Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-26
A TERRIBLE PICTURE.
Vivid Account of the Earthquake in
California.

NAAlEOTnia.
The Commoner publishes private letter
from a lady friend in San Francisco,
giving the most striking account of the
earthquake that recently devastated that
city that we have seen;
l was visiting Mrs. O.'s, friend of ours
She was last week summoned by telegraph
to her dying father 10 New York, and was
making hurried preparations for her voy-
age to commence at IL A. NJ, October %.
On the Dist We arose very early, breakfast
ed, and left the table to take the newspa-
per. Just az | did SO heard no sound,
but felt jerking movement, when Mrs
o. caught my hands, crying out, An
earthquake Come this way" We sprang
toward the back of the house, but had just
reached the dining-rOom door when it be-
came impossible to stand without support.
We Clutched the side Of the door frame
and held on, hesving, tossing, rising and
falling.
The house bells ringing fast and mourn
fully, the pictures swinging to and fro,
now Tapping the walls and then dashIug
forward, the gas fixtures swaying out Of
line, etagerea, china srs and ornaments
falling, crushed on the floors, and still the
bells rang on, quick and sharp, as the
earthquake, second by second, increased in
intensity. Falling chimueys, falling build
ings, we're distinctly heard; twice the
house and all within it were sensibly lift
ed, and dropped. | would have tried to
rush into the street, as was my thought;
but with a strong OBTAINING grasp she held
me, hoarsely crying, "Here, no, here;
lust here it is safest, best"
It seemed that less than minutes seemed
a lifetime. Soo1 Mr.. B. said: "NoS,
now move quick for the yard, the gate,
the street" and hand in hand We started.
The street was filling fast with pale-faced,
horror-stricken people, dressed and I'M
dressed. reached post and Clutched 1t
with strange dying feeling. Some per-
| son dashed cup Of cold water in my face;
breathed more freely, and reached the
house, went into my chamber, which l had
so recently left in false security. The coal
oil lamp was on the floor crushed; Orna-
| ments scattered in fragments; q heavy basin
and pitcher had reached the edge Of the
| marble slab, and stood almost balanced
Enough Of self and my terror in a place
| where death and ruin were accomplished
| in much less time than it takes to write OF
| II. Al half.past ten there Was another, but
much less severe shock, and they have &C.
| Cured at intervals up to this morning at
"A. ~, when we all sprang from our beds.
For the particulars of the City's loss, l
! refer you to the extracts. Business Ii par
| TALLY suspended; pOstotiice and Castom-
| house unsafe; houses with ropes around
| them warn away passengers from their
| yicipage, and many persons are sleeping
| out of doors for fear. California, the land
| of EARTHQUAKES, has seen nothing like this
the giant of them all. Ask Mr.. K. TO
| imagine what has lust OceurTed-JudgCs
| and members of the bar holding an i'm
promptu meeting in the middle of the
street to provide a place for holding the
| sessious of the courts. O0e sentiment
seemed to animate them, which was not to
trust Justice in brick Enclosures. 1t IS
New York May day in San Francisco-s1
many are moving from brick to frame
houses.
l Started for the postofhce, but could not
reach it for the people who filled the
street. The postofice was cracked and
unsafe. The carriage could not penetrate
| the masses already abroad. Photograph
ers we're at work with the almost quaking
houses before them. Magnificent plate
glass windows were shiYered and strewed
the pavements. lost the mail, but Mrs.
F. needed help to be ready for the steamer,
and we drove to a millineI's for steamer
hats. We were in that shop at lO2 O'Clock,
when the second earthquake came. 1t
was an awful sight to look at the lines Of
assembled people on Bush street; crowds
running as wildly up, and others as wildly
down the street, all with fearful looks di.
rected at the houses that might fall and
! crush them as they ran.