TERRIFIC EARTHQUAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81826, 20 August 1906, Page 2

TERRIFIC EARTHQUAKE.

Pee Pbess Association,—Elei SEISMOGRAPH RECORDS. DAMAGE AT LOS ANDES. COMMUNICATION PARTLY RESTORED. Receiyed 19, 4.29 p.m. New Yohk, August 18. The Seismographs at Washington recorded slow earthquake tremors on Thursday evening. The most violent shock was towards 8 o'clock. The disturbances ceased at midnight. Messages from various points on Friday night after communication was partially restored, located the area between Los Andes and Valparaiso (Chili). Advices from Mendoza (Argentine) state that many housos were wrecked at Los Andes and a large number of victims killed.

DISTURBANCE RECORDED IN ENGLAND. Received 19, 4.29 p.m. London, Angus 18', Professor Milne reports that liis instrument at Newport, Isle of Wight, recorded a disturbance record which suggests a third earthquako along the American coast, northwards of Valparaiso. A TRAMENDOUS QUAKE. AT 8 ON THURSDAY NIGHT. WHOLE CITY DAMAGED. THE TOWN IN DARKNESS, A PANIC-STRICKEN POPULACE Received 19, 4,29 p.m. LsiNnoN August 18. According to New York cablegrams, at 8 on Thursday evoning there was a tromendous earthquake at Valparaiso, followei by many fires, extending from the Plaza Orden northwards. Many houses were destroyed, and all the city more or less damaged by the earthquake or (ire. Business] was at a standstill and the banks are closed. There was no gas or electric light, and panic reigned, many families fleeing. The sei remaining calm, shipping was uninjured.

BEST QUARTERS OF TOWN DESTROYED Received 19, 4.29 p.m. London, August 18. l'he streets which suffered most were Calle Debranco, Calle Docondcll, Calls Dela and the Esmerald and Delicia s district, where the best-residences were situated. HUNDREDS BURNED IN THE RUINS. BUSINESS SECTION DESTRO YE D FIRES STILL RAGING. THRONGS HOMELESS IN LHE STREETS. j Received 19, 4.29 p.m. London, August 18. Another account states that hundreds were killed, and many hundreds imprisoned in the ruins and burnt to d . The business section of the City was almost entirely destroyed. Fires are still raging, aad throujs are homeless in tho street.

TWO TERRIFIC SHOCKS, WHOLE CITF OSCILLATING. ROWS OF BUILDINGS TOPPLE OVER. RESIDENTIAL QUARTER DOOMED. Received 19, 1.29 p.m. London, August 18. Two distinct terrific shocks wero felt, the second following instantly, The whole city seemed suddenly to swing backwards and forwards, aud hen jolt with such force that wholo ows of biddings toppled to tho ground in a few seconds. Fires immediately started in the business section, and before midnight tires begun 'n the Bellavista section, and that pwl; s also doomed.

L YNDSLIDES NUMEROUS. i,no ne»vs from Santiago. PROIHBLY MET A SIMILAR FATE. RAILWAYS RENDERED USELESS. Rece'ved 19th, 42!) p.m. Loxdo.v, August IK. Many landslides occurred around Valparaiso. Nothing has been hca 4 fom Santiago, and it is feared a similar fate has befallen it. Railway tuuicls arc filled with dobris, and miles oE railway tracks are twisted aud useless. The disturbed ami sei ms to 'e eonfine 1 c' bfly to about the middle of [ C nl'. The Chilian Republic, which is a South American S a a of Spanish origin, lies between the Aides and the •liorcs of (he South Pacific. The extreme length is about 2SOO miles, with in averago width o£ 10!) miles. Tito great chain ol fie Andes runs along its

VALPARAISO CITY SMITTEN. ROWS OF BUILDINGS TOPPLE OVER. FIRES RAGING THROUGHOUT THE CITY. HUNDREDS KILLED AND INCINERATED. BUSINESS ENTIRELY SUSPENDED. NO NEWS FROM SANTIAGO.

:tbic Teiegbaph.—CopyMGm. eastern limit with numerous summitß attaining the height of 18,000 feet, the highest, Aconcagua, an extinct volcano being 22,422 feet. Aconcagua would appear to be almost in the heart of the earthquake disturbed area, but whether the volcano is rcnowing its internal activity and is responsible for the quake is not stated. Santiago, tho capital of the Republic, is a fine town of 320,000 inhabitants, situated about 100 miles inland from Valparaiso, the seaport, and is almost under the shadow of the|giant volcano mount Valparaiso has a population of 143,000. Chili is directly west from New Zealand,the disturbed area being almost in tho same latitude as the thermal region of this island. We shall no doubt shortly hear whether the two shocks of earthquake felt in New Ply. mouth yesterday were in any way connected with the Chilian disturbance. Being in the same line of seismic activity, may be they were.