The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-12
Che Aorfolk Cost.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER II, 1865.
Great Earthquake in California.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER IL, 1865.
Great Earthquake in California.
| VERY SEVERE SHOCK AT SAN FRANCISCO BUILD
INGs VIOLENTLY sIIAKEN-FRIGITFUL SCENES
IN THE CHURcHEs-soME FIFTEEN DISTINCT
sHoCKs-ExTENsIvE DAMAGE TO PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE EDIFICEs-sEvERITY OF THE SHOCK
| AT SANTA CRUz---A GENERAL TUMBLE DOWN
OF CEIMNEYs, &c. IsIf
San Francisco Oct s, 1865.
AT a quarter before O'Clock to-day the
severest earthquake ever felt here fright
ened almost the entire population of the
city out of their houses into the streets.
During half minute there were two
tremendous shocks, which caused build
ings to rock TO and fro in manner al
together alarming.
| Services were over in most of the
churches. The large congregation of the
Unitarian Churh was being dismissed
when the shock commenced. Ladies
shrieked; all pushed for the doors faster
than they could be accommodated with
exit Similar SCIENCES took place at st.
Mary's Cathedral and at some other
churches and Sunday schools. The rush
was so great from the Catholic Church
on Vallejo street that the large doors to
the main entrance were carried away,
and several persons were injured by be-
ing trampled upon. ..
The walls of many buildings were
| cracked in many places, and it surprises
| every one that large stately edifices like
the Occidental and CosmopOlital hotels,
and other buildings of that class were
not generally more seriously injured.
More or less plastering fell from perhaps
half the ceilings Of the city. The corni-
ces and fore walls fell from many build
ings.
| The entire front of four-story brick
building just erected on Third street fell
outward, covering about half of thai
wide street with fragments. One indie.
pendently constructed chimney of the
Lick house fell and crushed through til,
roof of the dining-rooni, coming dOwr
upon the tables and dishes, to the aston
ishment of the boarders, who were ia
king lunch. Three of the servants were
injured.
Two Cinnamon were badly injured by
the falling of fire wall on Jackson
street. The City Hall bell commenced
ringing on account of the vibration oil
the tower. The interior walls of the
building were much broken up. BE.
Fissures two or three inches wide
were opened in the ground in the lowel
part of the city, where 1t is made land
and some of this ground was elevated
many inches above its former level.
Brief accounts from Sacramento
Stockton and San Jose represent tn
shock as the severest ever felt in thos
cities. 1t was not felt at Marysville @
Placerville, but the town of Santa Cru
was shocked with great severity, som
back buildings suffering much damage
and two being destroyed.
.l.r San Francisco, Oct, Q, 1865
The damage by the earthquake yestel
day will amount to considerable sur
in the aggregate, many houses needin
new walls, new plastering, and repairin
broken windows. The City Hall
damaged in the front wall to the exten
that portion must be rebuilt, at cos
of several Thousand dollars. .....
The old Merchants Exchange build
; ing, opposite the Custom House, will
: probably require rebuilding. No reall,
substantial and well constructed build
3 ing was seriously damaged. Santa Cru
y felt the shock more severely than an.
other town in the State.
Several brick houses were so badl.
damaged that partial reconstruction will
be necessary. A despatch from Their
says there was general tumble down
chimneys, and those left standing ar
turned partially around. The motion
y was apparently from East to West.
= The grounds along the river opened il
assures, and spOuted water like geysers
The people are unable to use some O
wells, which are either dry or file
with mud.
A chimney at the powder mills wa
thrown down, and other injury ws
done to the works. A portion of tn
- walls of the new hotel was throw
down, but the foundation is still firm
The smash in the drug and other store
was great.
Some very narrow escapes from fal
ing chimneys are reported.
IT The tide rose very high at the time {
~ the shock, and fell very low immediatel
y afterward. Ten or eleven distin'
: shocks were felt since the first shock u
y to 5 o'clock this morning, as well as
number of slighter visitations.
1t is estimated that the losses wi
amount to $4,000, and may exceed tn
sum. ,- ,..
Dates from Honolulu have been r
ceived up to the 10th of Septembe
lar The war steamer Saranac arrived the
N, on the 9th. Nothing had been heard
the Shenandoah.
on AT a table d'hote, at Cologne, a ma
VI ufacturer of Sheffield, who spoke n