The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-09-14
AMERICAN EARTHQUAKES.
Some Facts ana Ltatistics Of Fcrmar
Disturbances.

year, so that the inhabitants of San
Francisco feel regret if one does not
happen when Eastern friends are
them. But there have been
times when earthquakes
in California have been more than
playful, and have shown the hidden
forces of nature with power that
was terrifying. In 1852 the mission
of San Gabriel was totally destroy
ed by an earthvuake. This was
while the gold fever was tits height.
In October, 1868, occurred the heav
lest manifestation of the kind on the
Pacific slope since the American ac
QUESTION. At 1870 A. M. there was
a terrific oscillation in all the little
villages and small towns in Alameda
and adjoining counties lying at the
foot of the Contra Costa range. The
central point appeared to be at Hay
wards. Here small houses were
thrown down, trees of large size were.
twisted and killed, and chimneys
were bent and distorted in the most
varied and peculiar fashions. There
was no wind, but a dead calm; nor
was any rumbling sound heard. The
roads were heaved up and furrowcd
in an extraordinary manner, and the
same phenomenon was repeated over
in San Francisco on the other side.
of the bay. Here no violent oscilla-
ton was felt upon the big hill which
was then called Clay street hill, but
directly below it, on Montgomery
add Kearney streets, between certain
blocks there was great damage. The
bank of California which had recent
ly been built by Ralston in solid
fashion of stone, was surmounted by
a heavy cornice of spelter. This was
detached and thrown upon the side
walk by the violent
OcClllsAItON Or lhG W Aislso.
How great that oscillation was
may be judged by the fact that small
objects like cups and saucers and
glasses we're thrown from tables and
broken on the floor. At that time
the principal hotels were the Occi
dental, Lick House and .Cosmopoli
tan. Pictures vibrated on the walls
so fearfully and the plaster dropped
in such masses from the ceilings
that the guests became terrified, and
many rushed into the corridors in
complete deshabille, too frightened
to dress themselves, and believing
the destruction ofthe city imminent.
At the old mission of San Jose, which
nestless at the foot of Contra Costa,
the old adobe church was complete
| ly wrecked, but it was very old, and
| in tumble-down condition before
the shock. The house of Senor Val
llejo, the brother of General Vallejo,
the well-known California politician,
was badly damaged. 1t was close
to the mission, and also of adobe.
In March, 1872, there was another
severe earthquake. On November
A. 1877, shocks of considerable in
tensity and covering a period of for
!ty seconds were felt in Northern
New York, Massachusetts,, Vermont,
New Hampshire, and Canada. Some
of these were severe. Buildings were
shaken, bells rung, and consldera-
bic minor damage inflicted.
On November Is, 1877, earthquake
shocks were felt over wide area,
comprising Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa,
and Dakota. The shocks were Sc
we're. Buildings were shaken, and
in some instances cracked, but not
thrown down. On the following day
there was a slight shock felt AT
Knoxville, Tenn.
Early on the morning OF October
15, 1878, severe shock was felt
along both sides of the Hudson rivol
from West Point to Peckskiil Il
was
4 LOCAL VISITATION,
however confined to thc bioblan,ls
of the Hudson
On November 30 Of the same yea,
There we're heavy earthouake shocks
Ilost;no ono n;n,,ta and ten seconds
ewtans;ng throngb Tll;no;s indiana
~ and u Ear m south as LITTLE Rock Ark
4 Tbav covered on orea Of 15ll o0(
.n,,aro m;las wa,ls of ho,ses vov,
CRACKED INT mono were ovortbrown
lTb;s v;s;tat;on was mado tbe suh
;cct of axtandod sc;ant;t,,. resoorcb
There Was severe shock fol,
tbro,obont Flo,;do -, tbe ,norn;n.
of IanrarrlA Ie7o +, sor,aof IN,
n - ,.d 4a ~ IL
t;ons were suf,,c;entlr sa,-oro :,
crocl the wolls of hn;id;nrs tbror
crocLer, from sha,vos ond 10 o+ha
i damaoe
o., w., Oh e.,
Of Dol,ota'
| On the morning of January 90
I there was Il slight shock felt in part
of Maine. No damage was done