Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-10-13
GREAT EARTHQUAKE IN SAN
FRANCISCO!

OhN EhhNtlbNOs wv
At quarter before | o'clock to-day the sew
crest earthquake ever felt here frightened al
most the entire population out Of their houses
into the streets. During half minute there
were two tremendous shocks, which caused
buildings to rock to and fro in manner al
together alarming. Services were over in
most of the churches. A large congregation
at the Unitarian church was being dismissed
when the shock commenced. The ladies
shsieked, and all pushed for the doors faster
than they could be accommodated with exit.
Similar scenes took place at ST. Mays Ca
thedfal and 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 injured by being rAmpled
upon. The walls Of many buildings were
cracked in many places, and it surprises every
one that large, stately edifces like the Oc-
cidenlsl and Cosmopolitan hotels, and other
buildings of that class, we're not generally
more seriously injured. More OF less plsst-
ering fell from perhaps half the ceilings Of
the city.
Corniees fell from many buildings The
entire fiont Of four-story brick building
just erected on the street fell outward. cover
ing about half that wide street with frag-
ments. One Independently constructed chin
ney Of brick house fell and crushed through
the roof Of the dining room, coming down
upon tables and dishes TO the astonishment
Of the boarders, who were taking a lunch
Three Of the servants were injured. Two
Cinnamon were badly injured by the falling
OF 6rewall on Jackson street.
The City Hall bell commenced tolling on
account of the vibrations of the tower, and
the interior walls Of the building we're much
broken up. Fissures two OF three feet wide
were opened in the ground in the lower part
Of the city, where it is made land, and some
Of this ground was elevated many feet above
its former level.
Brief accounts from Sacramento, Stockton
and San Jose represent the shock ast the sew
crest ever felt in those cities. 1t was NOT
felt at Marysville nor at Placeville. but the
town Of Santa Cruz felt 1t very severely, some
OF the brick buildings suffering much dam.
age and two being destroyed.
The damage by the Earthquake yesterday
will amount to considerable, many houses
needing new walls and repairing. The City
Hall was damaged in front to such an extent
that that portion Of the wall will have TO bs
rebuilt at a cost Of several thousand dollars
The old Merchants Exchange building will
require rebuilding. No really substantial
building was seriously damaged Santa Cruz
felt the shock more than any other town in
the State. The motion was apparentlg from
East to West. Tie people are unable to use
most Of the wells, which are either dry OF
filed with sand. The chimney at the pow.
der mills was thrown down, and other dam.
age done to the works. A portion Of The
walls of the new hotel were thrown down
bu, the foundation is still Arm. The sraAst
in drug and other stores is great. Some very
narrow escape from falling cbimneys are re.
ported. The tide rose very high at the time
OF the shock and fell very low Immediately
afterwards. Ten or eleven distinct shocks
were felt since the first shock. up toHvs
o'clock, this morning, as we'll as num-
Der of slighter visitations. The losses are
estimated at $4,000 and may exceed ihs'
amount.