Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1902 — QUAKES IN THE WEST. [ARTICLE]

QUAKES IN THE WEST.

TOWNS IN NEBRASKA AND DAKOTA SHAKEN. Yankton, Tilden and Norfolk Among Cities Affected—Parts of California Also Feel the Disturbance and Some Slight Damage Is Done. An earthquake shock so severe as to cause consternation in many places is reported from towns In Nebraska, western lowa and South Dakota. The disturbance occurred shortly before 1 o’clock Monday afternoon and lasted from ten to fifteen seconds. This was the first earthquake shock ever felt in Nebraska in the history of the State. The wave swept over a stretch about 200 miles square. The center of the disturbance was near Norfolk, Neb., but Tilden, Neb., reports the hardest shock. At that place dishes were thrown down, brick walls were cracked, wells dried up and other damage resulted. Three distinct shocks were felt at Tilden. At the Santee Indian agency several shocks were felt. They were accompanied by deep rumblings. On the Omaha and Winnebago reservation the earthquake terrorized the Indians, who had never experienced anything of the kind. The Indians were holding festivities in honor of visitors from the Indian Territory. Hundreds were gathered in the big tent when the shocks came. Fright seized the gathering and the dances were broken up. These agencies are not far from Mount loula, Nebraska’s volcano, and the Indians immediately gave that mountain the credit for the disturbances. Two hundred towns felt the disturbances. Among those reporting the hardest shocks are Tilden, Oneil, Petersburg, Elgin, Oakdale, Battle .Creek, Norfolk, JEwing, Neligh, Randolph and Clearwater. At Battle Creek there was almost a panic. Houses shook perceptibly and rumbling noises resembling thunder added to the terror of the inhabitants of the place. Many rushed into the streets and for some time would not go near structures that were likely to cause injury in case of a possible collapse. The vibrations were so pronounced as to knock down insecurely fastened brnaments and rattle dishes. The tremor continued for about fifteen seconds and was felt at many near by towns. Yankton, S. D., felt a shock of twelve seconds' duration. The disturbance seems to have been more clearly felt along the boundary line between Nebraska and South Dakota, although a number of places in both States were affected. In Omaha the shake was barely discernible and few people knew of such a thing until the weather bureau reported it. Felt in California. A severe earthquake shock was felt in Lompec Valley, Cal., at 10:55 o’clock Sunday night. The shock lasted fully thirty seconds, and was so severe that dishes, clocks, house plants, etc., were thrown from shelves and furniture and other articles were upset. The people were stricken with terror and ran from their houses, some fearing to return, as other lighter shocks continued for several hours afterward. Another heavy shock was felt at 5 a. m. and one at 11 a. m. Monday. A large water tank was knocked over; the earth cracked at many places. The Santa Ynez river bed slightly changed at places. Meager advices from Los Alamos, near Santa Barbara, report that a severe shock was felt Sunday night at about 11 o’clock, doing $15,000 damage to the property of the Western Union Oil Company at the Garreaga wells. At Harris Station a fissure is reported to have opened, and from it a stream of water two feet deep and eighteen feet wide is flowing. A slight shock was felt in Santa Barbara, but no damage was done. At Santa Maria the vibrations, which were from east to west, lasted forty-live seconds.