The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-03-22
Earthquakes at san Francisco and Else.
Nhpre.

stroyed one hundred thousand dwellings
tifty-four temples, and thirty thousand in
habitants. Fire broke out at the same tim,
in thirty different parts Of the city. Tn,
earth opened and closed over thousands o.
buildings, with their inhabitants. The shock
was severe ut Simoda. Although the dis
tance from Jeddo to Simoda is but sixty
miles, it appears that no official account o.
the earthquake had been received at the lat
ter place at the time Of the sailing Of the
schooner Page, December 10. The news
was received through the Dutch interpreter
The Japanees seem to attach but little i'm
portancc to the catastrophe The inhabi
tants Of the portion Of the city destroyed
were forewarned Of the catastrophe, and
many of them escaped. The buildings oil
Jeddo are chiefly OF one story, and construct.
cd OF very light material. The temples Of
worship, however, are lofty, and in some in
stances are constructed Of heavy masonry.
From the San francisco Herald, Feb 2oth.
EARTnorAKE IN SAN. FRANcisco.--Th SC.
vcrest shock Of earthquake ever experienced
in this vicinity since the settlement Of Cali
fornia by the Americans, occurred on Friday
morning, at just "a minutes past O'Clock.
." tHio 'hy NlNlllltN cNtIl
shook to its foundation, and in some quai tcrs
the houses swaycd to and fro like vessels in
sea. The inmates Of every dwelling were
awakened, and in some instances were
thrown from their bed, so violent was the
shock. Many persons rushed into the
streets, and but that the circumstance OF
their sudden appearance was Of character
to produce sensations Of terror rather than
merriment, the scene would have been lu-
dicrous. The large hotels were depopulated
instanter, and in the general rush articles Of
furniture were thrown down. occasOning
noise which added considerably TO the clat.
ter and confusion caused by the earthquake.
In the upper stories OF the large brick
buildings the violent motion produced gene
raj commotion among crockery ware. Yes.
sells containing liquids we're turned over,
either by the shock or in the hurry Of the
inmates to escape. Every disturbance was
credited to the earthquake, however and it
appeared to an almost unanimous opinion
that San Francisco was about 10 share the
fate of Jeddo. The howling of dogs and
believing Of cattle in the suburbs, produced
httlng accompaniment to the scene. Even
the pigs broke from their pens and ran away
grunting with fright. The horses tied in
their stalls fairly shrekcd with terror. and
tried to break their hal,ers Indeed, every.
thing animate and inanimatc was more or
less affected by the shock. We hear Of
some very remarkable Incidents Of birds
seeking refuge from the impending danger
by Hight through the open windows. From
night watchmen aud others, whose duties
Kept them from sccp, we learn that there
were several slight shocks previous to the
heavy shock
The last shock was preceded by sound
as Of heavy gust Of wind passing through
the cordagc of vessel, and the motion was
accompanied by a rumbing noise like tha,
which is produced by heavily loaded yehi.
Gle passing over a wooden bridge. The
shock occurred at twenty four minutes past
live O'Clock, apparently ranging from south.
west to northeast, and lasted about fifteen
seconds. The motion was horizontal and
uuduating Some persons describe the mo.
ton as Of a whirling nature, but this could
not have been the ease without occGsioning
much greater damage to the masonry Of the
brick and stone buildings. II is evident that
the violence Of the shock was differently cx.
pcrienccd in various parts Of the city. In
some localities in the suburbs It's degree OF
violence was much greater than in others
In several instances the vibrations were so
great as TO Ovcrturn heavy pieces Of lurni-
tufe. Again, the motion is compared to that
produced on shipboard when the side of the
vessel is struck 10y a heavy sen--a sudden
shock without vibration. Very few persons
escaped being aroused by the shock, bat
some there are Of whom it Is said that they
slept on undlsturbcd through the whole.
Some estimate may be formed of the VIC.
lCncc Of the shock, when it is stated. that n
man sleeping on the third floor Of the Gus
toni House building was thrown from lis
bed to the floor. The walls Of this building
are composed OF massnry capable OF resist
ing broadslde from Ship-oi-thcline. Not
withstandng its immense bulk and strength,
the building was tossed like feather on the
wave.
There was scene Of unusual terror and
excitement in Montgomery Block, the large
and substantial 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 leapcd to
their doors in the greatest Imaginable haste.
The different halls in the successive stories
of the building were soon filed with the ter.
ror-stricken occupants-cach running hither
and thlther in their sleeping habilmcn,s to.
ward the various stairways that led down
into the street. Some Of those who occupied
apartments in the fourth or highest story.
rushed from their rooms regardless Of their
nudity, and came jumping, caping and
tumbing down the first and second flights
of stairs, clearing them in a bound or two
at the most, and with white lips and chat.
tcring teeth, held their way until they reach.
ed the ground-whcrc they stood in amaze.
ment and doubt, until the cold air, and the
absence Of terrestrial commo,ion calmcd
their fears, and reminded them that the
apartments which they had vacated were
more comfortable than those into which they
had SO suddenly precpilated themselves.
The building was certainly jostled with great
violence by the quake, but it moved ms tho
i, was on elastic springs. Not the slightest
cracking or evidence of collapse was heard
or seen in any part Of it.
The CONSERVATION among tho inmates Of
the large hotels occasOncd scenes which
may be better imagined than described
The population Of the liasattc House rushed,
or precipitated itself down the stair.
ways and into the strcet--and such an array
of beauty unadorned was never before wit.
messed in San Francisco. This cdlicc, i, is
said, shows no mark of injury by the shock.
The scene at Wilson's Exchange, st. Nicho.
las Hotel and international Hotel, were
equally remarkable. The occupants of vii.
sons 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- masSo TO the Plaza, where, like their
in misery, they shared each with
the other such articles Of apparel as had been
caught up in the hurry Of flight.
Hundreds of the residents of the central
portion Of the city rushed to the Plaza, n,.
turally thinking that the open space would
afford them greater refuge than the roof of
a topping building. Many were alr.ost in n
state Of nndity--and otht,s whose oyerpow.
ering sense Of modes,y suggested the pro.
priety Of n little clothing, even in this emer
gency, might have been seen making their
hasty toilet under the shadow of the PLAZA