The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-01
ALASKA'S GREAT QUAKING.
TIE TERRIBLE EARTH SHAKING
THAT LASTED FOR DAYS

Mountains Were Uprooted, Glaciers Cast
Loose, Lakes and Rivers Shifted In
Their Beds, Islands Sunk in Part, Miles
Of Trees Feiled and People Terrified.
YAKlTAT, ALASKA: On BOARD L. s. RBv-
KNuE CUTTER MoCULLoCH, Sept 17.-When
tho McCulloch arrived at this point at noon
today, en- route from St Michaels for Stka,
With Gov Brady, United States District Judge
Johnson, United States Marshal Shoup AS
sistant District Attorney DAILY and Clerk Elliot
on board, the town was found still In the terrors
OF an earthquake panic, having had tho last shake
ate A. NJ, and tidal wavo being expected al 8
p. NJ As tho ship came into the little harbor
numerous tents were observed on tho low hills
back Of tho village, and Il was thought that per-
hans another great gold find had called In eager
searchcrs for tho precious metal, but when tho
native boats came of from shore il was explained
that tho people had boon frightened from their
homes and had taken TO the hills for safety. This
was tho FIRST ncws the McCuloch had received
Of tho earthquake. which up TO this writing 10
still shrouded in mist and mystery
Yakitat. which Is a small Indian village Of
800 natives, and twenty-fv or thirty whites
and is tho homo OF the Swedish Evangelical Mis-
sion. has known earthquakes before, but only
slightly, and mono in flvo years. II Is 215 miles
OF MI ST Elias, which has been regarded tho
highest peak in North America. High noun
tains rise all about Yakitat Bay and the greatest
glaciers In the world are here.
Two weeks ago to-day, on Sept 8. the FIRST
sharp shock Of earthquake was felt, and.
though tho people were much alarmed, they be-
came quieted as tho days passed and no other
disturbance followed. On Sunday morning,
Sept 10, a fresh alarm arose carly, and frequent
shocks followed until P. NJ, when there was q
tremendous jar succeeded by violent upheavals
and contortons Of the earth, and tidal wavo
ten feet high dashed in upon tho shore. Tho
waters OF the bay were whirled and twisted about
and the surf beat in II great storm were raging
Houses quivered and trembled and won't awry
on their foundations, One toppled over and tho
bell in the Swedish chapel rang noisily. Natives
and whites pagan and Christian. rushed forth
pellmell and stood in the heavy mist on the little
hills uncertain what 10 do. but watching the
threatening sea- moro fearful OF Il than Of the
aunking earth. At last quiet was restored tho
Sea and the land rested, and while somo went
back TO their houses most OF the people slept on
the hills in tents in such other shelter as they
could provide
Shocks have continued day and night since.
and while no serious damage has been done In
the village the people are too greatly terrorized
house in town is "shored" up with props at the
corner to keep it In place.
On Yakitat Island. mile or more out In tho
bay a sinking at end Of thirty feet is reported
and the gold mining plant OF Mr.. Stephen Gay
was entirely destroyed Mr.. Gay was utilizing
a small lake on the island in sluioe boxes on tho
shore. working the ruby sand deposit there when
the shock drove all the water from the lake, and
the rising washed away all the sluice boxes
However the most terrifying story comes from
place forty-fve miles northwest, up Disenchant-
ment Bay. From this point Mr. Albert Flenner.
OF San Diego, Cal, with q party Of eight miners.
returned last Thursday, after four days Of fright
full experience. Says Mr. Flenner. In an inter
view with THE SUN correspondents
"Wo had been prospecting since Juno 20 for
platinum and gold with very fair success and
no accidents TO speak Of until last Sunday. Sept
TO- at 220 p. NJ The Sunday before We had felt
an earthquake shock, but had about forgotten
1t until last Sunday. On that day between $50
A. NJ and 1850 p NJ, We had felt hfty-two shocks
Of more or loss severity. and wero seated around
our camp discussing the matter when suddenly
hurled TO the ground as II struck by
lightning. At the same time lake 1000 feet
inland from our camp and sixty feet above our
location on tho beach, which was ten feet above
high water and 100 yards from It, camo down on
lis In a terrific torrent through deep OPEN
ing made by tho earthquake. In a moment
men and tents and boats, and all kinds Of camp
belongings were mixed up In the muddy stream
and sent seward 10 DO met by q tidal wave forty
feet high, which drove tho lake water back upon
the land, and men were tossed about clingipg
10 broken boats and swimming for exposed points
OF land which only q few moments before had
stood forty feet above our camp Shock
followed shock 30 rapidly that II was impossible
for us To stand on our feet, and even our dog
thrown fiat In the brief time between tho break
ing out Of the lake and the rush Of the tidal wave
we were knocked down repeatedly. tho earth SEEM
Ing 10 stop suddenly and then TO sway violently,
ifrisng and falling so that at times II seemed as II
wewcro twenty i've feet below tho level Of tho bay
The heaviest rain I over saw in my life began
falling and though there was little Wind. tho air
was filled with such multitude Of deafening noises
that we could not say what any one was, although.
above 1t all we could hear the fightful grinding
OF Hubbard glacier lying opposite us, q, miles
across tho bay. This glacier rises 800 or 600
feet from tho sea. with front q, miles wide, and
have since heard that II broke away In the shock
and had slid three-quarters Of a mile into the bay.
None OF us knows now how il happened but after
We had been thrown back on the land by the tidal
wave we ran inland over tho glacier dumps for
q mile, the following us along the lower
me pine. When We were at last safe from ii,
and had collected our scattered senses we went
back to see II could not And some Of our effects,
as we had been cast out with nothing but our
ovcralls which we had on. Everything was lost
And our situation was serious A half a mile
inland we found a bag Of my clothes, and later
the wrecks OF our boats and some corn meal and
canned stun Fixing ourselves up as best We
could started for Smiths camp, crossing a
river on foot which before the earthquake was
10 feet deep and $50 feet wide and down which
houders weighing dozen tons rolled with ter
nac noise when the quake was We found a
toni from Smiths camp thIee-quarters Of a mile
inland, rolled up with blankets on the inside, was
entirely soaking and in gold pan near by We
found three mountain trout. half mile from water.
With what we picked up we managed to get
shelter and food for the time. but during the night
violent shocks disturbed U.S. the mountain side
above slid in with roar and at o'clock in the
morning a stream OF water was twisted from its
course and swept us out OF our tents Catching
up what we could we ran for our lives and went on
10 Old Indian caun HeYa on Tlteadav fnund