Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

408 EFFECTS UPON THE SHIPPIXG. Feb. ally rushing in again to overwhelm them. Nearly all the inha- bitants, excepting a few who went on board vessels in the har- bour, passed the night upon the hills, without shelter: and next day they began to raise sheds and huts upon the high grounds, still dreading the sea. It was said, and generally considered certain, that every dog at Talcahuano had left the town before the shock, which ruined the buildings, was felt. Without explanation it appears astonishing how the ship- ping escaped destruction. There were three large whale-ships, a bark, two brigs, and a schooner, very near the town, in from four to seven fathoms water : they were lying at single anchor,* with a good scope of cable :•]- one only was well moored. With the southerly breeze, which was rather fresh at the time of the earthquake, these vessels lay to seaward | of their anchors, having their sterns towards the sea ; and were left aground in this position. The captain of the port, D. Pablo Delano, was on board one of the whale ships at the time, with the hatches battened down, and dead lights shipped. All hands took to the rigging for safety. The first great wave came in an unbroken swell to the stern of the vessel, broke over and lifted her along without doing any material harm, more than sweeping her decks : and the slack chain dragging over the mud checked her gradually, as the first impetus of the wave diminished. Whii-ling her round, the water rushed out to seaward again, leaving the vessel stranded nearly in her former position. From two fathoms, when aground, the depth alongside increased to ten, as the water rose highest during the last swell. The two latter waves approached, and affected the shipping similarly to the former : all withstood their force, though the light anchors were dragged. Some of the vessels were thrown violently against others ; and whii'led around as if they had been in the vortex of a whirlpool. Previous to the rush of waters, the Paulina and Orion, two merchantmen, were * Or steadied by a second anchor which was too light to withstand any great strain. t Chain. — The holding-ground is excellent, a soft, tenacious mud. J Nearly half a cable's length ; or from sixty to one hundred yards.