The herald., 1896-02-16
EARTHQUAKE DISTURBANCE
A Lively Seismic Shake Felt
Yesterday Afternoon
COMEDIANS WIT DOES DUTY
A Stampede at a Crowded Theater
Happily Averted
An Illogical and Inconsistent Remark From a
Funny Man at the Footlights Quiets
a Suddenly Excited Audience

Exactly at 2:51 :25 o'clock yesterday
afternoon Los Angeles was treated to an
earthquake disturbance that was notice.
able In all portions of the city. Many per-
SONS did not feel it, but again great many
did, and to these the seismic phenomenon
was apparent in differing degrees, depend
ent of course upon conditions under which
it was observed. The shock was much
more pronounced on the upper floors of
high buildings than upon the ground. 1t
was more severe in stone and brick struc-
lures than in frame buildings, and those
who were sitting down were in position to
appreciate its force more than those stand
ing up.
George E. Franklin, the observer in charge
of the United States weather bureau, i'll the
Wilson block, stated that the disturbance
was very perceptible on his floor. There
were, lie said, two and perhaps three shocks.
but that there were two, / am sure. They
were manifest by a humping or jolting,
suggestive of drive over a corduroy road.
But the temblor lasted only two seconds.
The motion was from the north-northwest
to the south ll-southeast. Unfortunately L
have no instruments here for measuring
or recording seismic disturbances. / wish
had, for the experience this afternoon
was very distinct shock. 1t was suffi-
ciently severe to set tile chandelier i'll this
room swinging energetically.
Almost simultaneously with the phenome-
non a score OF heads protruded from open
windows in the Los Angeles theater build.
ing, each possessor intent upon discover
ing the cause Of the shaking up that he or
she had just undergone. They looked up
t,,,tt
the usual Saturday afternoon crowds NOV
ing below, among whom was Chief of Fo-
lice Glass. The crowds did not explain
the cause; neither did the striding form of
the big chief. AT last it dawned upon them
that they had experienced all earthquake
shock which was tritie Heavier than usual.
In the Bradbury block on Third street
the occupants came to the conclusion, upon
hearing and feeling the shock, acconpa-
MED by falling and broken glass, that an
elevator had fallen to the bottom. The
suggestion seemed to find scores of recep-
tive minds, and alIuosJ quicker than in
stantly as many persons were in the hall
ways to see the expected wreck. OF course
they were agreeably surprised to find both
elevators doing perfect duty, and then
they we're perplexed. Some one muttered
the word Earthquake" and this was
passed on from floor to floor, resulting in
an exodus to the several Offices. On Third
6tEcct, IlodE 1Ob Aukcicss tu0 occupants Oh
more than one house rushed frightened
into the roadway, there to await further
developments. which happily did not come.
The effects of the earthquake were very
noticeable in the Byrne block and in the
Westminster, Hollenbeck and Nadeau no.
tells. number of invaiids in the latter
house were much alarmed and in more
than one instance nausea was induced.
1t was very noticeable in the county
building. The immense pile OF granite
and brown stone quivered under the mys-
terious force and every window ratified in
its place. Avery few persons along Spring
and Main streets and Broadway could be
found who had felt nothing of the shock.
Quite a number had noticed ''something
drop" and attributed it to the moving of a
heavy box or safe IN another part of the
building, but by far the greater number of
people appreciated the sudden movement
Of the earth at its full value and knew:that
they had experienced an earthquake
shock.
In the chamber of commerce building
were some twenty or thirty people wander
ing among the exhibits. All Of these, to-
gether with four or five gentlemen who
were in the parlors, rushed to the stairways
and out into the street, and, oddly enough,
the gentlemen reached the roadway first
A large plate glass window in the Santa Fe
offices on North Spring street is cracked
across it's entire width, and. besides, is
shattered upon one side. This broken