The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-03-19
NUMBER I89.
Every disturbance was credited to,theearth-

1 Every disturbance was credited otheearth-
quake, however, and it appeared to be an al
mos, unanimous impression that San Francis
co was about to share the fate Of Jeddo. Tho
bowling ofdags and fearful belloYiag of cattle
in the suburbs, produced fitting accompani-
ment to the scene. Even the pigs broke from
| their pens and ran away grunting with fright
| The horses tied in 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 heaF. Of
some very remarkable incidents OF birds seekz
NJ refuge from the impending danger by flight
Through open windows. From night-watch-
men and others whose duties kept them from
| sleep, we learn that there were several slight
shocks previous to the heavy shock. 4he last
shock was preceded by a sound as ola heavy
gust of wind passing through the cordage OF a
vessel, and the motion was accompanied by
rumblng noise like that which is produced by
heavily freighted vehicle passing rapidly
over wooden bridge.
The shock occurred at twenty-four minutes
past five O'Clock, apparently ranging from
southwest to northeast, and lasted about fif-
teen seconds. The motion was horizontal and
Iundulating. Some persons described the mo-
ton as of a whirling nature, but this could not
have been the case without occasioning much
lgreater damage to the masonry of the brick
and stone buildings. 1t is evident that the
violence of the shock was differently expert
fenced in various parts of the city. In some
localities in the suburbs its degree of violence
was much greater then in others. In several
instances the. vibrations were so great as to
loyerturn heavy pieces of furniture. Again,
the motion is compared to that produced on
i lshipl oard when the side ofthe vessel is struck
fby heavy sea-a sudden shock without yibra-
iticn. Very few persons escaped being aroused
| by the shock, but some there are Of. whou,it,
is said that they slept on undisturbed through
the whole. es~'.', In ee8 Jon
Some estimate may be formed ofthe violence
of the shock, when it is stated that man
sleeping on the third floor of the Custom
house building, was thrown from his bed to
the floor. The walls of this building are com !
Iposed Of masonry capable ofresisting broad
side from ship-of-the-line. Notwithstanding
it's immense bulk and strength, the building
was tossed like feather on the wave. "a
| The scene at the different hotels are de-
scribed by the reporterof the, San francisco
Herald as ludicrous in the extreme. He says
such an array of beauty unadorned was never
witnessed in the streets of San francisco be-
fore.
Hundreds of the residents of the central
portion of the city rushed to the Plaza, natu-
lrally thinking that the open space would afford
them greater refuge than the roof of topp-
ling building Many were almost in state
of nudty--and others whose. oferpo wering
sense of modesty suggested the property ola lit
tie clothing; even in this emergency, might,
have been seen making their teilet under the
shadow of the Plaza fence with as much haste
las their trembling limbs would allow. The
scene would have been extremely ludicrous
under other circumstances. When the shock
was over, the rush for pantaloons and pettcoats
was quite as great. nA
Our exchanges inform us that the shock was
equally severe throughout the State. :fs1