The daily sentinel., 1902-08-01
FLEE FOR LIVES.

Earthquake Which Threatens
EnguIfment----Shock Follows
Shock.-Property Damage Great.
San Luis Obispo, Calf. July 3l.-A
strip of country fifteen miles long by
four miles wide, rent with gaping assures
and dotted with hills and knobs that
sprung up during the night as il by
magic, village in ruins and hundreds OF
people fleeing for their lives, arc the re-
suits Of last nights seismic disturbance
in the prosperous and fruitful valley OF
Los Alamos, in the northern part Of
Santa Barbara county.
During the last four days that section
OF tho country has been shaken by ser
les OF earthquakes that is without prece-
dent in tho history or tradition of the
Pacific coast, and the continuance OF the
disturbances and the increasing severity
of the shocks have 30 terrorized the in
hsbitants that they are leaving for other
parts as rapidly as possible and even
now the village is deserted.
The disturbances began on Sunday
evening with the shock which caused
several Thousand dollars worth OF dam.
age to property in the village and the
surrounding country, being more severe
3. ~
the Western Oil compsny's oil wells on
the Carriga ranch.
This shock was followed by number
OF disturbances lees severe and less dis
astrous, continuing through the remain
der OF Sunday and Monday forenoon.
On Tuesday night there we're oshsr
series OF severe sh 1cks, all Of which were
light The general direction OF these
disturbances was east and west and in
action resembled the waves on water.
The most severe shock OF the series
occurred at 20 this morning. the hills
were shaken and twisted to their found
atoms and the valleys trembled and roll
ed like the surface OF the ocean. Great
uo0ufC6 WCIo Auu 0ooP III bu0 cdILu, uui6
and knoils 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 distur.
bance had no general direction, but was
what is known as q twister. 1t was pre-
ceded by rumbling like that OF distant
thunder which increased until the earth
began to rock and twist and the hills
began to tremble
The 6rst vibrations were similar to
the preceding disturbances in direction
and effect, but they were Immediately
followed by the most terrific shocks ever
experienced in this section OF the state;
the earth trembled and rolled and twist
ed until it was impossible to stand erect,
and the terror-stricken people crouohed
together in the darkness, fearful that
the earth beneath them might open and
swallow them up.
The terror inspired by the rumbling
and trembling earth was increased by
the sound of falling buildings which
soon gave some idea OF tho terrible de-
struction 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 groups about the ruins Of
their homes and places Of business, and
whom they saw the extent Of the dam
age done. many OF them, fearful OF a re-
petion OF this terrible experience. i'm
mediately started on foot or by any con-
veyance that could be bad, for places
where the previous shocks had bsen less
severe. In the darkness OF the night it
was impossible to determine the full ex-
tent of the destruction wrought, but
with the dawn Of dsy the stricken viii
lage presented the appearance of ruins
or a city long deserted.
A church had been levelled 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
h,okep and there was not a building in