The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-24
The CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE.
Extent Of the Damage and OF the
Excitement.
N Sea Bore, but an lnfammable Gas
Emitted from the Water.
ANOTHER SHOCK AND A NIGHT PANIC.

Dhty-Cn0080 IN the Lever OF tne SOH-
Preceding Atmospheric Conditions-Ne Agi-
satIon Of the Sea-Bubbling In the Rivers
and InAammable Gas Emitted from the
Water-Excitement Of the People-The
Shakes Worse than In 1865.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct %, 1858.
Several slight shocks occurred this evening, but
caused little alarm. Workmen are busily employed
repairing the damage TO the buildings on Washing
ton, Clay, Sacramento, Pine and Bush streets. The
side east OF Montgomery street suffered most
personal observation Of the interior and exterior
damage to the buildings shows 1t to be very great.
Many must be taken down. as they are unsafe IL
fneIr present condition. A number Qf buildings
have sunk several inches, and streets before ievSs
Are now uneven In many places.
Beyond the smoky condition OF the atmosphere
several weeks ago. there no indications Of any
thing unusual in the weather The morning OF the
quake foggy but shortly after the first shock the
weather cleared up and remained fine until night
when dense fog again came on To-day has also
been very fine. ~ 'e Te.;.
. The waters Of the bay remained placid and only
slight disturbance was noticed on the sea coast
ship anchored fifteen miles outside felt the shock
very heavily and was the same with vessels on the
pay. At Alcatraz Island, in the centre Of the bay
the shock was very heavy.
The morning papers contain four and five columns
Of list of damages sustained yet they contend that
San Francisco is one OF the safest places in the
world.
The casualties are light because OF the time when
the shock occurred. Had it been hour later they
would have been very heavy. Falling cornices and
chimneys did the work principally. Many Of the
casualties occurred from frantic efforts to get out OF
buildings. Some persons jumped out OF second
story windows. The panic at the time terrible.
Ghe streets were filled with people in every conceiv
md fxuJN2,o ont 7
was in Q frame house on the HILL and
although the vibration was heavier than
amy ever felt in South America, yet
from the character Of the structure II sustained
no damage worth speaking Of. The shock must
have been heavier down town, for the condition OF
the walls show that the force exerted to put them in
Their present condition Is almost beyond comprehen-
Hon, 1t is conceded on all sides that few seconds
more would have destroyed that portion Of the city
not constructed on solid foundations. Fortunately
the hotels escaped serious injury for, crowded as
they were, had they been less strong, the result
would have been terrible Their inmates were
much shaken up and many have sought the shelter
bf frame buildings, now conceded to be the safest.
Animals Of all kinds felt the shock; horses became
wild with terror and some were thrown down by the
motion Of the earth, while others started and ran
away. Dogs were barking and running through the
streets, apparently not knowing what they were
doing. Birds even noticed the great CONFUSION Of
nature. During all OF yesterday the excitement was
intense. The streets were crowded with people, the
majority OF stores and other places OF business
closed, But few persons would enter buildings and
these would stampede into the streets with rush
whenever slight vibration indicated that the earth
was not yet settled.
The earthquake TOOK precedence over everything
business being for the time forgotten, and all looked
as II another might come that would swallow the
city; yet with all this fear the people tried to look
cheerful as they told their experience and related
their hairbreadth escapes. Many most ludcrous In
cidents occurred that to be appreciated must be
gwen In detail.
To-day's panic has somewhat subsidized and
should another heavy shock not occur soon the fear
win wear on in measure and current business win
run as usual All Ia uncertainty, however, these
terrible shocks dsturbingeverything and, In truth,
we don't know what to expeck The earthquake Of
yesterday was far heavier than It was three years
ago. and they keep getting stronger.
- Another much heavier shock than yesterdays
VIII tell tale such as do not wish to record This
vicinity appears to have been about the centre OF
the CONFUSION, south and east. 1t was heavy but
north 1t was lighter. In Oakland much damage was
done; at San Leandro also and other towns south Of
us everything like brick or masonry suffered while
framework stood well. Persons in the country no
ticed an upheavlng and opening OF the earth In sew
era places. Large masses OF rock, several tons In
weight were detached and rolled down the hill and
mountain sides. Trees were violently shaken and
water made It's appearance where oil was dry before
From some streams bubbles containing innammable
gas has risen to the surface.
We have yet to hear from South California The
probabilities that its force spent hereabouts
for 1t does not appear to have been as heavy at san
Jose.
The barometer and thermometer indicated nothing
unusual.
The motion OF the shock was well marked as being
southeast one and northwest one although the con-
uiton of some buildings indicates rotary motion
from the manner in which they are wrung and
twisted They are open on oil sides. In forty-two
seconds we had ample opportunity to note the VI
brations and know that they were as stated
The shock commenced heavily and gained In
strength, and stopped suddenly, not tapering or
thought it never would end, and every moment
expected the ceiling to come down. To those In
upper stories OF high brick buildings the scene
appalling.
The sight ana sensation was appalling An esti-
mate Of the amount OF damage done Is based upon
the cost OF putting up buildings as they we're before
the CONFUSION took place, not the expense OF filing
ND the cracks and pasterng them over. do not
believe there is structure in the city but what Is
more or less strained. They appear oil right now,
but another earthquake win prove II am right.
Those interested in this place very naturally desire
70 make the affair light possible, but the truth has
been told, and rather less than more.
Persons here who were in Peru during the late
earthquake there state the shock OF yesterday to
have been as strong some Of those that destroyed
30 much life and property there, and they say that
only OF the shocks was required to make
disaster here fully great One good result will be
to have buildings erected that win stand almost
anything. Now only aAmall proportion OF them are
as they should be. Those on made ground will have
10 be constructed like fortresses and have sincere
cause for congratulation in having escaped so well.