Chile’s Three-Minute ’Quake is Disaster of First Magnitude

Northern Advocate, 27 January 1939, Page 5

Chile’s Three-Minute ’Quake is Disaster of First Magnitude

(Received 10 a.m.)

NEW YORK, January 25. TRETAILS OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE ARE COMING IN VERY SLOWLY OWING TO THE INTERRUPTION OF COMMUNICATIONS AND TO CENSORSHIP BY THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH DESIRES TO PREVENT EXAGGERATION. Nevertheless, it was indicated that Chile was overtaken by a disaster of the first magnitude. The town of Chilian’s vast toll of dead seems to be the only one thus far confirmed by competent observers. The complete physical destruction of Concepcion is, however, known. Los Angeles is also believed to have be en wiped out. It is expected that other large to wns have been razed, as well as hundreds of smaller places, in the rich agricultural and coalmining region, which was all but demolished by the three-m inute earthquake. A correspondent who flew to Chil lan covered the last few miles by motor over roads zig-zagged with eight-inch cracks. The city was almost totally demolished, and dead and injured were everywhere.

Dazed inhabitants wandered aimlessly around the ruins of their 'houses. The enormous death roll seemed to have stunned the survivors. Demolished City.

The correspondent encountered one who ran about shouting: “I lost my four children, but I am alive! I am aliVe!”

Another dug in the ruins searching for boards to make a crude coffin in which to bury his wife. Two theatres in Chilian collapsed in the earthquake, each apparently trapping 200 persons attending the evening performance. Only two of the guests at the principal hotel escaped alive. The massive brick-built cathedral crumbled. Two doctors alone worked in the hospital, ■ performing 40 operations without anaesthetics. The British cruisers Exeter and Ajax, which are on a courtesy visit to Valparaiso, volunteered to transport supplies, but the Chilean Government replied with thanks: "Everything is under control.” Compulsory Loan. The vastness of the task of restoration is seen in the fact that the legislative leaders are preparing for the speedy enactment of a forced loan of 500,000,000 pesos, lor reconstruction purposes, while public collections of funds for the victims are expected to reach many millions more. Reconstruction is expected to prove especially difficult for the new Government, whose recent establishment has otherwise been clouded by many difficult issues and obstructions from the conservative elements, who are without representation.