St. Paul daily globe., 1892-04-20
A Trembling. Pulsating Earth
quake Heaves Heavily Un-
der California.
Two Hundred Miles of Terri
tory Shaken So That Big
Buildings Fell.
By a Seeming Miracle Not a
Single Death Resulted in
Any Place.
Scores Of Business Blocks
Crumbled TO Debris
Heavy Losses.

SAN FRANCISCO, April l9.-The
heaviest earthquake experienced in
California since 1868 occurred shortly
before 3 O'Clock this morning. The
country within 200 miles of San Fran
cisco was visited by shock which
varied in intensity at different points.
In this city a number Of large buildings
trembled perceptibly, but the only one
to sustain damage was the old church
building, which until lately had been
occupied by the Academy of Sciences.
the front wall OF which gave way. tear
ing away the balconies.
The town of Vacaville, situated in the
heart OF the beautiful Vaca valley. sixty
five miles from San Francisco. was the
center of the seismic disturbance. Vac
ayllle IS town OF 100 population, and
on its main street were number of
brick buildings. These were all either
badly damaged or totally destroyed. as
well as a number of brick residences in
the town and vicinity. Many OF the
walls fell outward into the street, which
was filled with debris, but which work
men at once began to clear away.
Walls Were Fraii.
Many of the walls were of frail char
ae,er. and succumbed easily to the
shock. Very slight damages occurred
10 frame houses. The only person in
Vacaville or vicinity reported seriously
injured was Rev. o. o. Felkner, of San
Jose, who was struck by falling debris
and sustained severe cuts and bruises.
Several persons had narrow escapes
from injury.
Dixon and Winters, towns of about
1000 inhabitants, located respectively
northeast and northwest of Nacav:llr,
aud within few miles. Of the latter
place, were also scenes of considerable
destruction. The Masonic hall at Dixon,
n two-story brick block, was ruined, and
its falling walls shattered two adjoining
houses. A fire which broke ont among
the ruins caused some damage at Win
ters, but the danger was lessened by an
abundant water supply.
The house Of John Thittel.s between
VacayilIe and Wipters, was DESTROYED
Ils fire. caused by an overturned lamp.
the occupants barely escaping with their
lives. AT Winters the inhabitants were
for time panic-stricken ewing 20 the
severity OF the shock. Forty guests
were in the two-story Bliss hotel, the
walls OF which collapsed, and the tact
that no one was injured by the eaying
of the walls was remarkable. Old and
new brick sehoolhouses and several
new buildings in Winters were
Cracked and Wrenehed
from the foundations. The banks OF
Putah creek caved In and assures
Z opened in the bottom of the creek.
Three miles west of the town an acre OF
ground slid into the creek and small
assures were made in the county road.
Several great boulders were thrown
from the hillsides at point on the
BerryesO road near Winters, blocking
the roadway. Considerable damage was
done TO isolated farm buildings, but no
serious personal injuries are reported.
The town of Monticello, fifteen miles
from Winters, was at first reported
totally demolished. but gentleman ar
rived from there late this afternoon and
reported the damage nominal.
The losses at Vacaville, owing to the
destruction of buildings and other prop
erty. are estimated at 100000. at Dixon
$4,000, and at Winters nearly 100000
Elmira. Fairfield, Santa Rosa, Wood
land, Davisville and Benicia report
windows and crockery broken and
number or chimneys overturned. Some
thirty or forty towns report trifing
damages, though all accounts agree in
placing the intensity of the shock as
greater than of any in recent years.
The number Of shocks felt differed at
various places. At some points only
one shock was registered, while at 9TH
ers two or even more occurred. The
vibrations extended from north TO south
and from east to west. The single
shock Is generally ascribed as being
most intense, vibrations, where more
than one shock occurred, becoming con-
fused.
The Wreck at VacavIIle.
VACAvILLE, Cal, April l0.-A severe
earthquake shock at $50 this morning
caused serious damage in this city and
vicinity. A number of brick residences
in the country were shattered and some
occupants injured. but none fatally.
All the brick business blocks in the city
are seriously injured, representing in
most instances almost total loss. The
Odd Fellows building collapsed; loss,
$4,000. There were number OF offices
and stores in the building, and several
of the occupants had narrow escapes.
The bank building suffered only slight
damage.
The Masonic hall is total loss. A
general merchandise store occupied the
first floor. Rail Benefits two-story
brick building collapsed, the walls fall
ing on the small building of Mrs. Moore
adjoining, imprisoning Horace Patton
and Thomas Rogers. sleeping in the
building, but they were rescued with
serious injuries. Only one wall of Ben
nett's building remained standing. His
loss is 81, 900. The Walker building. oc-
cupied by druggist and a matchmaker,
was badly damaged.
The Platte block. occupied by the
postoffice and Vaca Valley Enterprise
newspaper was almost totally destroyed.
The residence of Fred Hutton is total |
loss. Many wooden buildings were
rocked and Injured. The brick resi- |
dences of g. NJ. Gates In Lagoon valley, |
and the brick residence of DR.. Dobbins, |
near town, were badly wrecked. Rev. |
o. D. Felkner, OF San Jose, was injured |
seriously. The electric light wires are
down and the water mains are wrenched |
and leaking. A large force OF men are
clearing the streets and pulling down
threatening ruins. The total damage
will be large.
Flames at Dixon.
DIXON, Cal, April 19.-An earth
quake early this morning did consider
able damage to DiAon, and was accom-
panied by fire. The Masonic hall, a fine
two STORY brick building on Main street,
was so seriously damaged it Will have to
be taken down. John Dugan's dry
goods store, located in brick building,
was crushed in by the falling fire wall
OF the Masonic building, while the north