Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-09-16
THE EARTHQUAKE SEASON CALI.
EORNlA.

was aheaNy snock OF earthq uake on the 12th
instant al San LOUIS Obispo, California. and
Hight shock at Sacramento. San Luis Oospe
Is 2OO miles southeast, and Sacramento l2O miles
northeast of San Francisco. For the past
month the people of California have been
dreading an earthquake. The atmosphere has
been sultry and filled with q smoky haze the
conditions usually noted there previous to
earthqnake-shocks. The favsrite Pacific coast
theory in regard 70 earthquakes is that they
proceed not from internalIcony ulsions but from
magnetic disturbances following upon a dry
seasons and II has been predicted that an earth
quake would take place early this autumn. as
soon as moist clouds should float into the dry,
yAporless atmosphere. Sure enough there has
been rain tall within a few DAYS in portions
OF Calfornia, rather an unusual occurrence in
that State where the rains do not commonly
commence until November; and now we hear
of an earthq uake there.
The Calitornians do not like to admit that
the crust is so thin between them and the in
1ernal regions that they are likely to be swaI.
lowed up at any moment. They prefer to
have II believed that the earthquakes of the
Pacinc coast are mild atmospheric affairs,
rather adding to the interest and attractive.
ness OF the country than otherwise true
blue San Franciscan or "Friscan," will assert
that real estate increased in value the next
day after the earthquake OF 1S6.. 1t certainly
rose the same day. The Valleians and BE.
nicians, up-bay rivals of the Friscans how.
ever, mahciously assert that the latter to do
away with the bad impression, and lest for.
eign capitalists should withdraw their invest
ments in San Francisco as too sh1Ey sold ont
city lots and bought them in themselves at
high prices for effect.
The recent earthquake-shocks do not seem
to have been felt in San Francisco, but usually
thew have dOpa
Wnere In California, owing TO the fact that
mucn OF the city is built upon made land,
winch uembles like jelly under an earth
quake The heaviest and most calamitous
eartnquake known on the California coast
since Its settlement occurred ON the 2Is, of
october last. The first shock, which was the
heaviest, at San Francisco, was felt at seven
minutes before O'Clock a. m, and lasted forty.
two seconds. The direction of the undulations
was from southeast TO northwest, add they in
creased in violence up to the time they closed
Tall buildings swayed to and fro: csil,ngs
tumoied down. the walls of houses cracked
ana IN some instances fell; and none I'm,
strongly constructed ecIfiees, in parts
OF the city least affected, escaped
INJURY. Five persons were killed by falling
walls and ehimneys, and many were i'm iureJ
rev structures erected on the made portion of
tne city escaped injury. The ground sunk in
some portions OF the city and rose in others.
In many places it opened, and il is stated ina,
not ar and water issued from these openings.
4nere was an appearance in some places as n
the pavement had been blown ND with powder
Inc asphaltum sidewalks were twIsted and
TORN out OF all shape. The City HALL Post
Omce, and Custom House were badly iniured
The walls OF the City Hall were split in every
direction, and many of the stones in the from,
wall fell out. Twelve other shocks occurred
during the day, but none equalIed the first in
intensity The effects of this earthquake were
feis IN other parts OF California At San Lean.
gro tne Court-Hcuse was thrown down; at
Redmond the large brick Courthouse was
made a complete wreck
On the 23d of October another severe shock
was felt In San Francisco. occurring ata15a
m People in their night clothes ran into tia
streets In great alarm, but no serious damage
was done.
The year 1855 was noted for the number the
widespread distribution and the Destructive
effects OF the earthquakes which occurred. Tia
entire loss of life by the earthquakes in South
America IN august OF that year has been
estimated at $4,000 persons; and the yalue ot
the property destoyed at SSJOOOO,OGO. In
HAWAII, one OF the Sandwich Islands, there
was also great destruction of life and propertv
py an earthquake in connection with an
eruption from the great volcano Mouna Loa
during twelve days, commencing March p.
there were 1900 shocks, followed at intervals
bY powerful tidal waves, destroying villages
and large numbers of their inhabItants
Ii Is estimated that twelve or thirteen earth.
quakes occur every year, and IL is well known
That the surface OF the globe il never free from
slight tremors or shakings in some quarter
Among the phenomena noted in connection
Win earthquakes are irregularities in the
seasons, sudden gusts OF winds interrupted by
sudden Gains, violent rains at unusual seasons
or IN coun-ries where such phenomena are
almost Unknown, a redde nlr z OF the suns disc
ahd a hazlness IN the sir often coatinued for
EOL'hsi but II seems doubtful if there is good
feascr Tor believing these phenomena have any
real connection with the earthq uake. In severe
earthquakes the almost inyariabIe succession
CT phenomena is first trembling, then a seyers
snOeN or succession of shocks, and then a
trembling. gradually becoming insensible. or
the val ious theories as to the nature of earth.
quskes, the most satisfactory is that produced
py the brothers Rogers, who consider the pro
oucing cause as an actual pulsa ion in the fiuid
matter beneath the crust Of the earth propa.
gated In the manner of great waves O: transIa-
uOn from enormous ruptlres caused by tension
OF elastic matter. and floating forwards on its
surface, the superimposed rocky crust OF the
earth.
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