TIDAL PHENOMENON IN CENTRAL AMERICA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 647, 14 January 1869, Page 4

TIDAL PHENOMENON IN CENTRAL AMERICA.

The Tarantula of Concepcion gives us an account of another extraordinary phenomenon at the port of Talcahuauo It says: — On the 14th September the police imparted the information that the waters of the sea were hot and that the fish cast on shore were cooked. The sea was perfectly calm at the time but in the morning much agitation was noticed, for which reason his Excellency would not embark en route for the capital. The observation of the police was verified by the evidence of the whole town; it was 2 a.m., and no one cared to go to sleep for fear of another inundation. On the night of the 12th, shortly after midnight, the wind suddenly fell calm, the tide rose to the breakwaters, and a strange noise, dull and prolonged, was heard, and though it appeared subterraneous and distant, it was perceivable in every direction, and though there was not air enough to stir a feather, the sea swelled and the tide ran with great violence. The ships swung round rapidly, and the anchor chains, shaken by a powerful force, produced a sharpj metallic sound; the currents were from the Quinquina island to the River Andtlein, and vice versa, and were so strong that they carried away a quantity of the coal of the ship lately wrecked on the Island ; this has been collected by boys at low tide, and they are now engaged in selling it very cheap. The communication between this port and Concepcion is almost interrupted, and is entirely so at high tide, for want of the bridge that existed opposite East Salinas. The remainder of the road is of the worst, but it is transitable with good resolution, except with respect to the place where the bridge is wanting, at which point the stubbornest determination has to wait for low water.