Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-02-23

stone buildings. IL is evident that the vio-
lence Of the shock was differently experienced
in varions parts Of the city. In some ocali-
ties in the suburbs its degree of violence was
much greater than in others In several in
stances the vibrations were so great as to
oyerturn heavy pieces Of furniture Again
the motion is compared to that produced on
shpboard when the side of the vessel is
struck bya heavy sea--a sudden shock with
out vibration Very few persons escaped
being aroused by the shock, but some there
are Of whom it is said that they slept on un-
disturbed through the whole.
VIOLENCE OF THE SHOCK
Some estimate may be formed Of The vio-
lcnce of the shock, when il is stated that a
man sleeping on the third floor Of the Gus
tom House building, was thrown from his bed
to the floor The walls of this building are
composed Of masonry capable of resisting q
broadsde from ship-of-the-line Notwith-
standing its immense bulk and strength, the
building was tossed like feather on the
wave
SCENE IN MONTGOMERY BLOCK
There was a 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 leaped to
their doors in the greatest imaginable haste.
The different halls in the successive stories of
the building were soon filed with the terror
stricken occnpants-each running hither and
thither in their sleeping habiliments towards
/ t,.t,
the street. Some of those who occupied
apartments on the fourth or highest story,
rushed from their room regardless Of their
nudity, and came jumping, leaping and tumb-
ling down the first and second flight of stairs,
clearing them in bound or two, at the most,
and with white lips and chattering teeth,
held their way until they reached the ground
where they stood in amazement and doubt,
until the cold air and the absence of terres-
tiaI commotion calmed their fears and re-
minded them that the apartments which they
| had vacated were more comfortable than
those into which they had so suddenly precip-
itated themselves The building was GER
tainly jostlcd with great violence by the
quake, but it moved as though it stood upon
elastic spsings. Not the slightest cracking
or evidence Of a collapse was heard or seen
in any part Of it. An amusing incident oc-
cured whilst the commotion was at its great
est height A gentleman who occupied II
room on the third story, and is perhaps
blessed with more than an ordinary share OF
resignation and fortitude, was aroused by the
shock and was seen leisurely opening his door
as the inmates were flying hther and thither
and jumping down the stairways. lie calmly
asked what was the matter, and was answer
ed by the flying occupants in this wise An
earthquake! an earthquake Run! the
building is coming down. Don't you feel iti'
Mr.. -, with the greatest apparent aston
ishment, replied, An earthquake! Oh, d--n
it. is that all I'm going to bed again. and
slamming the door violently as if indignant
at the alarm of his friends, retired and was
seen no more until ten O'Clock, A. NJ
AN IRlsHMANs's ALARM.
A favorite young Irishman who attends TO
suite of rooms in the building, was seen fly
ing from his apartments in the utmost terror,
and in a state of half nudity, to the street
When he returned, about eight o'clock, A. NJ !,
to his morning duties, he was asked by a
gentleman upon whom he attended whether
he felt the earthquake. did | feel it2'
Sulu at II hltui uluii l.. anu uiuh Il iui
like harey BE jabers, and if that was an
yearthqnake, niyer want to see the likes OF
il agin." By-the-way, Pat never stopped
running until he reached the Plaza, where he
found multitude of strong-minded and
strong-neryed men, and women and children
who had sought it as the great Palladium OF
safety.
4 SCENES AT THE HOTELS.
The CONSERVATION among the inmates OF
the large hotels occasoned scenes which may
be better imagined than described. The pop
ulation of the Rassette House rushed, tum-
bled or precpitatcd itself down the stairways
and into the street; and such an array OF
beauty unadorned was never before witnessed
in the streets of San Francisco. This edihce,
il is said, shows no marks of injury by the
shock. The scene at Wilson's Exchange,
ST. Nicholas Hotel and International Hotel
were equally remarkable The occupants OF
Wilson's Exchange took refuge in the reha-
ma House, which is frame, and consequent
ly in less danger than the other Many of the
inmates of the International found their way
ea asasse TO the Plaza, where like their com
panions in misery they shared each with the
other such articles Of apparel as had been
caught up in the hurry Of flight.
THE RUSH TO THE PLAZA
Hundreds of the residents of the central
portion of the city rushed to the Plaza, nat
urally thinking that the open space would af-
ford them greater refuge that the roof of a
toppliug building. Many were almost in a
state of nudity-and Others whose overpow-
ering sense of modesty suggested the propri-