FEARFUL EARTHQUAKES IN AMERICA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 228, 13 June 1872, Page 8

FEARFUL EARTHQUAKES IN AMERICA.

The earthquake shocks at Lone Pine, U.S., have been terrible. They commenced on March 2(3th. The town was in ruins. Twenty-three people were killed and about thirty wounded. Five hundred heavy shocks occurred in thirty hours, and about fifty houses were shaken down. A telegram says . — The scene which ensued beggars description. Screams and groans rent che air in all directions. Nearly the whole populace of the- town were buried beneath tli3 ruins ; cries for holp and screams of pain from the wounded filled the air, .wh'le from the ruins those who had escaped were calling for help to rescue fathers, brothers, wives, and children were agonizing to hear. The first shock was followed in quick succession by three others. Over three hundred shocks were felt between halfpast two and sunrise ; in fact, the earth was iv a constant shake and tremble for over three hours. A chasm was opened extending thirty-five miles down the valley, ranging from three inches to forty feet in width. Rocks were torn from their places aud rolled down into the valley. Everywhere through the valley aro seen evidences of tho terrible convulsion of nature. And this is a description of the shock felt next day, and what resulted : — Up to Wednesday morning fully one thousand distinct shocks were felt. At Tibhet's ranch, fifteen miles above Indepondance, about forty acres of ground sunk about seven feet below the surface of the surrounding •country. Big Owens Lake has risen four feet since the first shock. Owens River ran over its bank, depositing shouls of fish on shore after it receded. For a distance of three or four miles through Long Pino the earth cracked, one side remaining stationary, while the other sank seven or ei^ht feefc, leaving a wall of earth-ex-tending over three miles in length, where formerly was a level plain. Innumerable cracks were made throughout the valley. Kern and Owens rivers turned and ran up-stream for several minutes, leaving their beds dry, and finally returned with largely increased volumes of water.

A Western paper predicts that one of its State Senators " will live Mid be honoured aud beloved by all the State when, tho tall prairio grass refuses to sig'u a sad and plaintive requiem, over tho graves of some of his detainers.