Evening journal., 1900-02-01
zATE AIAsKAN .EARTHQuAKE


DISPLAY o. SEISMIC POWER SUCH
As THE WORLD HAS SELDOM
SEEN.
Fer weeks pTeca1ing It's vioisEt vel
canic eruption In the island Of Hawaii
severe Edmonitory earthquakes were
felt all along the western shores Of the
North American continent from the
Isthmus of Panama to Puget Sound.
Along the coast OF California numerous
shocks OF uncommon severity occurred
and continued until the outbreak Of
Mauna IiOa en- the morning Of July
lest, when they appeared 10 subside.
The quietness WIS only temporary,
however, though the scene OF disturb
ance was transferred from equatorial
to Arctic attitudes Alaska was the
theatrefor a display Of seismic power
such as the world has seldom Witness
ed. which, had Il happened in regions
less remote or had been populated by
others. than few scattered bands OF
abongines, would have been a catas-
trophe at which the world would have
grown pale at the bare recital. For
tunately the dreadful upheayal had
witnesses among white men. and what
would have been an incident OF horror
10 be preserved among the traditions OF
few terror stricken Indians was care
fully observed by men whose probity
places their recital beyond the suspi-
clon OF q doubt The effects OF the
shocks were noticed far at sea by navi-
gators, from which the enormous ex-
tent OF the disturbances can be easily
calculated.
The Puget Sound country was coin
cidently shaken. and from all accounts
It would appear that with Mount ST
Elias as a centre the region objected
By the shocks was fully a 900 miles In
diameter. The effect has been to per-
manently change the contour Of por-
tons OF the Alaska coast Many we'll
known Islands have been swallowed up
and others risen in their places. Land
marks well defined andHknown to every
navigator of'the coast have disappear
ed. and every. glacier from Juneau and
vicinity. including all those known to
tourists in Glacier bay and elsewhere
have suffered mutilaton. which de-
stroyed their wondrous beauty and
leveled their mighty ramparts for thou
sands of feet back from the sea. In
the Northwest territory volcanoes are
reported to have been seen In ranges
where they we're never before observed
Puget Sound was violently shaken, aud
in the distant Islands OF the Alaska
archipelago severe earthquake shocks
excited intense alarm Along the coast
near Mount St Elias the upheaSal was
accompanied by huge and devastating
waterspouts. while enormous tidal
waves rushed in from the sea with
Overwhelming power. Great rocks fell
from the. sides OF the mountains and
crashed into the valleys below The
earth moved with the awful velocity
and undulation OF the waves Of tie sea,
shaking mountains from their bases
and prostrating the huge forests that
covered their. slopes
The date OF the earthquake was
September 10. though warning shocks
had been felt for some time previous.
Three white men were prospecting On
the shores OF Disenchantment bay,
which lies ~ the foot OF Mount ST.
Elias and contains the great Hubbard
glacier, which has been observed only
by scientists and explorers. lying. az II
does, far beyond the route OF tourists,
and about fifty miles west of Yakutat
bay. The prospoctors were camped on
a ridge separating a large fresh water
lake from the ocean. A violent shock
threw down the obstruction. and the
great flood from the lake swept down
the bank, carrying the three, men along
with II. Concurrently, a great ida
wave swept into the bay. which washed
the men back again and left them high
and dry upon the side OF a mountain.
They describe the oscillation OF tn,
earth as terrific, and were witnesses L
the destruction OF the whole front o
Hubbard glacier, with its face OF soil,
ice, extending several hundred fee
above the tide For mile from the SCI
the glacier was fractured and throw
In the bay The men fed to Yakuta
bay, fifty miles distant. and reache
that point after a journey beset wit
peril, AT Yakutat bay. Rev. SheldO
jackson, educational superintendent c
Alaska, happened to be visiting II
graphically describes the tremendou
conyulsions accompanying the shock
the undulating shores as the cart
wave swept back and forth, togeths
with the enormous tidal waves whic
rushed into the bay and We're engulfe
IN the creyasses which opened alon
the shores. The terror inspired anon
the Indians at the Yakutat mission wa
.unspeakable. though no lives were los
The most disastrous and permanei
effect OF the earthquake is seen anon
the glaciers. Foster glacier. near j
neau. has had It's beauty almost d
stroyed. All that portion Of Il frontir
on Taku inlet. which the sun ht
sculptured into wondrous and enchan
r.. arI - a. IA