The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-04-20
CALIFORNIA SHAKEN
The Severest Earthquake Since
1868 Experienced.
vACAgILLE THE SEISMIC CENTRE
Many Buildings Badly Damaged-No Fatal-
ities-Huge Bou.ders Rolled Down from
the Mountains-People Panic Stricken.

SAN Francisco, April 19.-The heaviest
earthquake experienced in California since
1868 occurred shortly before o'clock this
morning. The country within geo miles of
San Francisco was visited by shock which
varied in in intensity at different points.
In this city large number of buildings
trembled percebtibly, only one sustaining
serious damage, the old church building,
which until lately was occupied by the
academy OF sciences; the front wall gave
way, tearing away the balconies.
The town of Vacaville, situated in the
beautiful Vaca valley, sixty-fve miles from
San Francisco, was the centre of the seismic
disturbance. On its main street are a num-
Der of brick buildings. These were all badly
damaged or totally destroyed as well as a
number of brick residences in the town
and vicinity. Many walls fell outwa into
the street, which was filled with debris,
but workmen at once began to clear it
away. Many of the walls were
Of a frail character and succumbed
easily to the snock. Very Slight
damage occurred TO frame houses.
The only person in Vacaville or vicinity
reported seriously injured is Rev. o. o.
falling debris and sustained severe cuts
and bruises. Several persons had narrow
escapes from injury.
Dixon and Winters, towns of about one
thousand Inhabitants, located res pectiyely
to the northeast and northwest of Vaca-
vile and within few miles OF the latter
place, were also the scene of considerable
destruction. The Masonic hall at
Dixon, two-story brick block,
was ruined and It's falling walls
shattered two adjoining houses. A
fire which broke out in the ruins caused
some damage OF Winters but the damages
were lessened by the abundant water sup
ply. The house of John Thiffel, between
| Vacaville and Winters, was destroyed by
! fire, caused by an overturned lamp. The
occupants barely escaped with their lives.
AT Winters the inhabitants for time were
panlc-stricken owing to the severity of the
shock. There were forty guests in the
two-story Bliss hotel at Winters, the walls
OF which collapsed and the fact that
no one was injured is remarkable.
Old and new brick schoolhouses and
several new brick buildings in
Winters were cracked and wrenched
from their foundations. The banks OF
Putah 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 Borryesso road near Winters, block
ing the roadway. Considerable damage
was done to isolated farm buildings, but ne
lserious personal injuries are yet reported
The town OF Monticello, seventeen mile:
| from Winters, at first was reported totally
demolished, but gentleman arriving from
there late this afternoon reported the dam
age nominal. The losses at Vscaville owing
to the destruction of buildings anC
other property is estimated at 100000; a.
Dixon, $4,000; at Winters, $4,000 to $50,
co.. Elmlrs, Fairfield, Santa Rosa, Wood
land, Davisville and Benicia repor
windows and crockery broken and mum
Der of chimneys overturned. Some thirt,
or forty other towns report trifing dam
ages, though all accounts agree in placin!
the intensity of the shock as greater thai
any in recent years The number of shock
felt differed at various places. At som
points only one shock was registered
while Mt others two or even more occurred
The vibrations extended from north an
south and from east TO west. The singI
shock is generally described as being IN
most intense, the vibrations where NOR
than one shock occurred becoming cor
} fused.