SANTA BARBARA QUAKE

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1925, Page 2

SANTA BARBARA QUAKE

COAIPLETE RUIN FFARED,

[Australia A N X. Cable Association.]

SAN FRANCISCO. June 2D. A message from Los Angeles, con-

taining further particulars of the earthquake, stated that the Southern Pacific Railway is running all its available tank cars to Santa Barbara filled with water, to light the lire there. The first tremor, which occurred early this morning caused practically all the damage, though it was followed by severe jolts every half hour after that for three hours. The buildings demolished include tho Santa Barbara Mission, a relic of the State’s earliest days. State Street, the leading thorough- j jure is undermined completely. Tho bedrooms of residences are exposed, and there is furniture scattered about. * Santa Barbara is the centre of the | resort towns clustering about the sea j coast, and inhabited by a number of prosperious persons. Hundreds of curious tourists wore flocking to the scene for a glimpse of the ruins, when they were checked by all emergency police force. It is feared the city will be a complete ruin if the fires now menacing the wooden houses that are left standing. are not checked. Tbe cite is without light and power. Women and children, with a lew personal belongings, are huddled in groups, imploring aid. BIG HOTEL SHAKES LIKE A RAG. SAN FA NCI SCO, June 29. A Santa Rarba'a message states that the death list in the earthquake to-night was twelve. The property lost is estimated at from three or thirty millions. State Street, the main thoroughfare is described as a ghastly avenue of ruin. Portions ol its most stately buildings have tumbled down. The quakes have continued throughout the day. Terror-stricken. Santa Barbara’s thirty thousand inhabitants arc living

on the I a sirs. Describing the dost ruction of the lug Arlington Hotel, the manger. Air'Richmond said:—“l have been through fiftv earitwjuaUes. lmt never one like this before. It just took the hotel and shook ii hack and forth as if it were a rag. It was precisely as if one were ai sea in a storm. I did not believe it possible for a building to move with such forte in >o many directions so limplv as the Arlington Hotel did. The hotel is a total loss. A TIDAL AY AYE. NEW' YORK. June 29. State Street, Santa Barbara’s main thoroughfare, extends from the beach, a distance *u several miles. It was from two Moreys to ten. Early messages said that all these buildings were Octroyed. The greatest damage came from a tidal wave from the harbour, which swept up State Street. Tbe streets heaved and buckled and as the water mains broke, geysers shot up through ibe pavement. First l here was a gentle tremor, which awakened even the late sleepers. They hurried into tl.e streets. Three minutes later, when everyone was out M di.nrs. the whole earth rose and, seemed to shake itself in some greatjka auger. It rose, then settled spasmodically. with ugly jerks. "\\e rocked and swayed like same turbulent mean.'’ said one describer. ".Minnies that seemed hours passed, until the climax was reached in u crash that could he heard for miles. ■ • Beautiful State Street was no more.'’ The city was choked with a blanket ol cloud and dust. The end of all " seemed tn have come when a gasolene (aide holding 1.9,1 KID gallons, burst, the torrent running down the business section until there were puddles a foot in depth. Fortunately these did not ignite, or there would have been a terrible loss ol life. SHOC KS STILL GOING t)X. SAN FRANCISCO, June 90. At Santa Barbara, the earthquake

shocks are continuing. A violent tremble was felt early on Monday morning, being the heaviest since the shock which wrecked the city. It Jirecedcd additional shucks oil .Monday evening. Bluejackets and naval militia patrol the heart of the business section, hut there is no disorder. SCIEXTIKT’S REPORT. SAX FRAISCISCO, June 30. Father John O’Connor, the seismologist at Fordham University, said that the earth crust is sinking in some places, and tilting in other sections of Xorth America. The continent is undergoing a swifter and more general realignment than ever Ixdore ill its history. TWELYE KILLED. SAX FRAXCJSCO. June 29. The Santa. Barbara damage is estimated at ten millions. Twelve are now known to lie dead. There is the virtual destruction of most of the buildings in the main business streets, this being the toll of the earthquake. FURTHER DETAILS. SAX FRAXCJSCO. June 30. A message from Santa Barbara states three more violent shocks shook the city early to-day following a series of tremors overnight, and caused injuries tn a number of workers and special police. though apparently there were no deaths as the inhabitants have either tied from the city or have taken the precaution to sleep in the open. The total death list is now thirteen. Hollywood jiieture studios provided wonderful spotlights to assist ill the search for the bodies during the night. A general exodus from the city is continuing. Bundle laden families are choking the roads, rent by the earthquakes. Only construction and wrecking crews are being permitted to enter *- tie- ruined business section of the city which is guarded.by soldiers and sailors. The tremendous nerve strain of uncertainty regarding more shocks and fright is causing a difficult situation. Women patients with brunette hair, turned to grey when the hospital rocked. A father and three children wont insane when their home was washed into the ocean by the flood from a broken dam.