Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1899 — EARTHQUAKES IN CALIFORNIA [ARTICLE]

EARTHQUAKES IN CALIFORNIA

Many Towns on the Ctanst Severely Shaken by Henry Shark.

Christmas morning at 425 o'eteek a severe earthqaake ririted Southern California and caused extensive disaster. At San Jarintm. a town in Riverside County, the shock seemed to have had its center. It lasted twelve seconds only. hut the severity was great. At the Baboda Indian reservation six squaws were killed by falling walls, two fatally and many seriously injured. The mam shock was preceded by a Ikmd. roaring snund and awakening many just in time to escape from the doomed buddings. The business street was such a wreck tons of debris had to be removed before buddings ovik. be entered. Over SlVn> damage is estimated at San Jarinto and at llemit, a small town near by. At the latter place the large tourist hotel was badly damaged and also the teispital at San Jaeinto. The rear wall of the Johnston Work in Hemit feUL Fortunately &■ perse® was injured at either fftwv so far as is known.

Other placers where th»- stench was severely Mt were Santa Ana. Ante-trn. San BcrTisrdiaa and Riverside. However, no heavy damage is reported from any of itee-e places. In Santa Ana guests of bedels were aiu««*st rolled from their beds, dock* were stopped and brick walls of several buildings were badly cracked. People roused from their l>eds, rusted to the streets, some in their night dsthing, and remained up until daylight. The shock was terrific at Needles, but no seri*®s damage was reported. At Ventura horrses were damaged ansi the shock was followed by a high wind and heavy sea. The heaviest earthquake ever known occurred at Anaheim. It lasted ten seconds and was violent frocu the beginning. lodging houses were emptied and the streets were filled with shivering l«rcqde. A number of buihHngs were cracked, but no serious damage was done. The county hospital at Bowers was damaged by the earthquake. The steak almost shook Hemit to pares. There are but two chimneys left in town. At Redlands the shock lasted one minnte and a quarter.