The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1892-04-23
TOWNS IN RUIN.
One of the Worst EARTHQUAKES
for Years Experienced in
California.
Large Buildings at Many Points
in the State Totally De-
mOlislled.

SAN FRANCISCO. April 20.-The heaviest
earthquake experienced in California since
1868 occurred carly this morning. The
country within 200 miles of San Francisco
was visited by shock which varied in il-
tensity at different points. In this city a
number of large buildings trembled per-
ccptib!y, but the only one to sustain DAM
age was the old church building 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 Nacaville, sixty-ive miles
rom San Francisco, was the center of the
seismic disturbance. Vacaville is town Of
2,7cO population, and on its main street
were numb,r Of brick buildings These
were all either badly damaged or
totally destroyed. as we'll as num-
Der of brick residences in the towa and
vicinity. Many of the walls tell outward
into the street. which was filled with debris,
but which workmcn at once began to clear
away. Many Of the walls were OF frail
character and succumbed easily to the
shock. Very slight damages occurred to
frame houses. The only person in Vaca-
vile or vicinity reported
SERIOUSLY INJURED
was Rev. 90. Fclkner of San Jose, who was
struck by fallin, debris and sustained Sc
we're cuts and bruises. Several persons had
narrow escapes from injury.
Dixon and Winters, towns Of about one
thousand inhabitants, located respectively
northeast and northwest of Vacaville and
within few miles Of the latter place, were
also scenes ofconsiderable destruction. The
Masonic hall at Dixon, two.storv brick
block, was ruined and its falling walls
shattered the two adjoining houses A fire
which roke out among the ruins caused
some damage at Winters but the danger
was lcssened by an abundant water supply.
The house of John Thitfel, between Vaca-
vile and Winters, was destroyed by fire
caused by an overturned lamp,
tho occupants barely e:caping With
their lives. At Winters the
inhabitants were for q time panic stricken
owing to the severity Of the shock. Forty
gu ests were in the two-story Bliss hotel at
Winters, the walls of which collapsed, and
the fact that no one was injured by the cav
ing oil the walls is remarkable. Old and
new brick schOolhouses and several new
brick buildings in Winters were crack ed
and wrenched from tho foundations The
banks Of Pu.ah creek caved in and assures
opened in the bottom of the creek. Three
miles west OF the town all acre of ground
slid into the creek and small iissures were
made in the county road. Several great
bOulders were thrown from the hillsides ut
point ON the Berrycso road near Winters,
blocking the roadway. Considerable dam
age was done to isolated farm buildings,
but no serious personal injuries are re-
ported. The town of Monticello, fifteen
miles from Winters, was at ii st reported
TOTALLY DEMOLISHED
but gentleman arrived from there late
this afternoon and reported the damage
nominal. The Losses at Vacnville owing to
tho destruction of buildings and other
property IS estimated at 500, ,O0O, at Dixon
$50. coo snd at Winters nearly 100000 Ell
mira. Fairfield, Santa Rosa, Woodland,
Davlsville and Benicia report windows and
crockcry broken and a number of CHM
neys overturned. Some thirty or forty
towns report trfling damages, though oil
accounts agree in placing tho intensity of
the shock as greater than of any i'll 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 cx-
tended from north to south and from east
to west. The single shock is generally de-
scribcd as being most intense, vibrations
where more than one shock occurred be-
coming confused.