Terrifying Quake Rocks Southern California

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7104, 13 March 1933, Page 7

Terrifying Quake Rocks Southern California

Seaside Resort Wrecked With Heavy Loss of Life

Los Angeles Badly Shaken

Damage Estimated at 50,000,000 Dollars

United Press Assn.-By Electric Tclegrapli.-Copyright. Received Sunday, 6.30 p.m. LOS ANGELES, Mar. 11

An earthquake spread death and destruction oyer a path 200 miles long by 30 miles wide in Southern California °> Friday night. The death roll from fourteen cities is reported at HO, and the injured 5000. A hundred communities were twisted and tom by a series of 'quakes. There was a mighty upheaval in the ocean south-west of Long Beach, which is D~ lieved to be the centre of the disturbance. Light earth shocks continued over South California on Saturday in the wake of the terrifying ’quake which early on Friday night caused death to at least 182 persons, injuiics to possibly 4000 and millions of dollars in property damage. There have been 23 distinct shocks, but generally of diminishing tendency. Most of the deaths and the destruction of property were confined to the initial shock which was accompanied by a peculiar roar which rocked a section of. the city at 5.55 p.m. on Friday, shaking buildings and starting fires. Some of Saturday’s shocks jarred more of the debris loose from the buildings, particularly in the business section. At Long Beach, 20 miles south of here, which seemed to be the epi-centre of the shake, at least 65 were killed and a 1000 injured.

Dr. Charles Richter, of the Carnegie Institute of Seismological Observatory in Pasadena, expressed the opinion that the worst shocks are over, pointing to scientific records of a hundred shakes which were followed by milder shocks like echoes.

With business buildings practically uninhabitable LongBeach is a scene of relief work. The food shortage which threatened has been averted though hundreds are tempoiaiily homeless. Just what the final figures of the dead and injured may be no oj.|3 can hazard. No cities were actually laid waste nor was the skyline of Long Beach affected. In Los Angeles no large building went down, but here and there throughout the industrial district scenes of damage were evident. Four circular motion shocks, making 22, were felt at 6.26, 6.48, 6.57 and 7.30 on Saturday. Long Beach is guarded by 4000 marines and sailors from the United States battle fleet. The city is believed to have received the brunt of the shocks. Although several small fires occurred the only serious conflagration was in the Polytechnic High School where the science hall was destroyed, the damage being estimated at from half to a million dollars. All the large buildings in the city arc reported to be standing with the major damage confined to falling cornices, chimneys and plateglass windows. Citizens fled from their homes and crowded the public parks to overflowing. On Friday night more than 3000 persons were treated at Los Angeles for injuries, 200 of these being hurt jumping from windows, 100 by explosions and fires, 300 by falling chimneys. Five hundred volunteer surgeons and nurses gave first aid. Long Beach is under martial law. There is no rioting. Five men were killed in the crash of a fire station. Two students died in the high school. The newspaper plant, a theatre and a large department store were wrecked.