Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-10-29
Severe Earthquake in Cali
tornia.


San Erancisco about 8 clock on Wednes-
day. Several buildings on Pine. Battery
and Samson streets wero thrown down aud
ton was east and west, Last nights de-
spatchs gives the following account:
The gronnd settled which threw the build
inss out OF line, and at present writing 8 A.
NJ, no estimate can be made, though tho
loss il considered comparatively small
Several severe shocks have followed at in
tervals since creating . general alarm
among tho people. A shock was felt with
great severity at San Jose. where q number
Of buildings are considerably injured.
A survey Of the city shows that the prin-
ciple 10 confined to the lower portion be-
low Montgomery, and alneng the old
buildings on the made ground. Numerous
houses in that portion Of the city have been
abandoned nd pulled down. Tfs Custom
House brick building on the pile ground
which was badly shattered by an earth
quake of October 1867, is considered Unsafe
and the officials have removed TO tho rev
enue buildings. The business in the low
er part of the city is suspended
The streets are thronged with people and
great excitement prevails. The parapet
walls and chimneys of a number OF building
have been thrown dawn. causing loss and
damage not exceeding $t.OOO,OOO.
At Oakland the shock was very severe,
Throwing down chimness aud greatly dam
aging n number Of buildings. The ground
opened in several places and q strong sui
pherous smell was noticed after the shock.
| The Court House at San Leandr0 was
demolished and one life lost.
From various portions Of the country.
and in the vicinity OF San Francisco Bay the
shock is reported as severe. and consider
able damage is sustained. In many place,
the earth opened and water gushcd forth
A late d spatch gives further details:
| The streets are crowded with excited
multitudes discussing the particulars OF the
disastereus earthquake. Twelve shucks
have been felt during the day. The direc
ton of the shocks was from the North L
the South. though some description give
"a rotary motion. The greatest damage ex
tends in a belt several hundred feet wild,
and running about northwest and south
east. commencing near the CUSTOM Hous,
and ending at Folsom wharf, injuring ant
dcmolishing about twelve buildings in it
course. At the corner of market and Is
streets the ground opened several inche
wide aud about 40 or so feet long. II
another place tire ground opened and wa
ter was forced above the surface. TIL.
City Hall may he considered periec
wreck. The courts have all adjourned
and the prisoners have been taken from
the station houses to the county Jail. Al
the patients in tho United States Ma
rine hospital have been removed, th'
building being declared unsafe. Th'
chimney Of the United States Mint is bad
ly damaged, and large statue. in from
Of the building is completely buried. Al
business at the general delivery Post OF
fee is temporarily suspended. The Sal
Francisco gas works suffered severely
the tall chimney having been thrown owe
fell through the roof Of the Mission wool
en- mills, and 10 c0nsidcredably damaged
The large chimney Of the sugar reiiner!
on eight street is badly cracked TIL.
gable end on the girls side Of the Deaf
Dumb and Blind Institution fell in, crush
ing through the ceilings. Many chimney
in the Southern part Of the city wer'
thrown down. but no ono was scriousl,
injured by them. Only four lives hav
been reported lost, though numbers wcr
injured by falling debris.
The water on the bay was perfect,
smooth at the time of the shock. and nj
pcrceptible movement took place. Th'
shock felt on board the shipping in tn,
harbOr was as if the vessel had struck upol
4 rock. The earthquake was severe il
the interior. Shocks were felt at Sacra
mento aud Stockton.