GOVERNMENT AND OTHER PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

Southland Times, Issue 1081, 30 December 1868, Page 3

GOVERNMENT AND OTHER PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

The U.S. Marine hospital at E-incon Point is so badly shattered that it will probably have to be taken down and entirely rebuilt. The building, which is one of the largest in the city, and has long been a conspicuous landmark, has for some time been in a precarious situation, and threatening to fall, owing to the excavations and street improvements in the vicinity. The first shock of yesterday's earthquake caused the great structure to sway to and fro, and the cracking of timbers and fell of masouary dreadfully alarmed the helpless patients,- some 200 in number, all of whom were aware of the unsafe condition of the building. Dr Jf C. Tucker, resident physician and surgeon bf the institutiou, and his assistants exerted themselves to the utmost to allay their fears, and as there was every indication that the building would soon fell under repeated shocks, he had them carefully removed and an encampment formed on the grounds adjacent, where they were placed under tents, sheds, &c. The family of Dr Tucfcer also left the premises. The United States custom house, on the corner of Battery and Washington

streets, built in 1852, upon a foutid.ition of piles and stone and sand fillings. _ It h.is- been repeatedly injured by slight shocks, large fissures have been visible in its walls, outside and inside, for several years past. This building, which is massive and lars;e, has suffered terribly by this earthquake. On each story the ceilings are shattered, and plastering is strewn upon the floors, large cracks in the Avails and the whole establishment rendered untenable. At the*U. S. Branch Mint, on Com-mercial-street, the excitement was intense. The tall chimney swayed considerably and was injured somewhat in its masonry, but did not fall. Business was discontinued at the courts, and all public offices were closed. THE CITY HALL. „ The City Hall is very much injured, ( and probably beyond repair. The in- ■ terior is a sad scene of confusion ; plasr tering, bricks, and mortar^strewn about, arches leading to the various departments broken, and the offices, with but few exceptions, deserted. The Courts, of course, are all adjourned. The pri soners in the station house in the basement have been taken to the County Jail. The. officers of , the Fire Department, inciting the bell' ringers, however, still at their posts. The front wall threatens to fall in a body into Kearny-street, portions having already fallen and a rope is stretched around the building to prevent passers from apprqgjehing too near.. "■„. EECOBB OP SHOCKS. A light tremulous motion of the earth has been experienced nearly all dajfc and there are records of fwenty-five light shocks, but not above ten or a dozen have been noticed at this office, as follow : — 7.55 a.m., principal shock ; 8.10 a.m., lesser shock ; 1.15 A.M., tremblings ; 8.30 A.M., tremblings j: 8.45 A.M., iremblings : 9.20 a.m., tremblifigs; 9.35 a.m., tremblings; 10 a.m., tremblings ; 10.25 a.m., quite distinct shocks ; *11.05 A.M., light ; SiOSr'p.M.f light ; 550 P.M., light; 7.05 p.m., quite distinct shock. At 12.30 this .morning, two distinct shocks were experienced. The last one being the heaviest.