Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-02-23

kearny streets, clamoring for coffee as Sc
datlye for their almost palsied nerves The
same scene took place at other restaurants in
the vicinity Of the various markets, which are
usually opened at an early hour, in order to
accommodate the butchers and stall-keepers
of various kinds The proprietors dealt out
the soothing beverage unsparingly as if equal
ly rejoiced at being able to relieve the excite
ment of their patrons, and the conciousness
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 in-
ches in thickness, and badly put up at that
The front wall of Wilson's Exchange bull
ding, on Sansome street, near the south end,
is cracked from the foundation to the roof -
In its present condition the southern portion
Of the building is quite unsafe
The walls Of the building No T6 Front-st
occupied as a stove store by Britain & Co.,
are cracked in a number Of places. The bull
ding with 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 of
10 a number of 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.
DOGS IN ST. AIMS VALLEY.
The shocks were particularly severe in that
portion of the city known at ST. AIMS Val
ley, being the continuation Of Market street
from its intersection with Dupont street TO
the vicinity of Yerba Buena Cemetry, and
lying between the low range of sand-hills
through which Post and Geary streets are ex-
tended on the one side, and the old Mission
road on the other From 5 O'Clock up to the
commencement Of the earthquake the entire
canine population of the valley (Which I'M
luckily happens 10 be only too numerous for
the comfort aud peace of the other classes OF
inhabitants,) were up and busy with their
throats. 1t is little singular that with the
commencement Of the unearthly rumbling
(which sounded like the passage Of siege
train or heavy artillery wagons) the clamor
gave place TO a complete stiffness, only bro
ken by the subterrancan growlings referred to
and the creaking and wearing of the various
habitations Of wood which most abound in
this vicinity. One Of the attaches connected
with this Office who had gone home desperate
ly endeavoring to comprehend the extent OF
the Jeddo calamity, of which news had been
received in the evening, suddenly woke to the
: consciousness that "a yeritable earthquake
with a power and oscillation that put all ta
ble-tippings and spiritual manifestations tC
the blush, was presenting the Japenese yisi
tation with degree Of truthfulness vastly
more convincing than it was comfortable
Throughout the valley, pictures and mirror:
were iarred from their places on the walls, the
pastering cracked, and in some nstance-ir
stores-whole shelves of bottles thrown on
the floor The shock lasted for some second,
and occurred and recurred with vehemenct
that threatened no " let up whatever. Any
person who has had the doubtful pleasure o.
a stage ride over the heavy roads in the ives
tern states during the spring, and remembers
the peculiar ostling occasioned by the passage
Of the vehicle over rustic bridges or slough'
covered with round poles or logs, can form Q
very truthful idea of the motion impaired il
the present instance Ii did not seem to come
from east to west or from north to south, but
was a general rotary up heaying, On the f
; nal diving away of the last tremulous and vi
bratory motion of the earth, one loud anc
shrieking howl, prolonged some seconds, by
some terrified dog, gave the signal for a gen
eral opening, and every mongrel puppy
whelp and hound, with cur of low degree,
within the entire circumference of the valley
gave vent to a series of the most diabolica
+ and frantic barkings and yelpings that human
ears ever listened to,-and thus terminated
the night and the adventure in this locality.
AN AFFECTING SCENE AT SOUTH PARK.
In the vicinity of South Park the shocl
was particularly great Many of the dwell
lings were severely shaken, and some of then
partially stripped of the plasterings Of ths
/ ceilings. AT the house of Captain Ritchie q
most affecting and beautiful incident occurred
II appears that the chamber-maid in the EN-
pIoy Of the family arose few minutes pre-
vious to the shock and was engaged in dress
ing The window Of her room was open.
Immediately after the vibration of the earth
had ceased she was startled by rushing,
autterinr noise in the room, and on looking
round observed pretty, white tufted pigeon
nying in the window and fall apparently life
less on the floor. She approached it, picked
it up, and discovered that life was not extinct
in the frightened bird, by the violent palpita-
ton of its heart In few moments u recoy-
cred and gave evident SYMPTOMS Of relief. The
bird was unqucstionaby frightened by the
quaking Of the earth, and was perhaps lucky
/ ia falling into the hands Of kind family who
will, or ought to, treasure it as a memento of
the great shake of February, '56.
A HARVEST FOR THIEVES.
The old adage, It is an i'll wind that