The Empire County argus., 1855-07-21

FROM SOUTHERN AND LOWER CALIFORNIA. By
the arrival of the steamer Sea Bird, Sunday, at
San Francisco, from San Diego and intermediate
ports, we are placed in possession of papers of late
dates. The news is highly important.
Stock of an Earthquake. The Southern Cahfo1-
njan says, that on the evening of the 10th inst.
about half. past I o'clock, tremendous earthquake
shock was felt Large numbers uf one story build
ngs cracked from top to bottom. glass and
crockery were thrown from the shelves, windows
broken, etc etc. Nearly every merchant in the
city suffered quite severely in this manner. Lamps
were upset, families seated at the tea-table were
dsmayed to witness the sudden overturn of tea
urns and dishes and fled atfrighted to the open air.
Clocks We're thrown down Indeed. hardly build
ing escaped without damage to its walls. or des-
tructlOn of some portion Of its contents. The
shock lasted several seconds and appeared to lift up
and twist the ground about accompanied hy IL
roaring noise like the approach of IL hurricane
| The weather during the day had been somewhat
cloudy and very unusual for this season. There
was slight fall Of rain about IL A. NJ. The move
mcnt appeared to come from the east, although its
auddenness rendered it impossible to determine
with any accuracy its direction. Los Angeles nev-
er took thorough purge before-every house
deserted in trice There can be doubt
that had our city been composed of three or four
story buildings it would have been eveled with
story, however and to this fact are indebted for
our escape from what might have been Il fearful
catastrophe. As 1t was, walls of two and halt
and three feet in thickness were rent asunder, and
a general ripping and cracking took place that ere.
atcd universal CONSERVATION and brought Nliller'>
prophecies wildly to mind Our citizens are bust
ly engaged to-day in repairing damages in readi-
ness for another shake.
The same paper gives the following important
news from Lower California:
Forty Troops arrIrei from La Pae-Melcndee
ArrcsteI and Shot, Affairs on the frontier of Lower
California are assuming Il serious character On
the 9th ult. Il small force Of about forty men un-
der the command Of 1t. Pujol the newly appointed
commandant on the northern tronrier oi Lower
California. arrived at San Nincpnte San Tom
as Lieut.. Pujol, Immediately upon his arrival
invited Meendrz, the acting commandant, to meet
him. who unsuspectingly complied with the request,
when he arrested, and informed that he had
been tried and sentenced to be shot as a traitor
Melendez protested against this summary proceed
ing without avail, an ut II clock the next day
he was shot and left lying on the plain to be taken
and buried by his wife and relatives. At the same
time Meendez was arrested his secretary ar
rested with him and apprehensons arc had that he
will suffer the same fate. 1t will be recollected
that last fall desperate band Of horse thieves and
murderers escaped the vigilance of officers and
made their way to Lower California, who claimed
protection from Melendez as Commandante, from
their pursuers. As matter of course he had no
authority to deliver these tugitves from justice up
to the authorities in this country. and not wishing
to keep them about San Tomas, where they mi ight
continue their lawless depredations on the defence
less inhabitants of his district he sent them to La
Paz. Out of revenge these desperadoes deposed
charges against Meendez to the Commandante
General to the effect that he was in negotiation
with the United States to sell Lower California
The Commaudante. General without further enqui-