New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-17
Several Tremors From
1910 A. M. to 6:13
P. M. Break Windows
and Shake Down Mortar
People Rush From
Homes to Streets
Hospitals Full of Women
and Children Who
tainted in Excitement

LOS ANGELES, July 16.-Four severe
earthquakes here to-day threw the city
and its suburbs into excitment, indi-
rectly caused number of injuries to
men, women and children and slightly
damaged several buildings, chiefly old
ones, but none to a great extent.
While the shocks seemed to center in
Los Angeles, some of them were felt
more than thirty miles away but, as in
this city, no material damage was re-
ported.
An unusually warm morning produced
from some the remark, GOOD earth
quake weather." 1t was said in jest
and none was more surprised than those
who made the remark when the first
tremor came at 1910 in the morning.
1t felt much as does the sudden stop
ping Of streetcar operated by an in
experienced motorman, only that the
trembling produced the unpleasant sem
sation multiplied many times.
Hysterical Excitement
Excitement, in many cases hysterical
followed the first shock, and had hardly
been Gained when, at 1 :27 in the after
noon, came the second, followed two
minutes later by the third, and then a
fourth at 6:13. The two in the after
noon were sharper than that Of the
morning, and the agitation Of the peo-
pie became prolonged. 1t was some
time afterward before it was case of
business as usual"
Public places were scenes of near
panic, some people running for the
open air, some fainting, some stopping
to pray. Many gathered at street in
tersections waiting to see what would
happen. Others walked down the mid
die of the streets with watchful eyes
on the buildings. Many sought Per-
shing Square, in the heart of the down
town district, as sanctuary.
Mortar was Jared from brick walls
and plaster from ceilings; cracks APP
peared in some of the older structures
water main was broken, few copings
and chimneys fell, part Of an embank-
ment collapsed, throwing dirt and brick
into the street, and plate glass win
dows in some Of the downtown depart
ment stores were broken.
While the excitement was at its
height rumors of horror travelled fast
but when it had subsidized there was not
one report of any extensive damage to
any establishment, while the worst
ceived when brick fell from the top
of building and struck an elderly
man.
Panics in Jails
Perhaps the greatest clamors came
from the prisoners in the county and
city jails.
In the former 400 prisoners felt the
morning shock with comparative calm,
but became wildly excited at the first
of the two in the afternoon. They
yelled, shook the bars of their cells
ard screamed to be taken out. The
turkeys were trying to quiet them
when the third tremor came. The re-
sultant uproar lasted an hour.
Prisoners in the city Jail were less
excited, although the building was
slightly damaged, old cracks in the
walls widening and plaster falling.
maintained by the city was crowded
with women and children, most of them
having tainted. Some, however, suf-
fered more serious accidents. Private
and emergency hospitals were overflow
ing with hysteria and fainting cases.
Adding to the excitement was a fire
alarm turned in when a piece of cop
ing fell from a building at Main and
Market streets, breaking a fire alarm
box. When the Fire Department re-
sponded some of the excited persons
brought out the city ambulances by
telephoning to the Police Department
that a number of persons had been
injured.
WASHINGTON, July 16.-The first
of the earthquake tremors reported
from Los Angeles were recorded by
the seismograph at Georgetown Uni
versity, the instrument indicating a
total duration of 40 minutes.