The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-04-12
The Earthquake In California.

By the arrival. at 2 P. NJ, of Colonel
Charles Whipple, by the stage direct
from Lone Pine, T am enabled to for
ward the particulars of what is undoubt-
edly the most destructive earthquake,
considering the theatre of the damage,
which has ever been experienced in the
United States, and probably for great
number of years anywhere on this oon-
tinent. The shook occurred at twenty
five minutes past 2 A. NJ, of Tuesday,
the 26th, and, so far as I can learn.
Lone Pine was pretty near the initial
point Of the disturbance. Judge 80, at
least, from its being the point where the
agitation was most violent and the great
est damage done.
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 two story adobe
house, up stairs, when the earthquake
occurrod. He sprang out of bed, caught
his pants, and had proceeded about ten
feot into the hall, when he was thrown
upon his back, the walls and the roof
coming right down upon him, and he
was knocked momentarily insensible.
AS he went down with the crash of the
building. he says, II 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 centre of the town,
where the most appalling sight awaited
him. Fifty-two houses were thrown
down, and fifty-four persons, or more
than one-sixth of the population of the
town, were buried beneath the ruins.
The cries Of those who we're crushed in
the fallen buildings were borne out
upon the clear mountain mir with terrible
distinctness, and struck terror and dis
may to the hearts of the relatives and
friends who were more fortunate and
had escaped. The most terrible up
heavals were still going on, threatening
every second to destroy the few houses
that were still standing. The citizens
Immediately commenced the work of re-
moving the shattered and wrecked
structures to liberate those who were
only wounded and find the dead. It is
horrible to have to say that Mt this fear
full time, when the air was rent with
shrieks of the suffering 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 was sleeping,
Yoacito, butcher, escaped with his life,
while his companion was killed at his
side, and he stole all tho money and
valuables on his dead friend before he
left him. The effect of the heart-rend-
ing calls of survivors-"Oh, where is my
wife?" "Ob, whereis my brother?" "Oh,
where are my ohildren?" "Help me to
find my childrenl"- may be better ina
gined than described. Every man who
was able to stand, worked at digging
them out wherever there were cries for
help, until long after daylight.
A fire broke out in Mr.. LOOMS store,
beneath which there was known to be
powder stored, but Mr.. Covington, Mr..
Lyman and others, at imminent peril of
their lives, worked at the fire until it was
snbdued, and the danger of IN explo-
sion was averted. The work of rescue
went on till 8 o'clock, ut which hour
twenty-three coffins were constructed
twenty-three dead bodies were prepared
for their final rest in the troubled earth.
Thirty of the wounded had been extri-
Gated and cared for, of whom, it is
feared, five may yet die. Col. NYhipple
says Mr.. Goldman told him, about 6 A.
NJ, that he had counted 36l separate and
distinct shoclls. There were four dis.
tinct kinds OF shocks. The effect of one
he describes as if on enormous monster
shell, situated exactly beneath the town,
had been exploded aud came up almost
to their feet with dull thud, and as it
reached the surface produced terrific
vibration; another was quick, violent
oscillation Of the earth. without any
noise or sign but its motion; the third
was preceded by sound like the long
roll which drums beat before battle.
Then the noise died out and the chill
came on. The fourth was like 200
FOUNDER Parrott, fired from mountain
side. the noiso seeming to scale the
mountains to their base, and when this
passed over terrific trembling COM
menced. The profoundest sympathy is
felt here for the sufferers. a meeting of
our citizens is now being held ut the
Graham House, and about $3.50 have
already been subscribed, and provisions,
blankets. &C., will be at once forwarded.
Everything in the town was destroyed
that was perishable, such ms food and all
the goods in the stores. I send you a
list Of the killed and wounded, and also
tho proceedings of n meeting held by