The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-03-31
NOBODY WAS HURT
THOUGH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
WERE SCARED
FL TEMBLOR IS ABROAD
AMONG THE NORTHERN CITRUS
BELTERS
THEY TOOK NO TIME TO DRESS
The Bay Metropolis Reports the Most
Severe Earthquake in Years-No
Special Damage Done
Associated Press Special Wire

|
SAN FRANCISCO, March 3O.-The Sleep
ing city was rudely awakened by an earth
quake at 11:43 tonight, which was the
longest and most severe shock experienced
here since the disastrous quake twelve
years ago, when a number of buildings
were thrown down. Tonight guests in the
down town hotel1 and boarding houses
made general rush for the air and Mar
ket and Montgomery streets thirty sec
onds after the earthquake were lined with
half-clad and wholly frightened people.
| The vibrations continued for fully ten
| seconds, causing people to rush from their
homes in all parts Of the city. The earth
quake was one of the most severe ever ex-
perienced in this state. Buildings were vio-
lently rocked and telephone and telegraph
circuits were broken.
A tenement house on Clementina street,
between Fifth and Sixth, collapsed, but no
one was seriously injured. Nearly every
window Of the Strathmore apartment
house on Larkin street, opposite the new
city hall, was broken, the plastering fell
from the walls and pictures and ornaments
were thrown to the floors. The building on
Larkin street near McAllister formerly oc-
cupied by the supreme court was slightly
damaged. Its chimneys fell to the pave
ment, but fortunately did not hit any of
the panic-stricken people in the street.
At the office of the Associated Press tel
egraphic communication was interrupted
for twenty minutes The earthquake also
caused the same condition Of affairs at the
Western Union and Postal Telegraph Of
fees.
The guests of all the hotels and lodging
houses, many of whom had no idea of the
cause of the trembling of the earth, were
Intensely excited and rushed from their
rooms without waiting to dress.
A lamp was upset in small House on
Third street and a blaze was started, which
was soon extinguished, but the calling out
of the fire department added to the excite
ment of the night.
At midnight the downtown streets were
thronged with men, women and children,
and in the residence portion of the city
lights were burning in nearly every home
until very late hour.
A woman tainted on Market street and
was carried to the receiving hospital. caus-
ing rumor to be circulated that she had
been killed. She was soon revived. No per-
son was injured, so far as the hospitalau-
thorities know.
The shock was felt throughout the state.
but only very meager reports have been
received, owing to the demoralized' state
Of the wires. At the San Quentin peni-
tentiary some of the guards thought that
general break for liberty had been made
by the prisoners. who had explod ed dyna-
mite mine. The convicts in their cells were
terrified, and hearing loud orders from the
officers of the watch, also imagined pris-
on delivery had taken place.
At Santa Rosa several chimneys were
thrown down and many windows broken.
Prof. Davidson, the eminent scientist,
declares that the earthquake has seldom
or never been exceeded in violence here.
and considers 1t remarkable that no loss of
life or great damage to property was occa-
stoned. The waters of San Francisco bay
rose in tidal wave two feet high, but al
most Immediately subsidized
AN EASY ROCKING
SACRAMENTO, March 3O.-At II :3S to-
night three slight shocks of earthquake
were felt here. They were of an easy, un-
dulatng motion, and seemed to be from
southeast to northwest. Chandeliers were
made to swing and doors to rattle, but no
damage was done as far as heard from.
SASHES RATIFIED
STOCKTON, March 3O.-At 40 tonight
Stockton experienced the heaviest earth
quake Of its history. Windows ratified and
people in the upper stories of buildings
had some difficulty in. keeping their feet
The shock was from east to west, and the
swaying lamps told of its visit for five min
utes after the shocks had passed away.
No damage is reported, save the breaking
of the Associated Press leased wire which
stopped doing business as soon as the tenn
blor began.
TAKING THE TIME
SAN JOSE, March 30.-One of the beav-
lest earthquakes ever experienced in this
section occurred tonight at II o'clock, AZ
minutes and % seconds. From Lick OBJ
servatory on Mount Hamilton it was re-
ported that the duration of the tremors
was 40 seconds, and after the first twelve
of thirteen seconds they were more violent
than ever before recorded in the history of
earthquake observations there. The great
er motion was southeast to northwest, and
approximately the earth moved ote-fourth
of an inch
SANTA CRUZ STRUCK
SANTA CRUZ, CAL, March SO.-At HAS
this evening the heaviest earthquake shock
in years was felt. The vibrations were
from east to west. No damage is re-
ported.
WORST AT MARE ISLAND
MARE ISLAND, CAL, March 30.-The
earthquake was very severe here, doing
damage estimated at $4,000. The sawwmill
was prostrated, and lies complete wreck.
The government hospital and severa. shops
were badly injured. The navy yard en-
ployes were reused from their beds, and
made hasty inspection Of the grounds
and the warships in course Of repair, but it
is not thought that these vessels suffered
any harm. or that the valuable plant or
machinery was affected.