The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1856-04-05
From tie San Franc gcO II .raii.


Earthquake an San Fraacisco-- lact- |
dents ,.dcctdents, 8c.--The severest shock
Of earthquake ever experienced IL taIs
vicinity since the settlement OF CGtlIoJnla
by Americans, occurred on Friday morn
inc at Jus: 81 minutes past 5 o'clock. In
this city and vicinity every building SHOOK
to Its foundation, aud in some quarters
the hoaaes were swayed aud rolled as
vessels in heavy sea. fhe inmates ,,
every house were awakened, aad sons
were sven thrown from their b ds, 50 VI
olent was the shock. Many persons rush
ed into the streets, and but that the cir
cumslance OF their sudden appaatance
was OF thai character 10 pr6dacc sea>a-
tions OF terror rather than merrlment. tie
scene would have been mos ludicrous.
The large hotels were depopulatcd IN
stanter, and in the general rusa articles
OF furniture were thrown down, occasian-
| ING NOISES which added considerably 10
tho cla,ter and infusion caused by the
earthquake.
In the upper stories OF the large back
buildings the violent motloa pro .ueed ii
| general commotion among crOckery wa-e
Vessels con tanning liquids were turned
over, either by the shocn or la the hurry
oi the inmates to escape. Every dl.n'r-
baace was credited 10 the earthquake,
however, and ii appeared 10 be an almost
manim )us impression that San FIancIs-
90 was about to share the fate o. Jeddo.
Tac AcH!ing # dogs. anI iearia! br!!>w
log Of cattle III tue suburbs, produced a
iitung accompaniment o dhe scene
Even the pigs broke from their pens and
ran away grunting with fright. The hor-
ses tied in stalls fairly shrleked with ter
ror. and uied to break their haiters. Ii :
deed, everything animate and inaalmate
was more or less affected by the shock.
We b ar Of some very remarkable In.
cidents of birds seeking refuge from the
Impending danger by flight through open
window. From night watchmen and
athers, whose duties kept them irom sleei
we learn that there were several Sigh
shocks previous to the heavy shock.
The last shock was preceded by a
sound as of Il heavy gust OF wind passing
through the coraage OF a vessel and tn.
motion was accompanied by rpmolsne
noise like that which is produced by a
heavily treighted vehicle passing rapid!
over u wojden bridge. The shock u
Cured al twenty-Iour minutes past .
O'Clock, apparently ranging from SOUTH
: west to northeast, and lasted about iittset
, seconds The motion was horizontal ant
unduln.ng. Some persons describe the
motion as Of n whrling nature, but ,ht
could no. have been the case without oc
casloning much greater damage 10 tn
, ina soury sfthe brlck aud stone buildings
1t IS evident that the violence d Ii,
shock was differently experienced III Va
| rlous parts OF the city. La soue local
ties Ia tae suburbs it. degree Of vlolea
was much greater than in Others. l.
several instances tn vibration, were 5
, great as to ogerturn heavy pieces ot fur
n.ture. Again, the motion IS compared
20 that produced on shipbosrd when tat
side OF the vessel is struck 10y a heavy So
r a sudden shock without vibration. VI
~ lew persons escaped being reused by
y the shock, but some there are OF whom /
is said thsy sl~pt on undistnbed throas
the whole.