Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-04-18

Francisco journals of the 3lst ult.:
VIsALIA. March 80, 1872,
By the arrival at 2 pm, OF Col
onei Chas. Whipple, by the stage, direct
from Lone Pine, | am enabled to for
ward the particulars Of what is undoubt-
edly the most destructive earthquake,
considering the theater of the damage,
which has ever been experienced in the
United States, and, probably, for great
number of years anywhere on this CONT
nent. The shock occurred at 2.25 a. M,
of Tuesday, 26th. and, so far as Lean
learn, Lone Pine was pretty near the
initial point of the disturbance. Judge
SO, at least, from its being the point
where the agitation was most violent
and the greatest damage done.
A SURVIVORS EXPERIENCE.
Colonel Whipple is the only person
who has yet arrived here from the Owens
River Valley since it occurred, and he
has been interviewed ever since. He
was sleeping in a two-story abode house,
up stairs, when the earthquake
occurred. He sprang out of bed, caught
his pants, and had proceeded about ten
feet into the hall when he was thrown
upon his back, the walls and the ROOT
coming right down upon him, and he
was knocked momentarily insensible.
As he went down with the crash of the
building. he says: L thought of my
wife and children, and then this is
DEATH" AS soon as he came to, and
was able to dig out from the ruins, he
went down the street to the center Of the
town, where the most appalling sight
awaited him. Fifty-two houses were
thrown down, and fifty-four persons, OF
more than one-sixth OF the population OF
the town, were buried beneath the ruins.
The cries of those who were crushed in
the fallen buildings were borne upon the
clear mountain air with terrible distinct
ness, and struck terror and dismay to
the hearts of the relatives and friends
who we're more fortunate and had es-
capped. The most terrible upheavals
were still going on, threatening every
second to destroy the few houses that
were still standing. The citizens imme-
diately commenced the work of remov'
inc the shattered and wrecked structures
to liberate those who we're only wounded
and find the dead. 1t is horrible to have
10 saw that at this fearful time, when the
air was rent with the shrieks of the suf.
fering and dying, there were some SO
base as to carry on the work of robbery
and pillage.
Yet, such is the case. A man who
had been sleeping, Ybacito, a buteher
escaped with his life, while his compan'
i'm was killed at his side, and he stole
oil fbe money and valuables of his dead
friend before he left him. The effect OF
the heartrending calls Of survivors
%Ob where is my wifep "Oh, where
= NV brotherw "0h, where are my
chiIdrenr "Help me find my child
renTi-may be better imaginad than de
seribed. Every man who was able tc
stand worked at digging them out wher
ever there were cries for help, until long
after daylight
FIRE broke out in Mr.. Loomis store
beneath which there was known to be
stored powder, but Mr.. Covington, Mr.,
LYMAN. aad others, at imminent peril ol
their lives. worked at the fire until II
was subdued and the danger o. an ex
DlOSlOn was dNtINCus AhS =
enc went on until nine o clock, at which
hour twenty-three cofins had been con
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS dead bodies wer'
prepared for their final rest in the trou
bled earth. Thirty of the wounded hac
been extricated and cared for, OF whom
Il is feared that FIVE may yet die; Col
Whipped says Mr.. Goldman told him
about six am. he had counted thre'
hundred and sixty-one separate and dis
t;nct shocks. There we're four disuncl
kind of shocks. =
The effect of one he describes as it an
enormous monster, situated exactly be
meath the town, had been exploded and
came up almost to their feet with a dul
tbud. and. as it reached the surface pro
duced a terrific vibration; another was
ouick, violent oscillation Of the earth
without any noise or sign but Its mo
ton; the third was preceded by sounS
( like the long roll which drums beat De
fore battle. Then the noise died out an an'
he chill came on. The fourth was lik'
two hupdred FOUNDER Parrot pre-