1835.] GEEAT WAVE. 293 



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 23 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 15 feet in- 

 wards. 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 36 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 sitccessfully 

 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 nobody 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 interesting 

 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 than another, or could suspect his friends of cold- 

 ness that most grievous result of the loss of wealth. Mr. House, 

 and a large party whom he kindly took under his protection, lived 

 for the first week in a garden beneath some apple-trees. At first 

 they were as merry as if it had been a picnic ; but soon afterwards 

 heavy rain caused much discomfort, for they were absolutely with- 

 out shelter. 



In Captain Fitz Roy's excellent account of the earthquake, it is 

 said that two explosions, one like a column of smoke and another 



