EARTHQUAKES OIs' THE PACIFIC COAST 49 



1857. January 9; IX, 



Fort Tejon. On ninth January, 1857, an earthquake shook the earth 

 from Fort Yuma (IX) to Sacramento (VI). It was most severe 

 at Fort Tejon (IX). A loud rumbling accompanied the shock at 

 Tejon, San Bernardino, Visalia (IX) and Mojave Valley. The 

 waters of the jNIokelumne Eiver were thrown upon the banks, so as 

 to leave the bed bare in one place. The current of Kern River 

 Avas turned up stream, and the Avater ran four feet deep over the 

 bank. The water of Tulare Lake (IX) was thrown upon its 

 shores; and the Los Angeles Eiver (IX) was flung out of its bed. 

 Some of the artesian wells in Santa Clara Valley ceased to run, 

 and in other places the water increased. Near San Fernando, a 

 large stream of water ran from the mountains, where there was 

 no water before. In San Diego and San Fernando, several houses 

 were thrown down (IX), at San Buenaventura (IX) the roof of 

 the Mission Church fell in. Several new springs were formed 

 near Santa Barbara. In the San Gabriel Valley the earth opened 

 several miles long; and in one place the river left its bed and 

 folloAved the new opening. A larg-e fissure was made in the west- 

 ern part of San Bernardino. At Fort Tejon nearly all buildings 

 were thrown down, large trees overthrown, and the earth opened 

 in a fissure twenty feet wide and forty miles long; the sides then 

 came together with such violence that a ridge was formed ten 

 feet wide and several feet high. At Eeed's ranch, near Fort Tejon, 

 a house was thrown down and a woman in it killed. — B. Ms. — 

 Hittell's Resources, pp. 42-43. At San Benito (VIII or IX?), 15 or 

 20 miles N. W. of San Benito, Dr. Canfield's Diary says 3 shocks, 

 the first about sunrise [which mvsls at 7.23 a. m.], lasting not over 

 5 seconds, accompanied by noise. The second about 8 a. m., " very 

 much more violent — pieces of mortar fell from the walls — I was 

 almost thrown from my seat — this lasted for a minute or two [!] 

 and I then went out of doors, when the oscillation returned and 

 lasted perhaps a minute, but was quite gentle." The direction 

 was S. to N. A person lying down reported a shock at 10 a. m., 

 which was not felt by persons in motion (II). 



1S57. January 16; V. 



Severe shock at Los Angeles. — B. Ms. 5 p. m. — Perrey. 



1857. January 17; ni^Iit. 



Two shocks; January 18, 8 a. m.; [at Los Angeles?] — Perrey. 



1857. January IS: O a. m.; III. 



A light shock at Martinez and Benicia, Cal. — J. B. T. ^lonterey. — 

 Perrey. 



1857. January 20; 81i. 30m. a, m.; V. 



Strong shock at Santa Cruz and Mission San Juan, Cal. — J. B. T. 



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