The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-04-22
COAST QUAKE
RAZES TOWNS
Great Destruction in Southern
CalifOrnia-One Man Is
Killed by Shock.
LOS ANGELES DAMAGED
Windows Are Broken. Walls
Cracked and Chimneys Are
Tumbled Down.
LOS ANGELES DAMAGED

Los ANGELES. April 2l,---.>ll OF south
ern California and part o. western Ari-
zona and TITAN were shaken to-day at
s:32 p. NJ. by an earthquake which
wrecked virtually all buildings and resi-
dences in lIemet and San Jac!nto. two
inland towns. fortyaye miles southeas st
OF Riverside. Cal. and caused minor
property damage IN practically every
/ town and city.
One man. Frank T.. Darnell OF this
city. was killed in panic at Santa
Monica when lie fell on a pier. A
woman was injured by failing from a
, second story window at San Jacinto. 4
number of other persons were injured
there and elsewhere. none seriously.
Three men entoiroed in a magnesite
. mine tunnel near Hemet probably were
! saved by fellow workers. who drove an
airshaf, to them and were expected to
dig them out before morning
shock Worst InIaud.
The severity OF tho shock seemed
greatest inland but IL was distinctly
| apparent at nearly every point over
California south from q line from Bar
stow to the coast and in some parts Of
/ Arizona, although no damage was re-
ported there. At Hemet se50.0o0
damage was done ard like amount at
| San Jacinto.
Homes all over southern California
were shaken. dishes ratified. furniture
moved and in many places the sh.rh
was such as to cause the occupants to
vacate hastily.
For thirty seconds the buildings oi
Hemet rocked and swayed and the
ground heaved so that persons standing
in the streets and fleeing from theii
homes were even thrown from their feet
Walls Topple Over.
! As the ground trenors increased the
walls Of brick buildings in tho business
section toppled over. Roofs creaket
and sroaned and then fell. often givinl
way before the side walls had started
TO 20.
The hills surrounding the towns were
obscured by dense haze. which many
people first believed presaged an erup
ton from some old volcanic crater hui
| which were caused by thick clouds Of
dust. One man who was watching tht
! hills at the time Of the greatest dis
,urbance said that Strawberry Peak. a
large mountain, appeared to rise bodi'!
and then drop back into place. Nc
word has been received from thu
numerous families settled on its slopes
but 1t was assumed here that the.
| escaped personal harm. as did mos
people in the two towns.
Confusion was added to the destrlc
.lon at Hemet by damage 10 the lines o
the water company. Numerous breaks
made trouble for the residents until tin
fIow finally was stoppsd. Gas main
also were broken and service interrupted
There was no disorder at either Hems
or San Jacinto, the home guards her
having turned out promptly and take,
charge Of the policing.
Worst Quake In Years.
At San Bernardino tho quake was sale
by old residents to be the worst o.
years. Scores Of plate glass windowi
were broken, a hundred feet OF bricl
wall from one low building fell into th'
street and cracks were broken III
several other wallA
There was a panic at tho bail grounds
where a game was in progress. and on
man was hunt in tho rush to escape
Another. running out Of a theatre !nt'
the street. was struck by q passing auto
mobile and seriously injured.
Riverside suffered a shoc. OF simila
intensity. Orna ments were shaken from
the court house cornice and window
smashed.
! At Banning the front OF tho Odd Fe!
Co~fiwMad ~ THIRD p0ae