Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-03
Earth Shocks Bring Panic
Stricken Rush TO Streets.
Minor Damage Shows In Walls
e0t Several Office Buildings.
HEAVIEST Quake Since Year 1906.
Other Sections Report.

San Francisco, July 1.-Two earth
quake shocks, the heaviest since the
big shake of 1906 and separated by
only few seconds. Jared the central
portion of California and Western Ne
vada Saturday. The first sharp shock,
experienced at 2.0l o'clock, was follow
ed within a few seconds by one of
similar intensity. each lasting about
five seconds, ~ S8,
Only trivial damage has been report
ed from any section, but in San Fran
cisco and other cities in the affected
area panic seized upon crowds in
stores and restaurants and there was
a pellmell exodus from the large build
ings. ..
One pecaliar feature of the earth
quake vas that it did not appear to
follow the old fault" in the earth's
crust. which has been the playground
of tremblers in the past, but extended
from the sea coast eastward to the
Sierras, including hitherto exempt
mountain areas
1t was felt to the northward of Sac
ramente. in the Sacramento valley
southwark as far as Fresno, and to the
east to Carson and Reno. New, the
latter place experiencing the heaviest
shock in its history
Some slight damage was done to
buildings in San Francisco. Heavy
stones in the cornice of the Mechanical
Bank building were moved slightly
out of alignment superficial cracks
were made in several large office build
ings: cornices of the new post office
building were disarrdnged, and minor
damage was done to the interior walls
OF number of other buildings.
Within a few seconds after the first
shock many downtown buildings were
depopulated in a rush to the streets.
Telephone and telegraph service was
suspended by the operators DESERVING
their posts, Herbert Hadley. lodging
house inmate, fell dead of fright, and
some cases of hysteria, or of cuts, or
bruises suffered in the semi-panic were
treated at the hospitals.
Santa Rosa which suffered greater
disaster in proportion to its size than
did San Francisco in the catastrophe of
1906. scarcely felt Saturdays shock.
San Jose, another heavy sufferer in
1906. reported that the shock yesterday
WIS liic SeNtfeSJ eHpeIlSflceu since liidt
time. but II did no serious damage.
Stockton and Fresno people were
frightened by the Earring, but there,
as in Saerame nto where the state Of
fees we're deserted In trice as re-
suit CT the trembier. the damage to
buildings was trifing.
In Reno New. the shock was scarce
1y felt. but in Carson 1t was severe.
The federal court was in session in the
Nevada capital. and judge, jury and
attorneys rushed to the street
At the Santa Clara College observa-
tory both reels were thrown off the
seismcgraphs. They were Immediate
ly replaced. but the record of the dis
turbance will be incomplete.
The mean time clock at the observa-.
tory of the University of California
was stopped for the first time since the
great quake of five years ago.
The deep booming reverberation
which usually marks disturbances of a
widespread character accompanied the
first tremor. In San Francisco the
groaning and creaking of the steel
structures played a larger part in
frightening people than did the trem-
ors.
The first tremor was accompanied
by the deep booming. In downtown
cafes the luncheon crowds quickly left
the buildings and shoppers the stores.
For some time 1T was impossible to
secure telephone service, and the oper-
ators in the exchanges left their
boards and ran from the buildings. No
damage of any kind is reported, but in
some instances plaster was shaken
from ceilings.
In the Mechanics Bank building
heavy stones in the eornice were NOV
ed slightly out of alignment. Slight
cracks were made in the Pacific build
ing and the Commercial building.