Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-01
Tsrror-striOksn POpulaOs Leave HsmsS
and Rush from the Scene.
GAZING EIssuRIs N FRUI1IUL MLLN
Hills and KnollI Spring Up During the
Night as. If by Magic
SPRINGS OF WATER NOW sUssLE IN SAND
General Topography OF Rich valley
Is Changed and Damage 10 the
Extent OF Thousands of
Dollars is wrought.

SAN LUIS oBIsPo, Cal, July 31.-A strip
Of country fifteen miles long by four miles
wide rent with gaping assures and dotted
with hills and kpolls that sprung up during
the night as 10 by magic, a village In ruins
and hundreds OF people fleeing for their
lives, are the results Of last nights seismic
disturbance In the prosperous and fruitful
valley Of Los Alamost In the northern part
of Santa Barbara county.
During the last four days that section Of
country has been shaken by a series OF
earthquakes that Is without precedent In
the history Of tradition OF the Pacific coast.
and the continuance Of the disturbances
and the increasing severity OF shocks have
30 terrorized the inhabitants that they are
leaving for other parts as rapidly as pos
sible, and even now the village is almost
entirely deserted.
The disturbances began on Sunday even
ing with q shock which caused several
thousand dollars worth OF damage to prop
erty In the village and the surrounding
country, being more severe and more dis
astrous In the vicinity Of the Western
Union OIL company's oil wells on the Car
riga ranch
This shock was followed by q number
OF disturbances less severe and less dis
astrous. continuing through the remainder
of Sunday night and Monday afternoon. On
Tuesday night beginning at 1910 o'clock
there was another series Of seven shocks
all Of which we're light. The general di-
rection of these disturbances was east and
west, and In action they resembled the
waves on q pond Of water
The most severe shock Of the entire
series occurred az 1880 O'Clock this morn
ing. Hills were shaken and twisted to
their foundations, and the valleys trembled
and rolled like the unstable surface OF
the ocean. Great assures were run deep In
the earth. hills aud knolls appeared in
level valleys. springs Of water opened In
places that had been dry. and the general
topography Of the valley was greatly
changed in many respects.
The disturbance, had no general direction,
but was what 10 known as "twister."
1t was preceded by q rumbiing like that
Of distant thunder. which increased until
the earth began to rock and twist and the
hills began TO trembie.
PEOPLE Rusk to Streets.
with the nrst 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 fields.
while many ned toward the neighboring
hills.
The nrst vibrations were similar to the
preceding disturbances in direction and ef-
feet, but they were Immediately followed
by the most terrific shock ever experienced
In this section OF the state The earth
srembled and rolled and twisted until II
was impossible for people to stand erect
and the terror stricken Inhabitants crouched
together In the darkness. fearful that the
earth beneath them might open and swal-
low them. The terror inspired by the
rumbling and trembling Of the earth wai
Increased by the sound Of falling buildings
which gave some idea Of the terrible de-
Btruction that was being wrought.
When the most serious shocks had passed
and the rumbling sounds had died away II
the distant hills, the people gathered ir
groups about the ruins Of their homes and
places OF business and when they saw tn,
extent OF the damage done many of them
fearful OF a repetition of this experience
Immediately started on foot or by any con
Veyanee that could be had for places wher'
the previous shocks had been most severe.
In the darkness Of the night 1t was i'm
possible 70 determine the full extent o
the destruction wrought. but with the dawI
Of day the stricken village presented th'
appearance of the ruins OF a city lonl
deserted. church had been levelled I,
the ground and not one brick building wa
left standing.
chimneys had toppled over. frame build
lngs had been wrenched apart and throw
from their foundations. Telegraph an
telephone wires had been broken and ther
was not q building In town that had no
been damaged more or less seriously. i
store buildings that were not totally de
stroyed the merchandise was thrown froT
shelves and everything breakable was de
Btroyod; not a pane Of glass was left 1
any window Of any house in town aud 1
the frame cottages and dwelling house
that were left standing stoves were over
turned and crookery and glassware de
Btroyed.
DamsEe Reaches Thousands.
conservative estimated Of the loss I
property in the village is $4,000 and thl
amount will probably be greatly increase
BY the damage done property In the sur
rounding country. Each merchant In tow
has lost at least $500 on stock and II
damage TO buildings has been great
The extent OF the most severe portion
the disturbance is eleven miles long b
four miles wide, but the shock was fe
throughout Santa Barbara and San Lu
obispo counties.
Az the western Union oil wells on n
Carriga ranch two tanks were wreeks
and thrown over, and much other dAmal
was done.
The disturbances continued throuEhol
the day at intervals Of two hours. but nor
Of the shocks were severe. The people ha,
deserted the village. every conveyance HI
been taken and the passenger and freigl
trains that have left here since the seve
shock Last night have been loaded VII
people who are neeing TO Santa Maria Al
the northern part Of the county &
safety.
Since the nrst disturbaness on sundu
night there have been over seventy di
tinet shocks and those who have been kee
Ing record have now given up. As the al
turbances have become almost eontinuou
Professors on Earthquakes.
BERKELEY, Cal. July sl-ReeardI
the earthquakes IN santa Barbara count