p. 12 | The Earthquake in Chile by F. H. Westphal

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 1, 1906

The Earthquake in Chile

By F. H. Westphal

F. H. WESTPHAL

The earthquake to which I refer occurred August 16, at ten minutes to eight in the evening. I was taking a walk out of doors, at my home in Pitrufquen. If, upon entering the house, my family had not told me that an earthquake had occurred, I should not have known it, so gentle was the shock in the more southerly parts of Chile. Nevertheless the buildings trembled and quaked, and many persons ran out of their houses in dismay.

On my journey to the north I stopped at various places, and found that the shock was felt gradually a little more severely as I proceeded to the north. In Terunco, Victoria, Los Angeles, and Chillan there was no damage done. At the latter place some old walls were thrown down, but no buildings were destroyed. As we neared Talca, the effects could be noticed in a more marked manner, solid fences having been thrown down, and the walls of houses badly cracked.

When we reached Talca, some one spoke of the earthquake, and was understood to mean that another one was taking place, and the movement of the train nearly caused a panic. The coach was almost full of passengers, and nearly all smote their breasts with their right hands, and cried for mercy, calling upon the Virgin Mary and the Lord. Some cried aloud, and when the train stopped, they were so dismayed that some of the women could not stand on their feet. Soldiers stepped into the coach, and inquired into the reason of the disorder. There was no earthquake that day, but the hearts of men are failing them for fear, and for looking after those things that are coming to pass.

At Talca, a city of a number of thousands, many houses were badly damaged, and a number of lives were lost. In all the villages and cities from there on to Santiago there was more or less damage and loss of life. A nun teacher, with forty children, was killed by the falling of the school building.

Some of the massive buildings in Santiago were cracked, and damaged more or less, and showed that some mighty force had made a severe attack upon them. The fancy trimmings were broken, and thrown to the ground, and parts of the houses were thrown violently into the streets.

The earthquake seemed to have passed like waves through the capital city of Chile. Santiago, with her four hundred thousand inhabitants, was shaken, and a dread of coming events was impressed on the minds of the people of this city, the pride of Chile's excellency. Some lives were lost, and several churches were greatly damaged. Some of the priests at Chillan and Santiago said that these judgments were visiting Chile because there are so many Protestants in the land, and that when the Protestant heresy shall be preached in all the world, then the end will come.

We appealed to the government for a pass to visit Valparaiso, which was granted us, by the help of the United States of America legation, where I had made myself known nearly two years before.

RESULTS OF THE EARTHQUAKE ON GRAND AVENUE, VALPARAISO, CHILE

On our way to Valparaiso we saw that the results increased in severity from station to station. Lives were lost in many of them. What wrecks of houses we passed as we proceeded on the journey! How severe are the judgments of the Lord! Houses shattered, and literally torn to pieces! Nearer Valparaiso the earth was cracked in many places, and these extended for long distances.

At Vina del Mar, a small city about three miles from Valparaiso, where many wealthy people had built fine houses, the destruction was terrible. The once beautiful homes were all torn to pieces. It is reported that one thousand persons perished. How vain are all earthly things, when the hand of the Lord touches them!

When we entered Valparaiso, ruin and the smoke of ruined buildings met our eyes everywhere. I can not begin to describe the horrible disaster, and so I shall not attempt it, but will just say that strong buildings were laid in ruins. Old and massive churches were thrown down and broken in pieces, and the great Victoria theater was broken, and crashed together. The catastrophe happened at an hour most favorable. If it had been a little later in the evening, the theater would have been full of people, and the loss of life would have been many times greater.

None of our people were injured, for which we praise the Lord. Great fires broke out, and many thousand dollars' worth of property was destroyed. Our mission office was burned, and our entire stock of books that we had on hand, also. These books were sent us as so much cash on our appropriation to sustain our workers in the field, and so we feel the loss heavily.

Buildings are very scarce, and we shall necessarily be at great expense to become settled again. Therefore, I will say that if there are any who wish to give something to help restore the loss, it will be greatly appreciated. We had no insurance, and if we had had, it would have availed us but little; for some of the companies do not consider themselves under obligation to pay the insurance, on account of the fires having been caused by an earthquake.

We are now getting out a special number of the Senales, and shall publish about thirty thousand, and use this opportunity to tell the people what these events mean. We hope to warn many of the great earthquake that will soon take place in the earth, and invite them to prepare for that great day.

Valparaiso.