Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1902-08-06
THE EARTH TIRE MBLED
Destructive Seismic Disturbances
OH the Pacific Coast.
That Section Was Shaken BY a Series
OF Earthquakes That Is Without
Precedent in the History of
the Pacific Coast


San Luis Obispo. Cal, Aug. IA
strip of country 10 miles long by four
miles wide, rent with gaping assures
and dotted with hills and knobs that
sprung up during the night as if by
magic, village in ruins and hun
dreds of people fleeing for their lives.
are the results OF Wednesday night
seismic disturbances in the prosper
GUS and fruitful valley OF Los Alamos.
in the northern part of Santa Bar
bara county. During the last four
da. that section of the country has
been shaken by a series OF earth
quakes that is without precedent in
the history or tradition of the Pacific
coast, and the continuance of the dis
turbances and the increasing severity
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 entire
ly deserted.
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 and
knobs appeared in level valleys,
springs OF water appeared in many
places that had been dry and the gen
eral topography OF the valley was
greatly changed in many respects
With the first warning of the sound
of the approaching disaster the ter
rorstricken people rushed into the
streets and sought places of safety in
vacant lots and roads. while many ned
toward the neighboring hills. The
first vibrations were similar TO the pre-
cedlng disturbances in direction and
effect, but they were Immediately fol
lowed by the most terrific shock ever
experienced in this section OF the
state. The earth trembled and rolled
and twisted until it was impossible
for people to stand erect and the ter
rcr stricken inhabitants Crouched to-
gethcr in the darkness. fearful that
tie earth beneath them might oDen
and swallow them. The terror inspir-
ed by the rumbling and trembling of
the earth was increased by the sound
or railing 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 people gathered in
81 pups about the ruins of their homes
and places Of business and when thov
saw the extent OF the di mage done
many of them. fearful of q repetition
OF this experience, Immediately start
ed on foot or by any conveyance that
could be had for places where the
previous shocks had been loss severe.
In the darkness of the night it was
impossible to determine the full OK
tent OF the damage wrought. but with
the dawn OF day the stricken village
had the appearance of the ruins of a
| city long deserted. A churcG had been
leVeIed To the ground and not one
| brick building was left standing.
Chimneys had toppled over. frame
buildings had been wrenched apart
| and thrown from their foundations.
Telegraph and telephone wires had
been broken and there was not a build
Ing III town that had not been damaged
more or less seriously.
In store buildings that wee totally
destroyed the merchandise was thrown
from shelves and everything breakabla
was destroyed; not pane of glass
was left In any window of any house
IN town and in these frame cottages
and dwelling houses that were left
standing stoves were overturned and
crochery and glassware destroyed.
A conservative estimate of the loss
to property in the village is $50 600.
and this amount will probably he great.
ly increased by the damage done prom.
erty il the surrounding country. Each
merchant in town has lost at least
$500 On stock and the damage TO build.
ings has been great
Santa Maria. Cal. Aug. 1.--Anothcr
earthquake shock was f,'t here at 1925
p. m. Thursday. 30 damage was
done Two families arrived nero
Thursday afternoon from Los Ala.
mos fleeing from the shocks almost
continuously felt there. It is report.
ed reign Of terror holds sway there
that mole families are preparing TO
leave.
Santa Barbara. Cal. Aug. An.
other severe earthquake shock was
felt at Los Alamos at 1870 Th iredav
night. It was aim st as heavy IS that
Of early Thursday morning s sli.ht
shock was felt in this city at tn, sairo
time