DISASTROUS EARTHQUAKE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8705, 20 August 1906, Page 1

DISASTROUS EARTHQUAKE.

■— ♦ . ■ GREAT DAMAGE AT .-':•■ VALPARAISO. HUNDREDS OFIIVES LOST. REPETITION OF THE SAN v JFRANCISCO HORJIOR. ofiIfiREAKS OF EIRE OT Till XToited Press Association— By Electric ; ' Telegraph— Copyright: ' . NEW YORK,^AJigusfc 18. Seismographs at Wash^ngion reoorded slow earthquake tremors on Thurs- <&*&. evening. The mo6t $iolent shock ras; towards eight o'clock. ; The disturbances ceased at midnight. .Messages from various points on Friday night, after communication was parti-ally-restored, located the area between Losandes and Valparaiso. Advices from Mendoza state that many houses were wrecked at Losandes, and there were a large number of victims, LONDON, August 18. r Professor Milne reports that his iaetrmnente at Newport, Isle of Wight, recorded disturbances. The record suggests' a third earthquake along the American coast northwards of Valparaiso. According: to New . York cablegrams, at eight on Thursday evening, there was a tremendous earthquake at Valparaiso, followed by many fires, extending from the „ Plaza Ordon northwards. Many houses were destroyed, and all in the; city were more or less damaged by earthquake or fire, business is at: a .standstill, and the banks are closed. Tliere" is no gas or electric light. Panic reigned, many families fleeing. The eea remained calm, and shipping was uninjured. The streets which suffered most were Calle de Blanco, Calle de GondeH, Calle de la Esmerald and the Delioias district, where the best residences are situated. Another account states that hundreds were killed. Many hundreds imprisoned in the ruins were burnt to. death. The business section is almost entirely" destroyed. The fires are still raging, and throngs are homele&e in' the streets. ; ; Two^SMmct terrific rihojijlasi. w^re felt,, the second following instantly. The whole city seemed to be suddenly swung baokwards and forwards. Then there was a jolting, with such force that whole rows of buildings were toppled to the ground in a few seconds. Fires immediately started in the business section, and before midnight fires began in the Bellavista section, and showed that j that part also was doomed. There were many land slides around the city. Nothing has been. heard from Santiago, and it is feared that a similar fate has befallen it. The railway tunnels are filled with debris, and miles of track are twisted and useless. ' i