SAN FRANCISCO.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, 1 December 1855, Page 3

SAN FRANCISCO.

[From Los Angeles.']

Tremendous Shock of at? Earthquake. — Last evening, July 10th, says the Calif ornian, at about half-past seven o'clock, was experienced the heaviest and most tremendous shock of an earthquake ever known in this country, and one that will be long remembered in this section. Such was its force, that large numbers of our one-storey buildings were cracked from top to bottom, glass and crockery were thrown from the shelves, windows broken, &c. Nearly every merchant in this city suffered quite severely in this manner. Lamps were upset; families seated at the tea-table were dismayed to witness the sudden overturning of tea urns and dishes, and fled affrighted to the open air. Clocks were thrown down. Indeed hardly a building escaped without damage to its walls or destruction of some portion of its contents. The shock lasted several seconds, and appeared to lift up and twist the ground about, accompanied by a roaring noise like the approach of a hurricane. The weather during the day had been somewhat cloudy, and very unusual for this season. There was a slight fall of rain about eleven, a.m. The movements appeared to come up from the east, although its suddenness rendered it impossible to determine with any accuracy its direction. Los Angeles never took as thorough a purge before. Every house was deserted in a trice. There can be no doubt that had our city been composed of three and four storey buildings, it would have been levelled with the ground. Our buildings are generally but one storey, however, and to this fact are we indebted for our escape from what might have been a fearful catastrophe. As it was, walls of two and a-half and three feet in thickness were rent asunder, and a general ripping and crackling took place that created universal consternation, and brought Miller's prophecies vividly to mind. Our citizens are busily engaged to-day in repairing damages in readiness for another shake.

We sometime since, on the arrival of the Allied fleet at this port, mentioned the fact of their having put in here for supplies and a general provisioning and refitting, previous to continuing their cruise. The recent impetus given to. trade, and consequent enhancement of rates which took place from day to day, had the effect of backing off completely the " commissary" awl "quartermaster" agents of the fleet, and the French squadron has sailed hence, as we are credibly informed, without having taken in any stores whatever. The calculations are that they can procure such supplies as are needful, and in perfect abundance, at less exorbitant rates, in Valparaiso and southern ports : hence they have sailed for that destination. — S. F. Herald.

Arrival of British Men-of-War. — Yesterday H.B.M. flag-ship Monarch, Captain G. Patey, and frigate President, Commander It. Burridge, arrived from Petropoloski via Sitka, all well, and anchored at Sancelito, where the usual salutes were exchanged. Admiral Bruce, with his staff, is now on board the President, and to-day will be transferred to the Monarch, the flag-ship of the squadron. By these arrivals we learn that Admiral Bruce had entered Sitka in the British steamer Brisk, where an exchange of prisoners had taken place. Three Russians had been exchanged for one Englishman and one Frenchman. The Frenchman is badly wounded, and will scarcely recover. H.B.M. frigate Pique, Captain Nicholson, had sailed for the Amoor River, and thenoe to China. The steamer Brisk and frigate Dido were to touch at Vancouver's Island, and from thence to this port.

Salt Mines in* Lower California. — The schooner Honolulu arrived on Wednesday, from Point San Qnentin, Lower California, with a cargo of rock salt, taken from the beds in Lower California, about five miles from Point San Qucntin. The bed or lake, as it is termed, from which the cargo of the Honolulu was procured, extends over an area of about one mile in length by three-quarters of a mile in width. The depth averages about four inches, solid crystal salt. Adjacent to this bed is another of much greater dimensions, and it is estimated by our informant, that, at the centre of this deposit, the salt lies at full sixteen feet in depth. A specimen of the salt in its original state was analysed yesterday by a chemist of this city, and "the result proved it to be pure muriate of soda, or common salt of the best quality. The crystals are beautifully formed, and easy of solution. The Isthmus is exceedingly healthy: the railroad continues in excellent order, trains crossing regularly in three or four hours. The Railway Company have just received from New York three or four large iron barges, which are being put up in Panama, for the purpose of conveying passengers, mails, and freights from the steamers to the shore, which will effectually do away with the use of small boats.

Judge Lynch in* Asfinwali,. — "We are informed, says the Star, that on Friday last " Judge Lynch " showed himself in Aspmwall in full power, and spread considerable dismay and astonishment among the two or three authorities there and the natives generally. It appears that the Alcade was suspected of having arrested an English butcher, tied him to a stake, brutally flogged him, and then thrown him into prison. The report spread like wildfire, and the foreign population immediately proceeded in a body to the Alcade to demand satisfaction, and administer summary punishment for the outrage 1 . On their arrival they found the house filled or surrounded by natives, armed with machetes, and it was some time before they could procure admission. Meanwhile, the British Consul had applied officially to the Jefe Politico for the man's immediate release, which he thought it wise to grant without demur. On the arrival of the order from the Jefe Politico to the Alcade, n parley was opened between the latter and the " Lynch" party, which resulted in explanations which led to a satisfactory settlement. The Alcade denied all participation in the matter, beyond ordering the butcher's arrest for a breach of law : but it appears that he grew unruly, and the native government police force — two debilitated creatures — could not manage him without the use of the lasso, and having pinioned him thus, they led him to the police office. Here he got into a quarrel with one of his guards, who slapped him in the face, which

outrage was extended into the tying and flogging alluded to.