Ruins of a church in Concepcion, Chile.
Ruins of a church in Concepcion, Chile, drawn by Ernest Goupil (1814-1841) as he accompanied Jules Dumont d’Urville on his voyage to the South Pole in 1837-1840. The earthquake felt and seen by Darwin in 1835 had been particularly hard on well-built churches, well-built that is according to the principles of architecture in western Europe. “The cathedral,” wrote Robert Fitz-Roy, “whose walls were four feet in thickness, supported by great buttresses, and built of good brick and mortar, suffered more than other buildings.”
Part 1 of 2
AFTER viewing Concepcion,* I cannot understand how the greater number of inhabitants escaped unhurt. The houses in many parts fell outwards; thus forming in the middle of the streets little hillocks of brickwork and rubbish. Mr Rouse, the English consul,* told us that he was at breakfast when the first movement warned him to run out.
He had scarcely reached the middle of the courtyard, when one side of his house came thundering down. He retained presence of mind to remember that, if he once got on the top of that part which had already fallen, he would be safe. Not being able from the motion of the ground to stand, he crawled up on his hands and knees; and no sooner had he ascended this little eminence, than the other side of the house fell in, the great beams sweeping close in front of his head. With his eyes blinded and his mouth choked with the cloud of dust which darkened the sky, at last he gained the street.
As shock succeeded shock, at the interval of a few minutes, no one dared approach the shattered ruins, and no one knew whether his dearest friends and relations were not perishing from the want of help.*
* See Google Maps.
* Henry William Rouse (?1798-?1871), consul in Concepcion and in Valparaiso.
* Robert Fitz-Roy, captain of HMS Beagle, recalled one happy ending. “A mother, escaping with her children, saw one fall into a hole; a wall close to her was tottering; she pushed a piece of wood across the hole, and ran on; the wall fell, covering the hole with masses of brick-work; but, next day, the child was taken out unhurt.”
Précis
In his record of the earthquake that struck the Chilean city of Concepcion in 1836, Charles Darwin (who was there with the crew of HMS Beagle) told how British consul Henry Rouse narrowly escaped harm when his residence collapsed, by clambering to safety on the ruins, and how in the confusion many were agonisingly separated from their families. (57 / 60 words)
Part Two
Robert Fitz-Roy (1805-1865), captain of HMS Beagle.
Robert Fitz-Roy (1805-1865), captain of HMS Beagle. He left us his own, detailed account of the earthquake and its after-effects, some of which he found baffling. “Without explanation it appears astonishing how the shipping escaped destruction. [...] A small vessel was on the stocks, almost ready for launching; she was carried by the sea two hundred yards in-shore, and left there unhurt. [...] Strange extremes of injury and harmlessness were among the effects of these overwhelming waves. Buildings were levelled, heavy twenty-four pound guns were moved some yards, and upset; yet a child was carried to sea uninjured; and window-frames, with the glass in them, were thrown ashore upon the island of Quiriquina without a pane being broken!”
Those who had saved any property were obliged to keep a constant watch, for thieves prowled about,* and at each little trembling of the ground, with one hand they beat their breasts and cried “misericordia!” and then with the other filched what they could from the ruins. The thatched roofs fell over the fires, and flames burst forth in all parts. Hundreds knew themselves ruined, and few had the means of providing food for the day.
Earthquakes alone are sufficient to destroy the prosperity of any country.* If beneath England the now inert subterranean forces should exert those powers which most assuredly in former geological ages they have exerted, how completely would the entire condition of the country be changed! What would become of the lofty houses, thickly packed cities, great manufactories, the beautiful public and private edifices? If the new period of disturbance were first to commence by some great earthquake in the dead of the night, how terrific would be the carnage! England would at once be bankrupt; all papers, records, and accounts would from that moment be lost. Government being unable to collect the taxes, and failing to maintain its authority, the hand of violence and rapine would remain uncontrolled. In every large town famine would go forth, pestilence and death following in its train.
* Robert Fitz-Roy acknowledged this was so in Talcahuano, but found neighbouring Concepcion rather better. “Much misery was alleviated by the good conduct and extreme hospitality of the inhabitants of Concepcion” he wrote. “Mutual assistance was every where rendered, and theft was almost unknown. The higher classes immediately set people to work, to build straw-covered huts and temporary houses of board, living meanwhile in the open air under trees. Those who soonest obtained or contrived shelter, collected as many about them as they could assist, and in a very few days all had a temporary shelter, under which they tried to laugh at their misfortunes and the shifts to which they were reduced.”
* The earthquake was only the beginning. Twice the tide was sucked far out, leaving ships aground; twice it roared back in, tossing and smashing everything in its path. “After some minutes of awful suspense,” Robert Fit-Roy went on, “a third enormous swell was seen between Quiriquina and the mainland, apparently larger than either of the two former. Roaring as it dashed against every obstacle with irresistible force, it rushed — destroying and overwhelming — along the shore. Quickly retiring, as if spurned by the foot of the hills, the retreating wave dragged away such quantities of household effects, fences, furniture, and other moveables, that after the tumultuous rush was over, the sea appeared to be covered with wreck. Earth and water trembled: and exhaustion appeared to follow these mighty efforts.”
Précis
Darwin went on to describe the aftermath of the quake, with fires breaking out and looters picking over the ruins. All this prompted him to reflect that if the British Isles were in an earthquake zone, not only would we continually face death and disease but stable things from historic buildings to banks and civic records would lose all permanence. (60 / 60 words)
