The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-01
One Shock Has Followed Another
since Sunday Evening and the
End L. Not Yet.
SEVERE QUAKES YESTERDAY
WHEN THE EARTH SHOOK UNTIL
PEOPLE CRoUCHED IN FEAR.
Town of Los Alamos I'm Ruins-BrIck
Buildings Razed-Niews of Col
Iege Scientists.

SAN LUIS oBIsPo. Cal. July sl.-A
strip of country fifteen miles long by four
miles wide rent with gaping assures and
dotted with hills and knolls that sprung up
during the night as if by magic; village
in ruins and hundreds of people fleeing for
their lives. the results of last nights
seismic disturbance in the prosperous and
fruitful valley of Los Alamos. in the north
ern part of Santa Barbara county. During
the last four days that section of the coun-
try has been shaken by series Of EARTH
quakes that is without precedent in the his
tory or tradition of the Pacific coast. and
the continuance of the disturbances and the
increasing severity of the shocks have so
terrorized the inhabitants that they are
leaving for other parts as rapidly as possi-
ble and even now the village is almost en-
tirely deserted.
The disturbance began on Sunday evening
with a shock which caused several thou
sand dollars worth of damage to property
in the village and the surrounding country,
being more severe and more disastrous in
the vicinity of the Western Union oil Com
pany's oil wells. the Carriage ranch.
This shock was followe5 BY a number Of
disturbances less severe and less disas-
trous, continuing through the remainder OF
Sunday night and Monday afternoon. on
Tuesday night. beginning at 12:l0 o'clock
there was another series of seven shocks.
all of which were light. The general direc-
tion Of these disturbances was east and
west and in action they resembled the
waves of a pond of water.
A "TwISTER."
The most severe shock Of the entire se-
ries occurred at 1l:SO o'clock this morning.
Hills were shaken and twisted 10 their
foundations and the valleys trembled and
rolled like the unstable surface OF the
ocean. Great assures were run deep in
the earth. hills and knolls appeared in level
valleys. springs of water appeared in many
places that had been dry and the general
topography OF the valley was greatly
changed in many respects. The disturb
ance had no general direction. but was
what is known as "twister" II was pre-
thunder. which increased until the earth
began TO rise and twist and the hills began
TO tremble
With the first warning 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 neighboring hills. The first vi
brations were similar TO the preceding dis
were Immediately followed by the most ter
rife shock ever experienced in this section
of the State. The earth trembled and rolled
and twisted until it was impossible for peo-
pie to stand erect. and the terror-strickcn
inhabitants crouched together in the dark
ness fearful that the earth beneath them
might open and swallow them.
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 serious
shocks had passed and the rumbling sounds
had died away in the distant hills. the peo-
pie gathered in groups about the ruins OF
their homes and places Of business. and
when they saw the extent Of the damage
done 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
mad been less severe.
THE TOWN IN RUINS.
In 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 appear
ance OF the ruins OF city long deserted. A
church had been leveled 10 the ground and
not one brick building was left standing.
Chimneys had toppled over. frame buildings
had been wrenched part and thrown from
their foundations. Telegraph and telephone
wires had been broken and there was not
I bufding in the town that had not been
/ damaged more or less seriously. In store
buildings that were destroyed. the mer-
chandise was thrown from shelves and
everything breakable was destroyed: not
name Of glass was left In any window of
any house IN town. and in the frame cot
tages and dwelling houses that were left
standing stoves were overturned and crock
/ cry and glassware destroyed. A conserva-
tive estimate OF the loss 20 property in the
village is $4,000. and this amount will prob
ably be greatly increased BY the damage
/ done property in the surrounding country.
Each merchant in town has lost az least
$500 on stock and the damage 10 buildings
/ has been great.
The extent OF the most severe portion OF
/ the disturbance Is eleven miles long by four
/ miles wide but the shock was felt through
| out Santa Barbara and san Luis Ohispo
/ counties At the Western Union oil wells.
4 on the Carriaga ranch. two tanks were
wrecked and thrown over. and much other
\ damage was done. The disturbances con-
tinued throughout the day al intervals "