disturbance were first to commence by 

 some great earthquake in the dead of the night, how terrific would be 

 the carnage ! England would at once be bankrupt ; all papers, records, 

 and accounts would from that moment be lost. Government being 

 unable to collect the taxes, and failing to maintain its authority, the 

 hand of violence and rapine would remain uncontrolled. In every 

 large town famine would go forth, pestilence and death following in 

 its train. 



Shortly after the shock, a great wave was seen from the distance 

 of three or four miles, approaching in the middle of the bay with a 

 smooth outline ; but along the shore it tore up cottages and trees, as it 

 swept onwards with irresistible force. At the head of the bay it 

 broke in a fearful line of white breakers, which rushed up to a height 

 of twenty-three vertical feet above the highest spring-tides. Their force 

 must have been prodigious ; for at the Fort a cannon with its carriage, 

 estimated at four tons in weight, was moved fifteen feet inwards. 

 A schooner was left in the midst of the ruins, 200 yards from the 

 beach. The first wave was followed by two others, which in their 

 retreat carried away a vast wreck of floating objects. In one part of 

 the bay, a ship was pitched high and dry on shore, was carried off, 

 again driven on shore, and again carried off. In another part, two 

 large vessels anchored near together were whirled about, and their 

 cables were thrice wound round each other : though anchored at a depth 

 of thirty-six feet, they were for some minutes aground. The great 

 wave must have travelled slowly, for the inhabitants of Talcahuano 

 had time to run up the hills behind the town ; and some sailors pulled 

 out seaward, trusting successfully to their boat riding securely over 

 the swell, if they could reach it before it broke. One old woman with 

 a little boy, four or five years old, ran into a boat, but there was 

 cobody to row it out ; the boat was consequently dashed against an 

 anchor and cut in twain ; the old woman was drowned, but the child 

 was picked up some hours afterwards clinging to the wreck. Pools of 

 salt-water were still standing amidst the ruins of the houses, and 

 children, making boats with old tables and chairs, appeared as happy 

 as their parents were miserable. It was, however, exceedingly in- 

 teresting to observe, how much more active and cheerful all appeared 

 than could have been expected. It was remarked with much truth, 

 that from the destruction being universal, no one individual was 

 humbled more thai: another, or could suspect his friends of coldness 

 that most grievous result of the loss of wealth, Mr. Rouse, and a 



