The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-03-17

York on Thursday night, having left San Juan on
the 9Th inst. She brings San Francisco dates tc
the Goth of February, and s272, 5s3 in specie.
| Earthquake In Japan.
| DESTRUCTION or LIFE-ThE CRY ON FIRE.
| On the llth of November, ut 10 o'clock P. M. a
violent earthquake occurred at Jeddo, which de
stroyed one hundred thousand dwe,iirss ftvfon,
| temples, and thirty thousand inhabitants Fire
broke out at the same time In thirty different part,
of the city. The earth opened and closed over
thousands Of buildings with their inhabitants
The shock was severe at Simoda Although the
distance from Jeddo to Smoda IL but siSty miles
ii appears that official account OF the earth
Quake had been received At the latter place at the
time Of the sailing Of the schooner Page, Decem
Der To- The news. was obtained through the
Dntch Interpreter. The Japanese seemed TO at
tach but little Importance to the catastrophe The
inhabitants of the portion of the city destroyed
were forew warned Of the disaster and many of theo
| escaped The buildings of Jeddo are chiefly OF
one story, and constructed Of very light material
The temples of worship, i.osever are lofty. and
| in some instances are constructed of heavy ma,
sonrr.
The Japanese treaty with the French is not ye.
There have been 7s arrivals of ships at Hakoda.
dl since that port was opened to foreigners
The bay of Hakodadi was covered with ice on the
"a OF JAM and the snow was three feet in depth in
and around Hakodadi Jan. g.
The Government ct Hakodadi contempiate
building weasel after the modern style of archtec
tnrs,
Permission was solicited by the Government of
Hakodadi 10 examine and take the dimensions of
the Page. She was visited by officials, carpenters
and craftsmen for that purpose.
Earthquake In San FfahctscH.. Inciden nrs,
Accidents, &c.
From the Sar Francisco Herald Feb 20l
The severest shock of earthquake ever expe-
rienced In this vicinity since the settlement of Cal
ifornia by Americans, occurred on Friday morn
ing at just "a minutes past 5 o'clock In this city
and vicinity every building shook to its founda.
tion and in some quarters the houses were swayed
and rolled vessels in heavy sea. The in
mates of every dwelling were awakened and
some were even thrown from their BEDS so yio-
lent was the shock. Many persons rushed into the
streets, and but that the circumstance of their sud
den appearance, was of character to produce
sensations of terror rather than merrment the
scene would have been most ludicrous The large
hotels were depopulated instanter, and in the gen
eral rush, articles of furniture were thrown down.
occasoning noises which added considerably to
the clatter and confusion caused by the earth
quake
In the upper stories of the large brick buildings
the violent motion produced a general eommotion
among crockery ware. Vessels containing liquids
were turned over, either by the shock or in the
hurry of the inmates to escape. Every disturbance
was credited to the earthquake, howevE, and il
appeared to be an almost unanimous impression
that San Francisco was about to share the fate of
Jeddo. The bowling of dogs and fearful below
ing of cattle in the suburbs, produced fitting ac
compartment to the scene. Even the pigs broke
from their pens and ran away grunting with fright
The horses tied in their stalls fairly shrieked with
terror, and tried to break their halters. Indeed
everything animate and inanimate was more or
less affected by the shock We hear of some very
remarkable incidents of birds seeking refuge from
the impending danger by flight through open win
dows. From nightwatchmen and others, whose
duties kept them from sleep we learn that there
were several slight shocks previous to the heavy
shock
The last shock was proceeded by a sound as of
heavy gust of wind passing through the cordage
Of a vessel, and the motion accompanied by
rumbling noise like that which is produced by q
heavy freighted vehicle passing rapidly over a
wooden bridge. The shock occurred at twenty
four minutes past five o'clock, apparently raging
from southwest to northeast, and lasted about ff.
teen seconds. The motion was horizontal and
undulating. Some persons describe the motion as
of whirling na.ure, but this could not have been
the case without occasioning much greater damage
to the masonry of the brick and stone buildings
1t is evident that the violence of the shock diff
ferently experienced in various parts of the city.
In Some localities in the suburbs its degree of vio
lence was much greater than in others.
VIOLENCE OF THE SHOCK.
There was a scene of unusual terror and excite
ment in Montgomery Block, the large and sub.
stantial building on Montgomery street. between
Merchant and Washington streets. AS soon as
the first movement in the building occurred, the
inmates of the various rooms were awakened, and
leaped to their doors in the greatest imaginable
haste.
The different halls in the successive stories
of the building were soon fiji lied with the terror.
stricken occupants--each running hither and
thither In their sleeping habiliments towards
the various stairways which lead down into
the street. Some of those whe occupied apart.
ments in the fourth highest story, rushed
from their rooms regardless of their nudity, and
came jumping, leaping, and tumbling down the
first and second flight of stairs, clearing them in
bound or two at the most, and with white lips and
chatering teeth held their way until they reached
the grouEd-where they stood in smazement and
doubt until the cold air and the absence of terres-
tial commotion calmed their fears and remnde I
them that the apartments which they had vacated
were more comfortable than those into which they
had SO suddenly preeipitated themselves. The
building was certainly jostled with great violence
by the quake, but il moved as though it stood upon
elastic springs Not the slightest cracking or evil
dence Of a collapse was head or seen in any part
of it.
SCENES AT THE HOTELS. ..
The CONSERVATION among the inmates of the
large hotels, occasioned scenes which may be bet.
ter imagined than described. The population of
the Rassette House rushed tumbled or preciptated
itself down the stairways and into the street, and
such an array of beauty unadorned was never be.
fore witnessed In San Francisco. This edifice, Ii
is said, shows no marks of injury by the shock
The scene at Wilson's Exchan ye, St Nicholas Ho-
tel, and International Hotel. were equally remark.
able. Tho occupants of wilson's Exchange took
refuge in the Tehama House. which is frame, and
consequently in less danger than the other. Many
of the inmates of the International found their
way en- masse to the Plaza, where, like their COM
panions in misery, they shared each with the 9TH
er such articles of apparel as had been caught up
In the hurry of the flight.
EFFECT OF THE EARTHQUAKE.
From TIE Sen Francisco Herald.
Tho fall of the fre-wall, from the top of the
store of Messrs Goodwin & Co. at the corner OF
Front and Oregon streets is perhaps the most
striking evidence Of its power. The wall was
about one hundred feot long, four feet high and
ono foot thick, being all that extended above the
roofing and was thrown In body upon the side
walk about six or eight feet from the base of the
building. ffft5.s
A row of nail kegs that were standing on the
sjdewalk in front of store on Battery street were
moved out from the building 12 inches. .-.s.
heavy salamanda safe at Paterson's Ex
change was moved from its usual position several
inches. fs"
In A multitude of instances great disturbance
was made with crockery and glassware. and In
some cases IL was thrown TO the floor and broken.
Several families had their night-bells ruDg.
On Sacramento street the store next to the Ap'
praisers Office was 80 wrenched that the iron doors
had TO be opened with crowbar.~ z.tt
The double cylinder steam.press OF The Alta
Californian Office was In full notion but the shock