The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-11-10
THE EARTHQUAKE.
The Recent Shock In San Francisco
Scenes and Incidents.
From tbe Alta california, October 81.

From the Alta California, October 3l.l
Al precisely six minutes to eight o'clock this
morning. the most severe earthquake which
hos occurred since the occupation of California
by the Americans, shook our city. The gener-
al excitement prevailing throughout the city
renders it difficult to give anything like au ac-
curate account Of the amount Of damage done,
or the number of casualties. This is the first
earthquake that has ever caused loss OF life in
San Francisco, and the amount If damage is
unouestionably greater than that caused by the
shock of October s, 1865. This earthquake
differed in many particulars from anything
which had previously visited our city. The
morning was moderately warm, ana dense Iog
covered the town. There was not trace of
breoze perceptib.e. The first indication of
the approach of the earthquake Was slight
rumbling sound, as OF something rolling along
the sidewalk coming apparently from the direc-
ton Of the ocean. Whether this proceeded
from beneath the surface OF the earth or from
the agitation OF loose bodies on the surface OF
the earth, is uncertain, Tue most gener!i
opinion appears to be that it was from the lat
ter. The shock commenced in the form OF slow,
horizontal movements, the effect being pre-
cisely such as would be produced on frail
wooden building BY person shaking the door
violently IN an attempt to force II open. Ihe
motion was purely horizontal, not perpendicu-
lar as in the great earthquake OF 1860. Ihe osci.-
growing more rapid and more violent for six or
seven seconds, then increasing in force and ra-
pidity for four or five seconds, then suddenly
ceaslng. At 17t minutes to 8 there was very
slight shock, just perceptible, but its coming
on the heels OF the great one, people generally
rushed into the street, apprehensive OF what
might follow. At 1923 A. NJ. o third shock,
quite a sharp one, was felt, and panic was
created on the principal streets, crowds rush
ing in frantic and foolish excitement from every
building, and running madly along the side
walks without any clear idea of where they
we're going or what they wished to 90. AT II
A. NJ. precisely fourth aud very slight shock
was felt. The fog cleared away and the sun
shone out in cloudless sky, while o slight
breeze sprung up at II A. NJ. Up 20 the pre-
sent writing no more shocks have been felt.
The great shock of 1868 produced o wholly
different effect on buildings from that OF 1863.
In October, 1865, glass was broken and shlver-
ed into atoms in all the lower part OF the city
by the perpendicular oscillations, Whale com
para.iveiy few walls were shaken down or badly
injured. The earthquake OF to-day broke very
little glass in any part OF the city, but the dam;
age by the falling of cornices, awnings and
walls was immense. The shock was principal
ly felt on made ground" and the flats where
the foundation IS known to be untrustwortny
at all times. Along Montgomery-streets num-
Der OF buildings are damaged; aad eastward,
toward the bay, few buildings are Wholly unin-
jured, while many are utterly ruined. On the
eastern shore of the bay, and in fact, all the
way around it. everything built on the mats mas
suffered severely. 1t is noticeable and graft
fyng fact that not single building construct
ed as it should be in city liable to earth
quakes, like San Francisco, has suffered 10
any extent at all.
When the great shock eliminated stam-
pedo from every building i'll the city took place;
Hundreds OF horses on the streets, frightened
by the rush OF the people, took fright and ran
away. adding TO the danger and excitement OF
the moment. AS the fire and blt.lement walls
and heavy awnings we're coming down IN oil
the lower part OF the city, numerous casualties,
more or less severe, occurred, anu there WIS
considerable loss Of life.
The public school buildings are generally
we'll constructed, and were damaged very slight
". if ct all. Part of them escaped wholly unln'
iured. Nevertheless, the prevailing excite
ment being very great, and the liability TO
pancs among the pupils on any alarm being
given so great as to be in itself more threat
enine danger for them than that of the EARTH
ouake's power, it was deemed best to close
the schools Tor to-day, aud, accordingly, the
children were all dismissed and sent home.
AS the minor "tapering-off shocks were
felt the excitement increased instead OF
diminished, as it should have done, seeing
that all our experience goes to show that the
worst invariably comes first in San FRANCISCO
EARTHQUAKES, and the merchants generally
commenced closing their stores. By 10 A. NJ:
business was pretty generally suspended, not
because apprehension was felt to any extent OF
further damage or danger, but because the eX,
citement was 30 grelt thGt no business coulu
we'll be transacted. The stock exchange met
a1d adjourned for the day without transactlng
any business; the streets were nlleu WIN pgo. pe
nle-men, women and children, "seeing the
sights" congratulatlng each other that 1t was
no worse. and chatting and laughing, and'run-
ming about generally as II at show OF lalr.
The impression q stranger would gain 1om
the faces of those on the streets would DC tnat
some pleasurable excitement had occurred.
Certainly there was nothing IN the appearances
of our people to indicate that great calamity
had befallen them. or that their confidence IN
thc stability of San Francisco had been shaken
for moment
When the momentary panic occurred, at
twenty three minutes past ten O'CLOCK, we
noticed several women who tainted, or were
urable to move for terror; but thls sPeclal
excitement subsidcd very quickly indeed, not
astinq moro lhan five minutes at the utmost.
When the first great shock came many people
had not risen from their beds, and the rush
into the streets was accompanied by many
ludcrous incidents -dishabille being the rule,
and full dress the exception;
None of the city. State or Federal courts he'd
apy sessions. Judge PROVINCES OF the ponce
coi1rt discharged all lhc ''drunks" that had
Seon arrested fhe day before, and all the other
prisoners in the city prison were sen. 20 the
County iail. Portsmouth Square was tho re-
sort selected by hundreds Of women and chill
Iron Who could be seen vending their way
with baskets, &C., to that place, remaining 6
there during the day. The customhouse, ID
terribly damaged, and it is questionable iShe-
ther It will admit OF repairs, SO general does
the destruction appear at first sight. The CHIN
new ton at the north end of the building feil at
the first wave. The chimney on the west side 10
twistod in direction opposite to that OF lts OIL,
pinal one. The earth-walks, generally sohd anu
Arm. were loosened by the vibration. The gen
oral delivery of the postofice s temporarily
snsnended. although few attaches remain
nj their posts, making up the mails
snr the interior. Several Of the private clocks
st1 Stonned The one on fuckers new building
stopppped at five minutes before eight o'clock,
and the hour and minute hand have silently
nointed out the time OF the shock during the
forenoon. The large pendulum clocks IN PRIV
ate houses also stopped from five to seven MIN
ntes before eight. Mare Island Navy Yard ex-
,,orionced two severe shocks OF earthquake
tnis morning. Several chimneys were thrown
down and some of the buildings considerably
shaken but mo serious damage was done and
no nerson was injured. Captain Mitchell, OF
The povv. informs us that the ground shook so
violently l as almost to throw him of his feet:
the shock being accompanied py iriSntiul
rumbling sound Several people took to the
II NM On