National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-04-19

The INYO (CAL.) EARTHQUAKE.
Our California exchanges devote
much space to accounts of the late
fearful earthquake in InyO county,
dwelling ut length on the various
phenomena observable prior, during
and subsequent to the shocks. The
day preceding the earthquake q
high wind prevailed over the whole
valley, but ut night subsidized, and
was then succeeded by perfect
calm. The noise or the shock is de.
scribcd as appalling. 1t seemed,
says an eye witness at Independence.
Gas if the mighty noun ans skirt
ing the valley were breaking up and
rolling into plains belOw--the sound
was in the air and under the earth,
and its reverberations through the
tumbling mountains were az terrific
AS the noise itself" The first shock
is also said to have been both Oscil
lating and vertical. The ground
heaved and vibrated, and then, as
the awful sound died in its far Off
echoes, the inhabitants who had es.
capped from their crumbling houses
aghast with fright heard away to
the south, down the valley toward
Lone Pine, a sharp and laundering
explosiO1 as of a thousand columbi.
ads fred at once. Nearer Ond near
cr came the appalling noise, and as
the shock advanced, thousands up
on thOsands Of huge rocks tulnbled
from the crags on either hand and
crashed with deafening din into the
ravines and npon the edges of the
valley below. Then came the noise
under their feet, and with it, the aw-
full, sickening and terrifying uplift
and swing of the earth.
The same eye. witness says in con.
tiEuatiOn Of the narrative:
"Thc people ran to and fro, some screamed,
| some prayed, others stood still and watched
! the course Of things with stoical Indifference.
| They soon learned that but one or two persons
had been killed there, and yet none knew what
| the end might be, for the earth vibratcd cou-
SANITY. At intervals would be heard away off
In the direction of Lone Pine and the Lake
| that terrible boom bang rs II the very noun
tains themselves We're splitting in twain
| Look out, boys they would cry, here she
| comes again aud come she would. But in
| each instance they had time to brace them
selves for the advancing shock. Not only did
tens Of thousands of rocks and bouldders roll
lug down The mounts aims add to the confusion
of the scene, but in the Sierras, on one side OF
the valley, avalanche after avalanche of snow
was sent laundering, booming, almost scream
ing down from the regions of eternal frost and
| ice to the CULTS below.
At every succeeding shock. we
are told, great sheets of flame could
he seen bursting from the rifted
rocks in the mountain sides on either
hand, which would coil and lap
about for a moment and then disap
pear. When daylight came the en-.
tire valley south Of Independence
and toward Lone Pine was filled
with smoke and dust, and in places,
people said, the fumes of sulphur
were almost sutfocating. The clouds
of smoke extended from Fish
Springs south as far as the eye
could reach. From the time of the
first shock till daylight the noises
and shocks we're incessant.
The shocks continued the next
day, though much feebler. and un.
dergrOund noises we're insessant.-
May of the inhabitants believed
that the last great day had come,
and all were deeply affected by fear.
Almost numberless incidents are re.
lated by the interior journals, and
many strange and hair.breadth es.
capeS are told.