On the Earthquake in Chile, 1851. 393 
tions when the shock had passed; and the streets were again 
lled at a most unusual hour, sk 
Most deplorable intelligence was soon brought from the neigh- 
boring villages and haciendas. Lampa and Renca, lying to the 
northwest, were reported in ruins; their inhabitants in the streets, 
and the dweiling-houses and dividing walls of adobes on the 
from Curacavi, a town of 5,000 people on the Valparaiso road, 
and beyond the first range of mountains. Among them was Mr. 
Campbell, the engineer of the Copiapo and Caldera railroad, who 
had passed through it about two hours after the earthquake. In 
many parts of the town of Curacavi he saw numbers of houses 
whose roofs had fallen in; and scarcely one remained which 
could be regarded safe so long as the agitation continued. At 
the first great shock a portion of the church steeple had been 
flung to NNE; other portions fell by degrees, crushing the roof 
and wholly destroying the building; but these latter had been 
prostrated in every direction. At one of the inns the earth had 
opened in a nearly east and west line, entirely across the court- 
yard; and the water of its well was rendered turbid for several 
hours. The same thing occurred with a number of the wells at 
Valparaiso. At Casablanca—still farther west—the destruction 
Skcoyp Szeizs, Vol, XXI, No. 63.—May, 1856. 
