286 THE PERUVIAN TIDAL WAVR 



other jioints shows that this could not have been correct. The chances are 

 that the telegraphic agent at London failed to notice that there were about 

 four hours' time against him between Peru and his station. What was to 

 him the 10th of May was the latter part of the 9th at the scene of the dis- 

 turbance. Unfortunately, in no case is the exact period of time given at 

 which the tidal wave appeared anywhere, so that no precise calculation can 

 be made. But approximations are possible, which indicate that we maybe 

 on the eve of important scientific discoveries. 



"Taking our date at 7:10 a. m. as a basis, we reach the following facts : 

 The Sandwich Islands being 2,100 miles further westward are 2:20 ahead of 

 us in time. At 4 a. m. the tidal wave manifested itself at liilo. That would 

 represent 6:30 a. m. at Anaheim. The time of the transmission of the wave 

 to this coast would seem, therefore, to have been fifty minutes. Now, the 

 time reported at Acapulco is 10 A. m. But Acapulco is about 1,500 miles 

 more easterly than the coast of California. The difference in time will 

 therefore be one hour and forty minutes — that is to say, Acapulco is, by that 

 much, behind us. Four a. m. at Hilo would represent 8 a. m. at Acapulco 

 apparently allowing two hours for the transmission of the tidal wave be- 

 tween these points. 



"The great fact here to be noted is that the tidal wave rolled upon the 

 beach at Hilo fifty minutes before it was felt on the coast of California, and 

 two hours before it inundated Acapulco. The height to which it a,ttained 

 at these points would seem to strengthen this view, for it was in greatest 

 force at the place where it rose the highest. Waves lose force as they pro- 

 o-ress. Thus the tidal wave was twelve feet three inches high at Hilo, five 

 feet at Anaheim, and three feet at Acapulco. But at the point of the origi- 

 nal disturbance it was sixty-five feet high. This estimate is not extravagant 

 when it is considered what it did, viz: it desti'oyed many towns, and lifted 

 the United States steamer Wateree, stranded by the tidal wave of 1868, and 

 carried her nearly two miles north of her old position. 



"If we had the time of the tidal wave on the coast of Peru the calcula. 

 tion could be completed. But so far its dimensions are reported as follows : 

 05 feet at Mexillones, 12 feet 3 inches at the Sandwich Islands, 5 feet on the 

 coast of California, 3 feet at Acapulco. Ii^othing has been heard of it south 

 of Peru, but it is supposed to have been felt along the coast of Chili. It was 

 noticed about the same time as the earthquake, or immediately thereafter.. 

 The first fact was a slight recession of the water, and then a return on the 

 land with prodigious force, reaching the altitude stated. Then it flowed off, 

 the power which it evoked propagating itself, apparently, northwesterly, 

 to the Sandwich Islands, but retaining enough of force to rise 12 feet 3 

 inches there, then washing over on the coast of California 5 feet — coast of 

 Mexico 3 feet. The action seems to be that of a sudden lurch of the earth 

 in its rotary motion." 



"The great tidal wave of May 9 and 10 on the Pacific," says the St 

 Louis Reptiblican, " is an interesting subject of study. It was evidently the 



