The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-01
CALIFORNIA QUAKES
stIsMIC SHOCKS REND SANTA BAR
BARA COUNTY,
PEOPLE ARE TERRIFIED.
EARTH ROLLED AND TWISTED BE-
MEATH THEIR FEET.

same Name Totally Wrecked.
shocks HIVE Rapidly Succeeded
Each other During the Last Four
pays-Tuesdny Night There Were
seven. Another severe One Ycster-
day Morning and Another Last
Nisht-Many Have Fled From the
country and the Ruined Village Is
Like a City Long Deserted.
San Luis Obispo, CAL, July 31.-A
strip Of country fifteen miles long by
four miles wide. rent with gaping ifs
sllres and dotted with hills and knobs
that sprung up during the night as
if py magic, a village in ruins and
hundreds of people fleeing for their
lives, are the results of last nights
seismic disturbance in the valley of
Los Alamos, in the northern part of
Santa Barbara county. During the
last four days that section of the coun-
try has been shaken by a series of
earthquakes that is without precedent
IN the history or tradition of the Pa
ciic coast, and the continuance of the
disturbances and the increasing Sc
verify of the shocks have so terrorized
the inhabitants that they are leaving
for other parts as rapidly as possible,
and even now the village is almost en-
tirely deserted.
The disturbances began on Sunday
evening with a shock which caused
several thousand dollars worth of
damage to property in the village and
the surrounding country, being more
severe and more disastrous in the vi
entity of Western Union Oil Companys
oil wells on the Carriga, ranch. This
shock was followed by a number OF
disturbances less severe and less dis
astrous, continuing through the re-
mainder of Sunday night and Monday.
Severe Shock Yesterday.
On Tuesday night, beginning at 11:1O
o'clock, there was another series of
seven shocks, all of which were light.
In action these disturbances re-
sembled the waves on a pond of
water. The most severe shock of the
entire series occurred at 1880 O'Clock
this morning. Hills were shaken and
twisted to their foundations and the
valleys trembled and rolled like the
surface of the ocean. Great assures
we're run deep in the eartn hills and
knos appeared in level valleys.
springs of water appeared in places
that had been dry and the general
topography of the valley was greatly
changed in many respects. The dis
turbance had no general direction. but
was what is known as a "twister." 1t
was preceded by a rumbling like that
of distant thunder, which increased
until the earth began to rise and twist
and the hills began to trernble.
With the first warning sound of the
approaching disaster the terror strick-
en- people rushed into the streets and
sought places of safety in vacant lots
and roads, while many fed toward the
neighboring hills. The first vibrations
were similar to the preceding disturb
ance in direction and. effect but they
were Immediately followed by the most
terrific shock ever experienced in this
section of the state.
CrOuched in the Darkness.
The earth trembled and rolled and
twisted until it was impossible for
people to stand erect and the terror
stricken inhabitants crouched togeth-
er in the darkness, fearful that the
earth beneath them might open and
swallow them. The terror inspired by
the rumbling and trembling Nof the
earth was increased by the sound of
falling buildings. which gave some
idea of the terrible destruction that
serious shocks had passed and the
rumbling sounds had died away
the people gathered in groups
about the ruins of their homes and
places of business, and when they saw
the extent of the damage many of
them. fearful of a repetition of this
experience, Immediately started on foot
or by any conveyance that could be
had, for places where the previous
shocks had been less severe. In the
the darkness of the night II was i'm
possible to determine the full extent
OF damage wrought, but with the dawn
of day the stricken village had the APP
pearance of the ruins of a city long
deserted. A church had been leveled
70 the ground and not one brick
pudding was left standing. Chimneys
mad toppled over, frame buildings had
been wrenched apart and thrown from
their foundations, telegraph and tele-
phone wires had been broken and
there was not a building in town that
mad not been damaged more or less.
IN store buildings that were totally de-
suoyed the merchandise was thrown
nom shelves and everything breakable
was destroyeR not a pane of glass was
lelt IN any window In town, and IN the
lisme cottages and dwellings that
we're left standing stoves were over
tuned and crockery and glassware
conservative estimate of the loss
10 property in the village is $4,000
ana this amount will probably be
greatly increased by the damage in the
surrounding country. The extent of
the most severe portion of the dis
tclpance is eleven miles long by four
mics wide, but the shock was felt
Tuoughout Santa Barbara and San
LUIS Obispo counties. At the Western
Hlon OIL wells on the Carriage ranch.
No tanks We're wrecked and much
osLer damage done. The disturbances
V'htinued throughout the day at in
iVals OF two hours, but none of tn
SHOCKS was severe.
1Iany Flee for Safety.
me people have deserted the viii
ss' every conveyance has been taken
+h the passenger and fright trains
80 ia nave left here since the severe
,,'ot gh OF last night have been loaded
I'm N people fleeing for safety. Since
Htst disturbances on Sunday night
49,. nave been more than seventy
,IHGt shocks, and those who have
IN keeping records have now given
sjy,S as the disturbances have become
almost continuous.