The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-05-11
EARTHQUAKE TEARS
MOUNTAIN ASUNDER
SECTIONS A THOUSAND FEET
LONG RIPPED LOOSE AND
THROWN INTO VALLEYS.
Gcyscrs Sp0uted Blue Mud, Rivers
Hun Warm Water, and Gigantic
Redwood Trees Split by the Dis
turbance That Shook Chlif0r-
mia.

Redwood Trees Split by the Dis
turbauce That Shook Calif0r-
min.
San Francisco.-The mountains wer'
literally torn asunder by the earth
quake which devastated San Francisco
A correspondent has just returned
from a trip into Santa Clara, San Benz
to, Monterey and Santa Cruz mountains
where he went to investigate the
many stories Of wonderful natural phe,
nomena reported to have taken place
In that locality. While he discovered
that many Of the rumors floating about
had 10 foundation in fact, he found
many things fully equal in ~strangeness
to the occurrences described in the
floating rumors.
The effects Of the quake appear to
have been greater in the Santa Cruz
mountains, a spur on the Coast range,
near Santa Cruz, These mountains are
largely composed of limestone, slate and
other sedimentary rocks, which were
easily rended by the terrific vibration.
A long period of wet weather had in
many places softened this strata and
made it easier for the earthquake TO
tear apart the rocks.
A trip through the mountains showed
on every hand ravages Of this gigantic
force. 1t is the commonest sight to
see great sections Of mountains fifty
to n thousand feet or more long
ripped off from It's former location, and
sent laundering down to a resting place
far below,
1t Is the theory of many scientists
that the Coast range is gradually ris-
ing, while others declare that a general
settling is in progress. So far as a lay
man can see, the result in this case
has been to tear off parts Of the noun
tains, and to send the surface soil and
sections Of deeper strata into the gull
lies and canyons.
One of the most striking instances Is
in the canyon of Sequel river. There
nine men are buried under fifty or
sixty feet of rock. They were EN-
plOyed in one Of the lumber camps Op-
Grating in this region, and we're re-
turning from a trip to fire the donkey
In use cutting timber. When
the earthquake came parts Of the
mountain or each side or the canyon
slid down to the bottom of this gulch,
burying the men.
Earthquake Dams River.
The Sequel river is damned and has
to a depth Of fifty or more feet.
This reservoir is being utilized to tear
ont the obstruction and rescue the bod
les of the e The methods of by
mining are being applied. A
huge pipe has been inserted in the deep
water, and the big stream has been
trained TO a place below where it can
he turned with great pressure upon the
mass Of debris.
Under this flood the piled-up parts
Of the mountain are being rapidly
washed away. 1t will not be long be-
fore the entire obstruction will have
been carried off and the vast pent-up
food will have poured down its former
u~ncovering the corpses.
Redwood Trees Split.
The terrific force Of the shock is
shown by its effect on the giant red
wood trees. One will serve as an ex-
1t is fully y feet thick and had
the storms and shocks Of cen
The recent earthquake split it
.lmost exactly down the middle and
ore off the top 100 feet above the
leaving the entire tree pros
rate except for one remnant. The
round in many places Is strewn with
he branches Of redwood and live oak
rees. Neighboring orchards in many
Instances have been almost destroyed.
All through this section are many
Side and deep crevices in the ground.
Geysers Started.
So far as can be ascertained at this
inc this Is the only region affected by
he earthquake, where some volcanic
are shown. Along the Salinas
md Carmal rivers were to be observed
or a time, scenes reminiscent of yell
owstone park. For two hours after the
geysers spouting blue mud
,layed along these rivers. The Salinas
liver ran warm for a time. The hot
at Gilroy flowed ten degrees
than they had ever done be-
ore.
The force of the earthquake was I'M
oubtedly greater in the higher re-
ions than 1t was close to the sea
evel. Working in an orchard near
Vatsonville is a former sailor by the
anne of Nat Jenkins. When the shock
ame he was outdoors with some of
he other employees of the ranch. Above
roar Of the quake could be heard
is voice calling loudly Steady while
he pitches" When the tremble was
yer Jenkins began to apologize and
/,
The way the rocks wore thrown
bout by the heaving and pitching j.,
the sailors story plausible.