Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-09-26
A[ASKA'S BIG QUAKE
Rev. Sheldon Jackson Graphically
Describes the Recent Earth Dis.
turbance in Alaska.
Scientists and Miners Hurled Over a
Hill by Huge a Tidal
Wave.
People Thrown to the Ground
Many Miraculous Escapes
Miscellaneous News.

| Port Townsend, Sept. 26.-Concerning
the recent earthquake along the coast of
Alaska, Rev. Sheldon jackson, the edu-
lcational agent for Alaska, writes as fol-
lows from Yakutat, under date of Sept.
III:
The first shock was experienced Sun
day, Sept. 3, but being slight caused no
alarm. During the following five hours
there We're tifty-two distinct shocks,
Illuminating at p. m. in shock so Sc
lvere that the people of Yakutat We're
hurled violently across the rooms or
Thrown TO the ground. while houses
rocked and swayed, and the mission bell
lrang Violently in the church tower. The
lpanic-stricken inhabitants attempted to
flee to the hills, only to be again and
lagain thrown TO the earth. On gaining
the hills and looking seward they We're
transfiXed with horror as they saw a
great tidal wave. thirty feet high, APP
Iproaching with the speed of a race
horse. Before the shore was reached the
earth opened in the bottom of the har-
Dor ard into this chasm the tidal wave
spent its force, and around it the sea
twirled like a great maelstrom. This
saved the village from destruction. The
tide would rise ten feet in the space of
four or five minutes and in an equally
short time go down again Tents We're
pitched on the hills back of the village,
nearly the whole population camping
cut. fearing another tidal wave. From
the 10th to the present there have been
frequent shocks, one occurring this
afternoon.
Near Hubbard glacier on Olsen
chantment bay. We're encamped three
miners, Messrs. Fleur, Rock and john
son. and a mile from them al an ele-
walton of siXty-four feet above the sea
Was another party. When the heavy
shock OF the 10th was experienced the
Fieur party had rugged a machine and
We're taking the oscillation of the
earthquake wave when, without mo-
ment's warning. they We're thrown
violently across the tent. AT the same
moment large fresh water lake back
of their camp and about forty feet
above it, split and the water was
thrown upon the camp. Before the
miners could regain their feet they
We're swept into the sea. Then almost
d lie Same instant tiies were i'iee ps
a tidal wave which picked them up and
hot Only "asiea lleili ashuie, Jul over
"a NH forty leet hlsn, lahulls them on
the crest OF the divide. Regalnlhg tneir
rect they ran along the crest vain the
TIDAL wave polllns ana seeming along
the SIDE OF the hllls. Afterwards one
T OF the party found their baggage ana
tclothes a mile and a haiI up the noun
tam side, where the waves mad left
them Great spruce forests for miles
along the SHORE We're uprooteu ana
broken INTO sieces and massed into
great piles with roar that was deaf
enlag. Large rocks Weighing forty
tons or more We're rolling over one an
other down the mountain like pebbles
The Hubbard glacier with its two
and 9ne-half miles of sea front, a thou
sand feet thick, extending miles back
TO the summit of the mountains, broke
from its moorings and with grinding
and indescribable roar was moved
bodily into the sea. \ large creek fiji
teen feet wide. down whose bed the cat
araets were rushing, Vas Hooded so
that miners We're unable to cross over
to the camp on the opposite side. A few
minutes later ii had sunk back to its
former bed. Mountains We're thrown
down, the sea opened and a portion OF
the island disappeared. The earth
opened in many places. After the grea,
shock had passed the miners com
neneed preparation TO get away. A
mountain side Where il had been ear