WORST SHOCK OF ALL

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18423, 2 July 1925, Page 9

WORST SHOCK OF ALL

MARTIAL JLAW IN FORCE. TOWER FALLS AS CONGREGATION PRAYS. (Stdxey "Sxra" Service.) (Roceived July Ist, 11.5 p.m.) , NEW YORK, June 3a. As the result of further shocks at Santa Barbara early to-day, one surpassing in severity anything experienced yesterday, dawn found the prccariouß highway once more choked with departing citizens. Sections of the main highway towards San Francisco are nearly close, by slides and cracks. The roadways are being patrolled by expert traffic police from San Francisco and Los Angeles. ' Martial law has been declared as a precautionary measure. This morning's 'quakes took the form of a sharp, sudden rising of the earth, accompanied by a terrific roar which lasted a few minutes and was followed by the crash of falling brieks and mortar. The night was one of terrifying darkness, although countless automobile headlights took, the place of the disrupted city system. The damage is estimated at from 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 dollars. Santa Barbara's famous old mission still stands in part, defying this as it did the earthquakes of the eighties. The mission tower, with its sweettoned bells, crashed while the kneeling congregation were bowed within. Thou tho congregation walked out, led by the priest, over the wreckage.

THE CITY BEAUTIFUL. CHRISTCHURCH MUSIC TEACHER'S IMPRESSIONS. "Santa Barbara is, or was, tin- cii-y beautiful oi ! America," 11 r Sydney Iloben, who has lived there, and who X 3 now a teacher of music in Christ-church,■ told a reporter yesterday. "It is the home, or summer home, of many of ths wealthiest people in the United States, a lid they spared no expense in building their wonderful mansions. Host of these residences are from five to ten miles out of the city, at the Forest of "Montecito. The climate is warm all the year round, and a frost that was once'- experienced there caused much astonishment. The Armours of Chicag.-., the Billings of New York, the Swifts of Chicago, the Henahawg, and other millionaires have all palatial homes there. "Tho Spanish element is still. : very strong. All tho architecture reveaU

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it, nnd one of the streets.was designed to reproduce The Mission was a wonuu ing, built by Spanish l.„ n$ n " \lr. Ilobcn said he La.l been organist at t!te First Presbytenaa Church in Santa Barbara, a poffltiou now held by Mr Harold Gregson, formerly of Auckland. -\' " -■ , '' Tho roads in the neighbourhood were, perfect for motorings and it -iva: U3ual for motorists to drive th uilcs from Saifta Barbara to Sag <i*;o. iu a day. , u§|