The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-11-09
rae Earthquake In California,
Y A .newspaper corrAfponasnt wrltlng ~rDln
California gives the following graphic account
&c tho 90 rthnnake in that State

y newspaper cofrAspondent writing from
California gives the following graphic account
of the earthquake in that State. a
I was sitting at breakfast with my wife,
children and mother-in-law, when the first
occurred. My wife nervously asked, Whats
that?" replied that 1t was heavy wagon
passing, but glance showed me that no vehi-
Gle was near. I had hardly spoken when the
second and heavier shock came, and my wife,
with the most intense fear pictured on her
face, shrieked that it was an earthquake. Then
came the third shock, and they all shrieked
in fear and mental agony. Nv wife cried that
the wall was opening. She had seen cracs
in the plaster separate for about an inch. For
second or two | was completely unnerveu
and helpless, but then partially regalne9 Iay
composure, and, putting my arms arounu .ns
women, / shouted that there was no uausel d.
all-let the q rtbouake be bad as it might, as
we wore IN a frame-house My wife said that
tbere was as she thought the earth was OPEN
inc / replied that that was impossible, as
knew we were upon good ground, and not up
ON one of the many swamps of the city which
had been covered over. While / was quieting
and directing their attention to heaven and its
preserving care, each seconds shock became
stronger than its predecessor, and with each
the shrIeks OF the women and chi dren grew
worse. These and The fear of the dreadful
phenomenon which was upon us, actually
made my flesh creep. 1t was such look in
my wife's face that first unnerved me. Fipal-
ly, IN much less time than it has taken TO tell
this, the last and strongest undulatlon occur
red. When the shocks ceased, all OF the com,
pany but myself were weak that they could
not stand, and indeed was weak enough m
self though it was necessary for me to show a
| calmness which did not feel. We found that
everybody had rushed to the streets the place
| of greatest danger. My family would have
hurried out OF the house also had l not re-
strained them. There were four persons kill
ed, all OF whom lost their lives by running out
of doors.
OF all the terrible experiences which human
nature can undergo, by far the most dreadful
| is an earthquake. 1t suggests the coming o
the last day, with all the terrible convulslon:
| OF nature, which are prophAsied will accompa
| ny it. In fire, storms, and whlrlwinds mt
| matter how dreadful they may be-man can d.
something, and still feels his power; but in al
earthquake he has no power; he can do moth
| ing whatever, except stand or run, petrifiet
with fear feeling, indeed ,as if he would actual.
| melt with terror. Here in San Francisco tea
| sprang not so much from the damage done b!
| the earthquake, as the recollection OF VIVA
| they had done in other places and our ute
| want of knowledge OF where ours might stop.
Business was generally suspended; ever.
| body was in'the streets, especially in the lowe
| the business portion of the city, where th
| ground is most unsafe, the reefs narrowest
| and where there are the Oldest and worst bull
| brick buildings. If we had been visited abou
! noon by shock as heavy as that of the morning
the loss OF life would have been great. People
apparently, could not bear to be alone. Dealt
| in Il crowd did not seem to have the terror tba
solitary safety had. About IL o'clock Sigh
shock occurred; 1 wasin Merchant street Their
| above Montgomery, opposite one of the oldes
and most unsafe buildings in the city. Whe
the shake was felt, every body, apparently
broke for the street, to the place of the creates
danger 1 stood in the doorway of my plac
of business-I was then quite calm-and watch
Il cd runninO like Shaap wIfhOut knnwID
where they were going. A BARRIERS shop
opposite, and a man who was about to be shaw
ed flew out of il with his face lathered wit
soap. When the scare was over evwybod
roared with laughter at him. u
The man who says he can feel an earthquak
without fear is either fool or liar. 1t snake
all courage cut of one.