The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-04-05


Plaza fence, with as much haste as 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 petticoats
was quite as great.
| CLAMOR FOR COFFEE.
As an evidence of the alarm which had
seized most of the residents about the Plaza
| for squares distant, they were found at the
New York Bakery, near the corner of Clay
and Kearney streets, clamoring for COTE, as
a sedative for their almost palsied nerves.
The same scene took place at other restau-
rants in the vicinity of the various markets,
which are usually opened at an early hour,
in order to ,cOmmodate the butchers ana
stall keepers of various kinds. The proprie-
tors dealt out the soothing beverage unspar-
ingly, as if equally rejoiced at being able to
relieve the excitement Of their patrons, and
the consciousness that mutual danger had
passed away.
| BUILDINGS INJURED.
The fire wall of the north side of the brick
building at the corner Of Oregon and Front
streets, occupied by Goodwin & Co.. fell over
into the street. The wall was but eight
inches in thickness, and badly put up at
| that
The front wall of Wilson's Exchange, on
Sansome street, near the south end, is badly
cracked from the foundation to the roof In
it's present condition, tie southern portion
of the building is quite unsafe.
The walls Of the building No. &c Front
street, occupied as stove store, by Brit
tan & Co., are cracked in a number of places.
The building will probably have to be taken
down.
The southern wall of the City Hall Build
ing, on the line Of stairway ascending to the
upper stories, is cracked from the foundation
to the roof. The wall plaster has fallen off
in many places.
A number of brick buildings in the lower
portion of the city are slightly cracked, but
in most instances the damages may be easily
repaired.
EARTHQUAKE AND DOGS IN ST. AIMS VALLEY.
The shocks were particularly severe in
that portion of the city known as st. AIMS
Valley, being the continuation of Market ST.
from its intersection with Dupont street to
the vicinity of Yerbu Buena Cemetery and
lying between the low range of sand-hills
through which Post and Geary streets are
extended on the other side. From O'Clock
up to the commencement of the earthquake
the entire canine population of the valley,
(Which unluckily happened to be only too
numerous for the comfort and peace of the
other classes of Inhabitants were up and
busy with their threats. 1t is a little sim
gular that with the commencement Of the
unearthly rumbling (Which sounded like the
passage of seigc-train or heavy artillery
wagons, the clainOr gave place to a COM
plete stiffness, only broken by the subter-
ranean growlings referred to and the creak-
ing and wearing of the various habitations
of wood which most abound in this vicinity
i One of the 0ttGcIes connected with this
Office, who had gone home desperately en-
deavoring to comprehend the extent of the
Jeddo calamity, of which news had been re-
ceived in the evening, suddenly woke to the
consciousness that vertable earthquake
! with power and oscillation that put all
table-tippings and spiritual manifestations to
the blush) was presenting the japanese visi-
tation with degree of truthfulness vastly
more convincing than it was comfortable.
Throughout the valley, pictures and mirrors
were Jared from their places on the walls,
the plastering cracked and in some instan-
ces, in stores, whole shelves Of bottles were
thrown on the floor.
The shock lasted for some seconds, and
occurred and required with a vehemence
that threatened no "let up" whatever ANY
person who has had the doubtful pleasure Of
stage ride over the heavy roads in the
Western States in the Spring, and remem-
bers the peculiar .jostlng occasioned by the
passage of the vehicle over rustic bridges
or sloughs covered with round poles or logs,
can form a very truthful idea of the motion
impaired in this instance.
On the final dying away Of the last trcm-
ulous and vibratory motion of the earth, one
loud and shrieking howl, prolonged some
seconds, by some terrified dog, gave the
signal for a general opening, and every
"mongrel puppy, whelp and hound, with cur
of low degree" within the entire circumfer-
ence of the valley, gave vent to series Of
the most diabolical and frantic barkings and
yelpings that human ears ever listened to-
and thus terminated tile night and the adj
ventures in this locality.
i AN AFFECTING SCENE.
In the vicinity of South Park the shock
was particularly great. Many of the dwell
ings were severely shaken, and many o.
them partially stripped of the plastering OF
the ceilings. At the house of Capt Richie
a most affecting and beautiful incident oc-
Cured. 1t appears that the chambermaid in
the employ of the family, arose a few minutes
previous to the shock, and was engaged in
dressing. The window of her room was
) open. Immediately after the vibration Of
the earth had ceased. she was startled by q
rushing, futtering noise in the room, and
looking around she observed the prettiest
white-tufted pigeon fly in at the window
and fall apparently lifeless on the foor She
approached it, picked it up, and discovered
| that life was not extinct in the frightened
bird, by the violent palpitation of its heart
In a few minutes it recovered and gave evil
dent symptoms of relief. The bird was un-
questionably frightened by the quaking Of
the earth, and was perhaps lucky in falling
into the hands of a kind family, who will, OF
ought to, treasure it as momento of the
great shake of February, 1856.
EARTHQUAKE AT MISSION DOLORES
At the Mission, the shock was very great
Most of the occupants of the adobe build
ings were thrown from their beds, and every
article Of furniture in the rooms was dis
placed. The church walls, and portions Of
the walls of other buildings were rent in
f various places.
i. EARTHQUAKE AT ST. JOSE.
4: Through Wells, Fargo & Co.'S Messenger
we learn the shock was very severe at San
jose. The Clinton Hotel building swayed
hlfe tie :boxgh of tree in a gale of wind,
i and 'decanters and crockery were dashed
into fragments from the shel,es. We have
similar account from Santa Clara.
Il