The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-12
EAR THQUAKES.

-nin-The Amount OF Damasa IN cal-
sorts to KeeY ,~u~>.-N.rvous
Anxiety Of tes PSorse.
San FRANCISCO, Oct. II. 1858.
Last night at six minutes before twelve O'Clock we
iad another shock-very sharp, but short. Indeed
was the strongest since the big fellow OF the 2lst,
'uo es cry one says consequently 1t must be srue)
hat zoe motion was vertics1 For six days we have
lad vsdy time OF II, and cit only keeps on think
ur people Won't mind angthl ~ short OF chimney
umbler SO accustor". "a VIII thsy nave become 70
'ars ams -" Joking assie, Try not tend to
naAe " easy or reconcncd, these constant trem-
:" - Of the earth and cause fear that others OF
more serious character may come. Last night sent
MANY persons into the Streets and the public square
had again many occupants for the night that carried
no furniture with them but blankets. The public mind
remains unsettled, men wear an uneasy Ivy" "nN
business Is stagnant except with those who are en-
gagged In repairing damages Bricklayers and car
penters are In demand, and they ask and receive big
wages for working on or within the damaged build
ings. Frame houses are all the go, and the papers
teen with advertisements Of that kind Of structure
being wanted, either in whole or in part. Furnished
rooms In frame houses are at premium while those
III brick or stone edilces go begging.
THE DAMAGE
cannot understand why twas that the committee
OF the Chamber Of Commerce should have allowed
themselves to telegraph East that the damage to the
city would be covered by $780, Ooo 1t was Of course,
proper and polite to send to the East information
that would tend to allay excitement caused by SEN
sational private dispatches but to mention that sum
az the amount OF damage was impoltic In the ex-
IRENE, and 1t doubtless did more harm than good,
for Europe and the Eastern States must have seen
that 1t was a "blind" only, intended to cover the
true state Of the case.
Let any person walk down the streets running
OF Montgomery street and those crossing them,
are shoTed up with heavy timbers; let him examine
the numerous cracks, In many cases from roof TO
that are partially down. the chimneys and cornces
also; the buildings that have settled In the earth TO
distance that is measured by feet, not inches; then
let him go inside OF buildings that 0utwardly show
no sign of injury, and look at the partition walls,
strained and twisted, with plastering cracked and
broken or and say il ten times the sum named Will
put the city back In the condition 1t was one week
ago. Less than S3000,000 will restore 1t, as II Is
paint are the order of the day, and repairs GOD
save the mark are being made that are not only ds
graceful, but actually criminal There are b-re
hundred buildings and more, which, ND they
been racked by an earthquake in Euro,ie, would
have been barricaded and then torn down, il not
by their owners, by the au!horteS,. But with us
1t Is different; every man does az, he pleases and
sets trap that may catch hD.l the next time o
nehVy snake comes.
The local press, with q few creditab!e exceptions,
are trying, OF course. to simmer the affair down to
the smallest possible figures, until II you keep on
reading and believing y0n Will begin to think 1t was
not much OF shower after all The Alta IL rich and
all its interests are here, and the Alto was never
known to tell the truth when 1t connicted with its
interests The people here know this and don't be-
heve what II says but the Bulletin Is known to be
sho 81 an av be mark ann tas ms
ments correct; bat they forget that the Bulletin is
also rich and desires TO become more so, hence they
Ia hui
so small an amount OF damage Is proclaimed by that
usually careful and reliable Journal the paper par
To 60 on and give you a list OF all the buildings
that are damaged would take more space than one
gave only five lines to each. If 1t were possible
would y send you the actual cost when the whole
for cheap as it is being done, people won't tell what
1t has cost them. II they were insured against
they would but as ~ tins case
selves as close as possible, for such Is human
nature.
No truer picture OF the condition OF population
on last Wednesday morning has yet been drawn, and
to read the above will enable you to sec US as we
been spoken to fifty times in regard to that despatch
Of the Chamber OF Commerce, and In every instance
leve that those who sent il are now convinced Of the
fact, and would withdraw 1t II that were possible
and substitute one nearer the mark. They erred in
good cause, with desire to allay panic abroad
an error OF Judgment, however, whch should be
passed over without further comment.
IN THE COUNTRY.
The people from the vicinity OF Haywards about
twenty miles southeast Of US claim tnat there the
rtenced 1t In such force there would scarcely be one
stone upon another in San francisco. 1t must have
been terribly severe with them; the destruction of
property was more In proportion than In any place
we have heard from, and the surrounding country
they say shows how ravaging It must have been
among the hills. Great chasms In the earth have
been found, enotmous ROCKS have been thrown
vusion as seldom occurs here or elsewhere.
To give everything from those points where the
shock was felt would take too much space; but
/ may as wen add that beyond the points nataed II
appeared to lose Its violence.
..Did you feel that shak aS is now the question
frst asked by every one on meeting friend. This
has taken the place OF slows your scabf' which
quake, shock rembe, shake, shiver, culver, convul-
sion &c, are words heard more than any Others and
what we have passed through and are still occasion
ally experiencing Is the all-absorbing topic OF con-
versation. We have been demoraized, and have not
recovered yet When we have win let you know.
from q doorway and cry "earthquaken and they win
raise comm9ton hard to allay; The slightest trem;
cause many to start aud send others into the street,
believing II to be genuine trember. great many
have not vcptured to bed but have thrown them
selves on lounge partially dressed IN order TO be
ready for run out OF the door or jump out OF the
window.
There is one indication OF an Improvement, how
ever-that IL, that men are again taking to politics.
de repapican ,9rcniya, procession being as wen
with people to witness 1t as II the surface OF the
EARN had never been CONFUSED In this direction.
There are rum0rs however, that O strong effort
Will be made 10 remove business from where II now
is ION the filed In portion Of the clty) to flrner
ground. THIS must ami Will be done eventually, but
II will take o very long time unless these strong
earthquakes follow In rapid succession II does not
look safe TO have SO much of value insecure
foundation; SO much capital where y Is liable to
sink out OF sight or be swallowed up, and business
men will think so after while and 90 to where
there IL surer footing. Piles such a. one will lind
Ia the Bank OF California are al right but such as
are under It, even II a. thick they can be driven,
Will rot In time and render what was once sound
very insecure. II is pity, subject San Francisco
is 10 earthquakes, that any portion Of the bay was
reclaimed for building purposes; there was room
enough without IL, and people begin TO think so
when TO change would be bitter aud expensive pill
to swallow.