Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-02
"A TWISTER. J"
earthquakes in the Valley Of
Los AIamos, California.
Seismic Disturbances Without Prec-
edent--Entire Village in Ruins.
oeooIe Fly in Terror-Area Small but
Damage Heavy.

Can Luis Obispo, Cal, Aug. IA
erin NJ country Is miles long by four
niles wide, rent with gaping assures
and dotted with hills and knobs that
snruuc up during the night rs IL ny
rnagic a village in ruins and hundreds
= neonIe fleeing for their lives, are the
ros,,lts of last nights seismic disturb
arca in the village of Los Alamos, in
A., northern nrat of Santa Barbara
oorntv During the last four days that
saction of country has been shaken ty
a eerjes Of earthquakes that Is without
PRECEDENT in the history or tradition Of
The Pacific coast, and the continuance
n tbe disturbances and the Increasing
sevpritv Of the shocks have so terror
tod the inhabitants that they are IeaV-
;,c far other parts as rapidly as posi-
lilo and even now the village is almost
entirely deserted.
The disturbances began, Sunday even
inc with a shock which caused several
,bousand dollars worth Of damage TO
nronertv in the village and the sur
rmnding country, being more seyt,e
and disastrous in the vicinity of the
WGgtrTn
the Carriga ranch. This shock was fol-
loved by a number of disturbances less
severe and less disastrous. continuing
through the remainder of Sunday tight
and Monday.
The most severe shock occurred at
1890 o'clock Thursday morning. Hills
were shaken and twisted to their foun
datiaps and the valleys trembled and
rolled like the surface of the ocean.
Great assures were run deep IN the
earth, hills and knobs appeared in level
valleys. springs of water appeared i'll
places that had been dry, and the gen.
eFal topography Of the valley was
greatly changed in many respects. The
disturbance had no general direction
but was what is known rs a .twi5tcr.
With the first warning of the sound
of the approaching disaster. the terror
stricken people rushed into the streets
and sought places of safety in vacant
lots and roads. while many fed toward
the noighboiing hills.
The earth trcmbled and twisted until
it was impossible for people to stand
erect, and the terror-stricl!en inhabi-
tants crouched together in the dark
ness fearful that the earth beneath
might open and swallow them.
When the most serious shocks had
passed and the rumbling noises bad
died away, the people gathered in
groups about the ruins. IN the dark
ness of the night it WAS impossible TO
determine the fun extent of IaIuage
wrought. but with the dawn o. lay the
stricken village had the appearance of
the ruins of Il city long deserted. A
church had been leveIlcI to the
ground ana not one brick building was
left standing. Chimneys had toppled
over. frame buildings had been
wenched apart and thrown from their
foundations. telegraph and telephone
wires had been broken AMI there was
not a building in the town that had
not been damaged more or less Scri-
ously.
A conservative estimate of the loss
to property in the village is 100000 and
this amount will probably be greatly
increased by the damage in the SIR
rounding country.
The extent of the most se"ere POI
ton of the disturbance is II miles long
by four miles wide, but the shock was
felt throughout Santa Barbara and
San Luis Obispo counties.
The disturbances continued through
out the day at intervals If two hours,
but none of the shocks were severe.
The people have deserted The village,
every conveyance has been taken and
the passenger and freight trains that
have left here since the severe shock
Of last night have been loaded with
people fleeing for safety.
Snce the first disturbances on sun
day night there have been more than
20 distinct shocks ana those who have
been keeping records have now given
up, as the disturbances have become
almost continual