Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-23

W. have distinct idea
j. \. WYE what a quake is
like Fullerton came through with
very little damage, how much to two
of it's largest buildings is still un-
known. They were cracked and pos
sibly twisted somewhat.
We live in little one-storied cot
tage six blocks from the main street
of this city of 10000 population. Most
of the residences here are but one
story. 1t is we'll, too, that this is so,
if one would guard against the vio-
lence of earthquakes.
We are but twenty-five miles away
from Long Beach, where the fury OF
the disturbance spent itself followed
by death and destruction. We are
ten miles from Santa Ana, where
three were killed, and six miles from
Garden Grove, where one life was
lost.
Describes Quake.
| always have thought of an earth
quake as represented by pictures in
the old Biographies showing the sur
face of the earth with great fis-
sures running in all directions into
which the unfortunates fall and are
swallowed up. However, such an idea
is far from the truth. Let me de-
scribe our feelings as it came upon
us. 1t was six minutes of six p. m.
! last Friday. | know the exact time
because we have an electric clock,
run by electricity. ThN current went
off and the clock stopped. Mrs. WYE
was in the sitting room, while / was
in the kitchen having just lighted the
gas stove and put some water on to
| boil. Instantly the house began to
wave back and forth similar to waves
Of water. 1t was not violent but In
rhythmic fashion. / walked into the
room where Mrs. wye was, who upon
the first shock dropped for safety to
the floor and lay flat. | stood up
and kept my balance fairly we'll while
/ the dance of the giant Titan went on.
Oh, it only lasted a few seconds,
| probably fifteen, but they were long
seconds as we swung back and forth.
Then the movement stopped. A few
things were out of place in the room,
| but only one piece of glassware was
damaged. We were unframed and
think little frightened Personally
have the characteristic of realizing
little of fright in the presence of
danger, but fright comes to me after
wards. 1t was so in this instance.
But if you think that your danger
is over after the first shock, you are
mistaken. In exactly ten minutes
more another tremor gave us a second
swing, but this time not quite so
acute as the first. 1t was quite salts
flying, however. 1t is not necessary
| to describe these various shocks as
they came, suffice it to say that dur
| ing the first hour we had seven of
them, and for the twelve hours fol-
lowing they came internationally at
on Saturday we felt them throughout
the day and even last night and today
| Sunday some were cavorting around.
! About s p. m. Mrs. Wye retired
and at 8 ] went down town to see
what was going on. Remarkable as
it may seem, everyone was calm. 1t
is true that good many were out
side standing in groups in their yards
believing this more safe than stay
ing in the house. At ten, was home
again tuning in and getting the latest
news flashes from the Los Angeles
dailies. ] went to bed and slept till
morning although was awakened sew
eral times during the night by the
| tremOrS.
AS | look back on this experience,
J am convinced that there is little
danger from an earthquake, if you
live in small house. The greatest
danger is in tall buildings or from
falling bricks or timber while passing
by them. AS 1 now recall it, there
was no noise preceding the shock,
as one hears from an approaching
violent wind storm. An earthquake
comes upon you without warning, like
thief in the night. We are glad
that it is over, and have no banker
ing for another such experience.
Once is enough.
| Our gas and water mains were UNI
affected. Just why the electric light
went out. / do not know. / suspect
that at the main power plant the
switch was thrown off, for in short
time even before we had time to
worry much about finding candles,
they were back on again. My watch
1 (COntjnued On Pare "a