The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-08-09

sprung up during the nlSHt d. II ~ I
magic-a village In ruins and hundreds
of people fleeing for their lives, are the
results of last flights seismic disturb |
ances in the prosperous and fruitful
valley of Los Alamos, in the northern
part of Santa Barbara county.
During the past four days that sec
ton of the county has been shaken by
q series of earthquakes that Is posi-
lively without precedent in the history
or tradition of the Pacific Coast, ana
the continuance of the disturbances and
the increasing severity of the shocks
have 50 terrorized the inhabitants that
they are leaving for other parts as
RAPIDLY as possible, and even now the
village is almost entirely deserted.
The disturbances began on Sunday
evening with a shock which caused
several thousand dollars worth OF dam
age to property in the village and the
surrounding country, being more Sc
we're and more disastrous in the vicinity
of the Western Oil Company's oil wells
on the Carreaga ranch. This shock was
followed by a number of disturbances
less severe and less disastrous. contin-
uine through the remainder of Sunday
night and Monday forenoon. On Tues
day night, beginning at 1910 O'Clock,
there was another series or seven
shocks. all of which were light The
general direction of these disturbances
was east and west, and in action they
resembled the waves on pool OF wa
ter.
The most severe shock of the entire
series occurred at 1:20 o'clock this
morning, when the hills We're shaken
and twisted on their foundations, and
the valleys trembled and rolled like the
unstable surface of the ocean. Great
assures were run in the earth, hills and
knobs appeared in level valleys, springs
of water opened UP 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 is
known as 'Ewister.' IT was preceded
by a rumbling like that of distant
; thunder, which increased until taeI
earth began to rock and twist and the
hills began to tremble.
With the first warming of the ap-
prdaching disaster the terror-stricken|
people rushed into the Streets and
sought places of safety in vacant lots
and fields. while many FASTENED toward
the neighboring hills The first vibra-
tons were similar to the preceding dis
turbances in direction and effect, but
they were Immediately followed by the
most terrific shock ever experienced
in this section of the State. The earth
trembled and rolled and twisted until
it was impossible to stand erect, and
the terror-striclxen people croucned to-
gether in the darkness. fearful that the
earth beneath them might open and
swallow them ND.
The terror inspired by the rumbling
and trembling of the earth was increased
by the sound of falling buildings, which
gave some idea of the terrible destruction
that was being wrought When the most
severe shock had passed and the runbling
sounds had died away iii the distant Nils
the people gathered in groups about the
ruins of their homes and places of busi-
ness. and when they saw the extent OF
the damage, many of them, fearful of
a repetition of this terrible experience.
Immediately started on foot or by SUCH
conyeyances as could be had for places
where the previous shocks had been less
severe
In the darkness of the night it was inn
possible to determine the full extent OF
the destruction wrought, but with the
dawn of day the stricken village present
ed the appearance of the ruins OF a city
long deserted. The churches had been
leveled to the ground not one brick
TOPPED over, frame buildings had been
wrenched apart and thrown from their
foundations. telegraph and telephone
wires had been broken and there was not
a building in the town that had not teen
damaged more or less seriously.
IN store buildings that were not total
ly destroyed the merchandise was thrown
from shelves and everything breaka5'e
was destroyed. Not a pane of glass was
left in the window in any house in town,
and in the frame cottages and dwelling
houses that were left standing stoves
were overturned and crockery and glass
ware were destroyed A conservative e.
innate of in less to property IN the VII
1age. is 10000. and this amount viii prob
ably be greatly increased by the damage
done property in the surrounding crun-
try. Each merchant in town has lost al
least $500 in stock, and the damage 10 the
buildings has been great.
The extent of the most severe portion
of the disturbance is fifteen miles long
by foar miles wide, but the shock was
Luis oblsno counties.
SANTA MARIA. July 3l.-AIthough this
town has been shaken at intervals $ ICE
early morning. no serious damage has re-
suited. 1t the oil wells on the Carreasa
Ranch the loss probably will not exceed
S5G00 The first shock felt here since sun
day night occurred at lis this morning
The movement was slow and was accom-
panied by roaring noises. No damage &c
suited. although the shock was very
heavy, stopping many clocks. At tIuada-
Iupe clocks we're stopped and it is re-
ported that tremors occurred thee four
hours continuously
At Lo11lpoc the Hotel Arthur is all but
gone 1t is a brick building. and the rea'
walls are cracked and tottering. Chin
neys crockery and glassware are crum
bled and broken.
Investigation at the oil wells proves
that the previous reports were greatly
exaggerated. Five thousand dollars at
most VIII cover the entire loss which was
inflicted at the tank reservoirs on the
sCarreaga ranch. The shocks We're heavy,
damage.
At Betteravia the Union Sugar Com