The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-04
SHAKEN UP.
Particulars of the Recent Earthquake In
California.
Gsan Francisco Chron,cleI

California.
lSan Francisco Chroniclel
Probably the severest earthquake felt i'm
this city since the great one In 1868 occur
red yesterday afternoon. II was perceptible
in all parts OF the city, but varied in the
effect II produced in different localities.
On the made ground from Montgomery
street to the bay it was most violent; on
the hills 1t was felt less severely. being
only gentle rocking motion. On the bay
there was sudden swell, which was felt
on all the vessels and especially on the fer
ry-boats. There weretwo distinct shocks, at
an interval OF half an hour The vibration OF
both was from northeast to southwest. The
| first shock consisted OF three tremors-the
| first was an upheayal, the second a settling
back, and the third AWAY vibration. The
| first tremOr was the most violent. The
second shock occurred at 5:1J O'Clock, and
consisted OF short vibrations, which seemed
to come from opposite directions and clash
together. The first shock continued eight
seconds, and the second, although not so
violent, was much longer in duration, last
ing fully fifteen seconds.
| The earthquake was the theme OF con-
versation last evening in homes and i'm pub
| lie places. Every one IN the hotels was
discussing 1t, and those who arrived in the
city yesterday were especially excited by 1t.
As nearly as could be learned the shocks
were felt with greatest violence in the great
business blocks on Market street below
Montgomery, and in the old City Hall and
the Western Union building. At the latter
| place the entire battery in the telegraph
rooms was shaken up and the acid in the
1000 cups spilled on the floor. Ii the
shock had been trifle more severe it would
| have completely destroyed the batteries.
As it was. the connections between the
cups held them together, and 9uaran-
teed them from being thrown over.
Telegraphic communication was not Sc
riouSv interrupted. The telegraph wires
along Montgomery street, which are about
six inches apart, clashcd together in their
vibrations. The rickety old City Hall was
perhaps shaken up more than any other
building i'm the city. The windows rat
tied, the floors trembled. the walls shook.
The police officers at once started for the
streets to arrest the disturber, but he was
not to be found. An officer who was stand
ing on Merchant street at the doorway OF
the polce-station, talking to a gentleman,
was thrown forward four feet, and fell
against his companion. Judge Ferral left
his courtroom without much ceremony.
A great deal OF damage was done to
number OF buildings on Market street.
Marcus G. IIawley'S hardware-Store, on
the corner OF Nam, was cracked from the
ground to the roof. Some OF the rents i'm
the wall were an inch wide. The store OF
Iiolbrook, Merrill & StetSon, on Market
and Bcae, was shaken up and one OF the
walls cracked. The fOundrieS in the neigh
| bOrhOOd OF Main and Beale streets felt the
effects OF the shocks, piles OF frames and
loose material being overturned. The
buildings were reported to the Fire Ward
ems as being made unsafe by the earth
quake.
On the bay high swell suddenly rose,
which broke against the sea wall. PasSen-
gers on the ferries felt a sudden heaying OF
the boats. as though they had been struck
by heavy sea. Sailors on the vessels in
the harbor perceived at once that an un-
usual swell passed over the water.
At ) o'clock yesterday afternoon Il ter
rife earthquake shook Oakland to its
centre, and caused lofty buildings TO rock
like ship in storm. The principal
shock was preceded by very mild trem-
bic, which was followed by low, rum
| bling noise, and then came the grand
climax. So great was the oscillation that
pictures hanging upon the walls Of houses
! two stories in height banged against the
walls like castanets; crockeryware ratified
| off the shelves i'm the closets. and In one
| or two OF the hoaTding-houseS momcntary
pane prevailed The residents OF Oak
! land were in momentary expectation Of
more shocks, but none came during the
| evening.