Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-04-21
THE EARTH SHOOK.
This Time It YVES Within 400 Miles
of San Francisco.
yACAVILLE, DIXON and WINTERS.
These Towns Suffered Considerably, tho
Total Losses IIavIng Been Estimated
at s25O, 900 Other Places Re
port some Damage Done.

DAN fRANCiSCO, April 2u.-ln ne neaVl-
est earthquake experienced in California
since 1868 occurred shortly before 3
o'clock yesterday morning. The coun-
try within 200 miles of San Francisco
was visited by shock which varied in
intensity at different points. In this
city number of large buildings
trembled perceptibly, but the only one
to sustain damage was the old church
which until lately had been occupied
by the academy of sciences, the front
wall of which gave way, tearing away
the balconies.
The town of Vacaville in the heart
of the beautiful Vaca valley, sixty miles
from here, was the center of the dis
turbancc. Vacaville is a town of 2,7Oo
people and on its main street were u
number Of brick buildings
They were all either badly damaged
or totally destroyed, as well as a num-
Der of brick residences in the town and
vicinity. Many Of the walls fell out
ward into the street which was filed
with debris, but which worlsmen at once
began to clear away. Many of the walls
were of frail character and succumbed
easily to the shock. Very slight dam
ages occurred TO frame houses. The
only person in Vacaville or vicinity re-
ported seriously injured was Rev. o. o.
FellSner, of San Jose, who was struck
by falling debris and sustained severe
bruises. Several persons had narrow
escapes from injury.
Dixon and Winters, towns of about
1000 Inhabitants, located respectively
northeast and northwest of Vacaville
and within n few miles of the latter
place, were also scenes of considerable
destruction. The Masonic hall at
Dixon, two story brick block,
was ruined and its falling walls
| shattered the two adjoining
houses. A fire that broke out caused
some danger at Winters, but the dan
ger was lessened by an abundant water
supply. The house of John Il. Hiffel,
near Vacaville, was destroyed by fire,
caused by an overturned lamp, the &C.
cupants barely escaping with their lives.
At Winters the inhabitants were for
time panic stricken, owing to the
severity of the shock. Forty guests
were in the Bliss house at Winters, the
walls of which collapsed, but no one
was injured. The brick school house
and several brick houses In Winters
were cracked and wrenched from the
foundations. The banks of Pulah
creek caved in and assures
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 iso-
lated farm buildings, but no serious
personal injuries are reported.
The town of Monticello, seventeen
miles from Winters, was at first report
ed totally demolished, but gentleman
arrived from there reports the damage
nominal.
Losses at Vacaville, owing TO the de-
struction of buildings and other prop
erty, are estimated at 800, 900, at Dixon,
$50, 900 and Winters 100000. Elmira,
Fairfield, Santa Rosa, Woodlands, Da-
visville and Benicia report windows and
crocltery broken and u number of chin
neys overturned Some thirty or forty
towns report triAing damages, though
all accounts agree in placing the inten-
sity of the shock as greater than any in
recent years.
The number Of shocks felt differed
at various places. At some points only
one shock was registered, while at
others 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.