The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-06
The Loss of Life and Destruction
Of Property.
Effects Of the Shock in the
Interior.
Full Particulars of the
Disaster.

Disaster.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 81 1858.
The worst earthquake ever known on the PACING
slope occurred this morning at seven minutes before
eight O'Clock. or course synopsis will reach New
York tonight by telegraph, enough to give some
slight idea Of what occurred, but detailed account
even cannot give a true picture OF the dsaster IL
should have been felt first and the damage that 1t oc
casioned seen afterwards in order to Judge rightly
pf what fearful destruction OF property has been oc
casioned, The loss OF life has been comparatively
very small but it is fearful to think what 1t would
have been had the shocks continued heavy after the
FIRST as was the case at Arequpa and other places
IN South America recently destroyed
HOW I FELT 1T.
Twas at home at the time In a new frame house
ct the corner of Pine and Powell streets position
nearly at the top Of the hill which overlooks the
eastern and southern portions OF the city. The shock
came on suddenly, without anything whatever to
indicate It, increasing in violence until II as sud
denly ceased. The direction Of the undulations,
Judging from my own observation, was from south
east to northwest and the force was tremendous,
causing me to reel and stagger, and everything in
the room was In notion 1t appeared as If 1t would
never stop, and the strength great that felt
sure that brick buildings La the lower portion OF the
city must be destroyed. have experienced many
IN dinefent parts OF South America but none that
compared In violence or duration to that Of this
morning, it having lasted forty-two seconds, The
sepsaton OF an earthquake 80 strong is indescyiba
pie, 1t must be felt to be understood, and devouty
trust that may be spared any such feelings again.
was confident that much damage must have been
d9ne, although the house was in got or with only
eevere shaking, and lost no time in getting
He> DOWN TOWN.
Upon reaching the street found many there before
mo. Men, women and children in every kind OF
costume were in the middle Of the street. Many of
the latter were crying and screaming, and all were
terror stricken; it fearful sight. As reached
the business portion Of the city the sight became
painful the damage and destruction were seen on
every side; piles Of brick and plaster strewn
along the streets; buildings with cornices ana fire
walls gone; others cracked from cellar to roof spen
did plate glass windows shivered into thousand
pieces, and some houses in course Of construction
were levelled to the earth. Every crowd.
ed By those who were curious to see yet who dared
not venture into the cracked and crumbing build
ings, some OF which, although apparently uninjured
outwardly had all the plaster shaken from the walls
INSIDE Falling walls had caught some unfortunates
who had not time to get of the sidewalks; some of
these were killed and others badly wounded. Others
were wounded by their frantic efforts to get out OF
the buildings. We do not yet know how many suf-
ferers there have BEEN and think strong effort will
be made to try and keep the number OF casualties
from the public. Four dead are now lying at the
dead house. and am sure that there many others
that we do not know OF yet. One Chinaman was
taken out from under pile OF ruins the sidewalk
In Clay street, below Sansome this afternoon, hav-
ing been there before ne discovered.
He was, Of course, dead, having been covered by
falling cornice.
washington, Clay, Sacramento, Pine and Bush
streets east OF Montgomery, have suffered most In
the destruction or buildings. Here the foundations
are bad for they nearly all rest upon pling, that
portion Of the city having been reclaimed from the
bay. Many buildings here viii have to be torn down,
as they unsafe, when the earth Is quiet aud
would fall surely with 1.-THE even OF the shock we
had this morning.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The City Hall, on Kearny street. near Washington
Is a wreck. 1t ia split in every dlrecnon and is
vacated now by all except those who have charge OF
the fire alarm telegraph. The Post ONCE and Custom
House are In one building, ana this IL also used up
and unsafe for further occupancy. This, as well
as the City Hall, badly injured by the
earthquake OF 1865. The new Merchants Exchange
stood the shock bravely. 30 did the Bank OF Califor
mia and the Mercantile Library and other buildings
ofmodern construction; they suffered only in cracked
plaster and few corners or. What they may do,
however, with another shake Of like character re-
mains to be seen. ! do not think they would pass
1nscathed, for brick and mortar cannot stand many
such commissions OF nature. The principal hotels
were shaken up badly, but were not seriously In
jured. The Cosmopolitan, Occidental Lick and Russ
houses got OF very well indeed, considering their
height They were wrung and twisted, but not Sc
rously damaged far as known. Their inmates left
without paying much attention 10 dress, especially
those In the upper stories.
FREAKS IN PRINTING OFFICES
In Bosqui's printing ONCE, located on the third
noor OF strong brick building Clay street. below
Montgomery, heavy Adams press has been moved
bodily over foot and thrown from is supports the
other presses the same way. In Bacon Co.'s
once. on the other side OF the street,
the effect has been the same and much
OF the standing type has been pied; indeed
nearly oil the printing ofnces have suffered in the
same way In greater or less degree. The agency
OF Hagar Co.'s New York type foundry In the
same vicinity, has suffered severely Tons Of lob
type have been empted into .hapeless mass upon
the door and the shelving that held them turned up
side down, although fastened very strongly TO the
walls. The building In which this establishments is
~ one OF the worst wrecked OF all those damaged In
Clay street. II is split from the cellar to the roof
she upper portion OF the south wall has fallen out.
and the west wall has separated from the roof over
Blk inches while every wall and partition within 10
cracked and split. The porter narrowly escaped
being crushed under the falling type and other ma
fsria The papers had hard work 10 ge, ont their
afternoon editions and extras for the compositors
could hardly be Induced TO enter the buildings ana
run the chance Of what might occur should another
heavy shock come on.
THE STREETS.
some OF the streets that were yesterday ali right
this morning in very bad condition presenting Inc
appearance OF having been paved many years ago In
some places they up, In others down with seams
gaping ia them Of greater or less length and width
Some have opened as If split with violent explo.
sion Of gunpowder and from come OF these openings
the water has burst out as II spring were opened.
The most OF these places are upon the made ground
but few II any appearing In the solid earth. Side
walks are split In the sae way, especially when the