A BIG DISASTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1838, 20 August 1906, Page 2

A BIG DISASTER.

tremendous earthquake at

VALPARAISO.

DESTRUCTION BY FIRE

HUNDREDS OF LIVES LOST.

I'ltliSS ASSOCIATION COI'YItIUUT Buenos Ayros, August 17. An earthquake in Argentina has inter* r upted tho tclfgmphp. London, August 17. An oartbquako has occurred at Valnaraiso, which lack official confirmation, do c ibo it as very serioua. Outbreaks of fire followed the shock. A l a tor account minimises tho damage. Recsivod 4.29 p.m., August 19. New York, July 18. Tho eeiemogroph at Washington recorded a slow earthquake. There were tremors on Thursday evening, the most violent ebock being towards 8 o clock. The disturbances esased at midnight. _ Messages received from various points on Friday night after communication was partially restored located iho area between Losindes and Valparaiso. Advices from Mendcza stats that many houses were wrecked in Losandee, and there were a large number of victims. London, August 18. Professor Milne reports that his instruments at Newport, Isle of Wight, recorded disturbances. The record suggests a third earthquake along the American coast, northward of Valparaiso. Aoeording to Now York cablegrams, at eight on Thursday evening there was a tremendous e&rtbquiko at Valparaiso, followed by many fires, extending from Pkza Orden northwards. Many houses were' destroyed, and all the city more or less damaged by earthquake or fire. Business is at a standstill. The banka are closed, There is no gas or electric light. . A panic reigned, many families fleeing. The sea remained calm and shipping was not injured. The streets which sufiared most were Calls de Blanco, Calls Deoondell, Calle Lera, Esmorald, and Delicias district, where the best residences are situated. ANOTHER ACCOUNT Another account states that hundreds were killed, and many hundreds imprisoned in the ruins were burnt to death. The basinets section is almost entirely destroyed. The fires are still raging. There are throngs of homaless people in the streets. Two distinct and terrific shocks were felt, the second following insfanrly. The whole oity seemed suddenly to swing backwards and forwards and then to jolt with Buch force that whole rows of buildings toppled (o the ground in a few seconds. Fires immediately started in the business section, and before midnight fires which began at Bellevista seotion show that that part is also doomed. There are many landslides around the city. Nothing has been heard from Santiago, and it is feared that a similar fats has be* fallen it. Tho railway tunnels are filled with debris. For miles the track is twisted and useless. [y .

Valparaiso is a city of Chili, and the chief town of the province of the same name, and one of the principal oommeroial ports on the west coast of South America, It is situated on a fine bay of the Sonth Pacific Ocean, seventy miles north-west of Santiago, with which there is communication by railway. The city is situated on the south part of a bay two and a half miles wide, at the base of a range of barren hills from 1000 to 1400 ft in height, whioh have a narrow strip of low land between them and the sea; cn this and on sites formed by cutting away the cliffs most of the houses are built, and further space is afforded by deep dells or watercourses botweeD the hills. Most of the foreshore has been raised by earthquakes. Valparaiso has had a stirring history. It was founded in 1536 by a Spanish officer; in 1573 the city was captured by Drake, and was again taken by Hawkins’ expedition in 1596. In 1600 it was sacked by the Dutch corsair Van Noort. Severe earthquake shocks were experienced in 1730, 1822, 1839-, and 1573. Among other experiences'was a visitation by fire in 1858, and in 1866 a large part of the town was laid m ruins by the Spanish fleet-