THE LONE PINE EARTHQUAKE. A FEARFUL .SCENE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2719, 25 April 1906, Page 34

THE LONE PINE EARTHQUAKE. A FEARFUL .SCENE.

The earthquake in California of March 26, 1872, known as the Lone Pine earthquake, was of a most- destructive character. Aboaj; 2.30 a-.ni. the inhabitants of Lone Pine were awakened by a loud explosion, followed by a terrible upheaval and shaking of the earth from south to north. In an instant ihe whole .town was in ruins, not a. building being left standing. The scene which ensued beggared description; ' screams and groans rent the air in all directions. Nearly the whole populaoo of the town (says a paper of that date) was »buried beneath the ruins; cries for help and -screams of pain from the wounded filled the ajr, while from the ruins those - whoj; had «eca.ped were calling for help . to "regeuW fathers, brothers, wives, and children ,in it. manner agonising- to hear. The first shock was^fuJlo wed in. quick' succession by three* others. . Over £00 distinct shocks were - jfelt" 'fca lf-past 2 and sunrise ; in -fact, "the -earth was 'in constant shake and tremble for -over three hours. A cKasin was ' opened extending .< 35 . miles down the -,valley', ranging" from 3in to 40ft in " /width. "Rockß. were torn from thsir places *nd rolled down into the valley. Over 600 distinct shoots were felt within 58 hours after the -first. Up to Wednesday morning fully 1000 distinct shocks were felt. At Tibbetts's hraiich, 15 miles above Independence, about 40 acres of ground sunk about 7ffc fcelow the surface of the surrounding country. Big Owens lake rose 4ft since the fijat shock. Owens Hiver ran over its banke, depositing shoals of fish ou the shor<; after it receded. For a distance of three or- four miles through Lone Pine the earth cracked; on© -side remained stationary, while the other sank 7ft or Bft, leaving a. wall of earth extending over three miles in length wore formerly was a level plain. Innumerable cracks were made throughout the valley. Kern trad Owens Rivers turned md ran * up-stream . for several minutes, leaving then: beds dry, and finally returned with largely increased volumes of water. Some of the shocks were preceded by deafening reports, as thouzh the mountains were being rent in two ; others were accom-pa-nied by a low continuous rumble. a« of I train of cars running underground.