Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1872-04-27
EARTHQUAKE IN CALIFORNIA

who was at Independence, Invo
County, On the night and a portion
Of the day of the great earthquake,
gives the following description Of
what he experienced and heard:
THE FIRST SHOCK.
He says that on the day preced-
ing the earthquakes a very high
wind prevailed at Independence and
oEer the whole of the valley, but at
night it subdivided and the air be-
came perfectly calm. The first trc-
NOR awakened him, but before he
could spring from his bed it was de-
molished and fell to the floor, and
the center table tumbled over. Ar
ticles Of clothing hanging on hooks
in the room were displaced and fell
to the floor, and the house pitched
and rocked like Il rOw-boat on a
rough sea. The building was a
strong frame one, and was consc-
quentIy not thrown down. He de-
scribes the noise which accompa-
MED the shock as appalling. 1t
seemed as if the mountains which
slirted the valley were breaking up
and rolling into plains below. The
sound was in the air and under their
feet, and its rcverberations through
the tumbIing mountains were as
terrible as the noise itself. lie says
that the first shock was a compound
one, oscilIatory and vertical. He
ran into the street, and in the clear
moonlight saw that every adobe
and brick house was in ruins. The
ground hcavcd and vibrated, and
then us the sound died in its far. off
echoes, those who had escaped from
their crumbling dwellings, sghast,
and almost specchless with terror,
hoped the catastrophy was over
But almost instantly, away to the
south, down the narrow valley to-
ward Lone Pine, was heard a sharp
and laundering explosion as Of Il
thousands columbiadS fred at once.
The people braced themselves for
the shock--nearer and nearer came
the appalling noise. ''and as the shock
advanced, thousands upon thousands
Of huge rocks tumblcd from the
crags on either hand, and crashed
with deaiening din into the ravines
and upon the edges Of the valley
below. Then Came the noises uu-
der their feet, and with it, the awful
sickcning, aud terrifying uplilt and
swing Of the earth. The people
ran to and fro, some screamed, some
prayed, others stood still and
watched the course Of things with
stocal Indifference. They soon
learned that but two persons had
been killed there, and yet none
knew what the end might be, for
the earth vibratcd constantly. AT
short intervals would be heard
away oil, in the direction Of lone
Pine and the lake, that terrible
boom bang. Us if tac very noun.
tains themselves were splitting in
twain. "Look out, boys they
would cry, 'hcrc she comes again"
and come she would. But in cacI
instance they had time to brace
themselves for the advancing shock
Not only did the tens Of thousands
Of rocks and powders rolling down
| thc mountains add to the confusion
Of the scene, but in the Sierra on
one side of the valley, avalanche at:
ter avalanche of snow was sent
laundering, booming, almost scream.
ing down from the regions Of ctcr.
nal frost to the CULTS below.
VOLCANIC PHENOMENA.
People living near independence
at points where they could Sc,
plainly the sides Of the mountain,
on either hand, told him that at ey
cry succeeding shock they could
plainly see in a hundred places al
once, bursting from the rifted rocks
great sheets Of flame apparently
thirty or fifty feet in length, anc
which would coil and lap about ;
moment and then disappear. II,
SAYS these flames could not hay,
been caused by friction of rocks anc
boulders coming down the noun
tains, for in his own ncighborhooC
there We're plenty of these, but NJ
fire was visible. In ono place h,
saw an immense ledge or drift 0
whitencd or broken rocks force,
out of the mountains and fall lik
an immense dump from some min
ing tunnel down its side.
Whom daylight came the entir
valley south Of Independence an,
towards Lone Pine was filled wit
smoke and dust, and in places, pee
pie said, the fumes Of sulphur wer
almost sullocating. The clouds q
smoke extended from Fish Spring
south us far as the eye could reach
Numerous springs We're dried u
instantly, and others broke out i
other places, while the flow of waite
from all was greatly increased. |
one little stream three or four incl
cs deep, the water was thrown up
ward to the height of two or thre
feet over foot bridges. A man ha
several RATS, moCred in the rive
near independence, laden with lun
ber, and each one was thrown o
the banks high and dry. Mr.. Dig
gins saw springs Of water forced OF
of the mountains where before th
rocks had been dry as Il powde
house. From the time of the fir
shock until daylight, the noises an
shocks were incessant.
LEAVING TIE COUNTRY.
{ At daybreak several parties an
himself took the stage from tht
place for Aurora. Still tho shocl
continued some were so heavy TIL
t. they were felt in the stage by Il
! passengers, and the undor-grom