Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-11-17
From the San francisco Alta California, Oc-
-1 tober q.
THE EARTHQUAKE IN CALIFORNIA.
Details of the Effect of the First Shocks in
San Francisco and Vicinity.

At precisely 754 O'Clock this morning the
most severe earthquake which has occurred
since the occupation of California by the Amer
cans shook our city. The general excitement
prevailing throughout the city renders it ditfi
cult to give anything like an accurate 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 of damage caused is unques
tionably greater than that caused by the shock
of October s, 1865.
THE WATHER AND THE SHOCKS.
This earthquake differed in many particulars
from any which had previously visited our city.
The morning was moderately warm and dense
fog covered the town. There was not trace
of breeze perceptible in the town, but the
telegraph from Point Lobos says, Wind north
west" The first Indication of the approach of
the earthquake was slight rumbling sound, as
of something rolling along the sidewalk; CON-
ing apparently from the direction Of the ocean.
Whether this proceeded from beneath the sur
face of the earth, or from the agitation of loose
bodies on the surface, is uncertain the most
general opinion appears to be that 1t was from
the latter. The shock commenced IN the form
Of slow horizontal movements, the effect being
precisely such as would be produced on frail
wooden building by person shaking the door
motion was purely horizontal, not perpendcu-
lar, as in the greath earthquake of 1865. The
oscillations continued from ten to fifteen sec
onds, growing more rapid and more violent for
six or seven seconds then increasing in force
and rapidly for four or five seconds, then sud-
denly ceasing. The motion was SO great that
water was thrown over both sides of pail not
more than two thirds full, which was sitting on
the ground on the summit of Russian Hi
where the shock was felt with less force than
in any other part Of the city. At e42a there
was very slight shock, just perceptible, but it
coming on the heels of the great one, people
generally rushed into the street, apprehensive
of what might follow At TO- % A. NJ third
shock, quite sharp one was felt, and panic
was created on the principal streets, crowds
rushing in frantic and foolish excitement from
every building and running madly along the
| sidewalks without any clear idea of where they
we're going or what they wished to do. At IL
A. NJ. precisely fourth and very slight shock
was felt The log cleared away and the sun
shone out in a cloudess sky, while slight
breeze sprung up at that hour. Up to the
present writing no more shocks have been felt.
THE EFFECT ON THE TOWN.
| The great shock of 1868 produced a wholly
different effect on buildings from that Of 1868.
| In October, 1865, glass was broken and shiv-
cred in atoms in all the lower part OF the city
| by the perpendicular oscillation, while compar-
atively few walls were shaken down or badly in
jured. 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. West of Stockton street
and north of Geary street no damage of any
kind worthy of mention was done; a stranger
passing through that part Of the town would
tail to discover any traces OF the great cOmmO-
ton which had just occurred. Occasionally a
little plastering was shaken down, or the wall,
of some old or poorly constructed brick build
ing was slightly opened, but beyond this there
was nothing. On Rincon Hill the effect was
very much the same. Coming down from the
upper part of the city, the first serious effects
of the earthquake which We noticed was at the
drugstore at the southeast corner of Dupont
and Washington streets, the windows Of WHICH
were completely demolished. From this point
eastward to the bay, and southwark to Mission
bay. the destruction of windows and damage to
walls increased. The shock was principally felt
on made ground and the flats, where the
foundation is known to be unreliable at all
times. Along Montgomery street quite mum
ber of buildings are damaged, and eastward to-
ward the bay there are few buildings which are
wholly uninjured, while many are utterly ruined
On the eastern shore of the bay, and, in fact,
all the way around it, everything built on the
flats has suffered severely. 1t is noticeable
and gratifying fact that not single building
constructed as it should be in city liable to
earthquakes like San Francisco, has suffered to
any extent at ALL This earthquake demon
strates the proposition that with proper care
in the construction of our buildings, San Fran
cisco is as safe place to live in as any on the
continent. But greater care must be taken
hereafter, and we may learn valuable lesson
by that disaster if we have the sense to profit
by it. When the great shock eliminated, a
Stampede from every building in the city took
place. Hundreds of horses on the streets,
| frightened by the rush OF people, took fright
and ran away, adding to the danger and ex-
ctement of the moment. As the fire and bat
tlement walls and heavy awnings were coming
down in the lower part Of the city, numerous
casualties more or less severe, occurred, and
there was considerable loss of life.
The public school buildings are generally well
constructed, and were damaged very slightly,
if at all Part of them escaped wholly unin-
iured Nevertheless, the prevailing excite
ment being very great, and the liability to pan
les among the scholars on any alarm being Civ
en- so great as to be in itself a more threaten
ing danger for them than that of the earth
auakes proper, it was deemed best to close the
schools for to day. AS the minor ''taperine
| Off shocks were felt the excitement increased