.372 



CONCEPCION. 



March, 18.35. 



these provinces, of running out of doors at the first trembling 

 of the ground, alone saved them. The mayor-domo at 

 Quinquina told me, that the first notice he received of the 

 earthquake, was finding both the horse he rode, and himself, 

 rolhng together on the ground. Rising up, he was again 

 thrown down He also told me that some cows, which were 

 standing on the steep sides of the island, were rolled into the 

 sea. The great wave, however, was far more destructive in 

 this respect : on one low island near the head of the bay, 

 seventy animals were washed off and drowned. It is gene- 

 rally thought that this has been the worst earthquake ever 

 recorded in Chile ; but as the very bad ones occur only after 

 long intervals, this cannot easily be known ; nor indeed would 

 a much more severe shock have made any great diflference, 

 for the ruin is now complete. 



After viewing Concepcion, I cannot understand how the 

 greater number of inhabitants escaped unhurt. The houses 

 in many parts fell outwards ; thus forming in the middle of 

 the streets little hillocks of brickwork and rubbish. Mr. 

 Rous, the English consul, told us that he was at breakfast 

 when the first movement warned him to run out. He had 

 scarcely reached the middle of the courtyard, when one side 

 of his house came thundering down. He retained presence 

 of mind to remember, that if he once got on the top of that 

 part which had already fallen, he should be safe. Not 

 being able, from the motion of the ground, to stand, he 

 crawled up on his hands and knees ; and no sooner had he 

 ascended this httle eminence, than the other side of the house 

 fell in, the great beams sweeping close in front of his head. 

 With his eyes blinded, and his mouth choked with the cloud 

 of dust which darkened the sky, at last he gained the street. 

 As shock succeeded shock, at the interval of a few minutes, 

 no one dared approach the shattered ruins ; and no one knew 

 whether his dearest friends and relations might not be perish- 

 ing from the want of help. The thatched roofs fell over the 

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



