The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-22
Tho San Francisco Earthquake.

dation Of the party pressa
Tho San Francisco EarthqualSs.
Yesterday morning at seven minutes before
eight o'clock the great seaport Of our western
coast, San Francisco, was visited by terrible
earthquake. All that portion Of the city east
Of Montgomery street is greatly dilapidated,
while not single building in the Golden City
but has suffered more or less damage. The
full extent of the calamity cannot,
OF course, be SO soon known, although
one despatch states that q million dollars will
cover it all; but numbers Of lives are known
to be lost. Some buildings in the made part
of the city sunk depth Of several inches, and
cracks were made out OF which columns of
water were shot up many feet Business was
suspended and intense excitement prevailed,
and the whole population betook themselves to
the streets All the clocks were stopped
at the hour mentioned above, and the
telegraph wires ceased their working during
the shocks. We are surprised that no sea
bore accompanied the shocks; had such
visitor entered the Golden Gate the damage
to the shipping would have been incalculable.
One account states that the vibrations of
this earthquake were from northwest to south
east, whereas another affirms that they were
from east to west. The two accounts
differ but two minutes as to the hour Of the
shocks. If we accept the notion that obtains
in South America, that earthquakes are felt
only in the regions of volcanoes or Immediately
connected Herewith, it would seem more
likely that the shocks came from north
west than from east. Several volcanic
vents are known to occur along the
coast range, but their size, in comparison
with those of Peru and Ecuador, would not
warrant so great shock as the one yesterday
morning. We make these remarks to call the
attention of the scientific men resident in San
Francisco to the thorough investigation Of this
calamity and its probable origin. Let our
army and navy officers especially take the
matter in hand. Both corps have done noble
service in the cause of science, and here is
chance for adding new lustre to the regular
army and navy. Earthquakes have been COM
mon for centuries in other countries, and yet
we know nothing Of their causes. Let not the
American sGvans wait 80 long. At all events,
get the authentic data while the event is fresh.
Seymour % tho Rescue-SaIting tho Birds.
The case is desperate and Seymour himself
is called to the rescue. He made . little
speech last night ut Syracuse, where he stopped
g. T. .soy, ko fho
democratic gospel mildly. He hoped that
whoever shall win in this political struggle the
result may be such as to elevate and restore
the honor of our gOvernment-evidently re-
garding such onsequence as possible, even
If Grant be elected. This is 40 mild that peo-
drawn But that cannot be, as he is to 60 on
with his stamping. He will be at Buffalo this
evening" and thence will stump it to the end Of
the battle, striking out boldly from Buffalo into
Pennsylvania to rouse up the sluggish democ-
racy in that quarter. His great strength is on
the finances; but whether he will henccforward
take the side of the ''bloated bondholders." as
he did the day before the meeting of the Tam
many Convention, or go the whole Pendleton
and Ben Bntler greenback theory Of the Tam
many platform, we cannot tell. It seems to be
understood that General Blair is to keep out
of sight of Seymour, and, according to Bel
monts proclamation, being entirely ignored
therein, Blair is expected to be of or
he mum NUNS s the word. General. You
have already said as much as the Governor
can nnsav this aide the election and III Won nile
on more be will have to give il up as a hope
less job. Remember. democrats, Seymour in
the foreground and Blair in the background.
Keep him back and keep him still. He
breaches the democratic gospel, but he scares
of the shy republicans. Seymour is the boy
TO put salt on the birds tails, for that Is the
way to catch them. And 80 he has gone forth
by way Of the Syracuse Salt Works for good
supplv of salt