90 EARTHQUAKES ON THE PACIFIC COAST 



March 26. Fifty-two out of fifty-nine buildings were thrown down 

 in Lone Pine, Inyo County. At Los Angeles artesian wells were 

 seriously affected by earthquake. Some of them stopped entirely. 

 At Glennville, Kern County, large and important springs opened. 

 The larger Owens Lake was from 3 to 5 feet higher after the 

 earthquake than before. The little lake 3 miles from Lone Pine 

 entirely disappeared. Owens Kiver, at Independence, dried up and 

 remained dry for six hours. On Tuesday, the first day of the 

 shocks, a dense fog or smoke prevailed over the valley. After the 

 shocks, smoke and fire were seen issuing from the earth, the 

 flames being blue. A river was opened and running between 

 Lone Pine and Inyo Lake, 75 yards wide and 2 feet deep. — 

 B. Ms. — Healdsburg Russian River Flag, April 25, 1872. 



March 20. Inyo Countj\ The night before was calm, clear and 

 frosty, with the moon just past the full. At Big Pine the shock 

 was very severe. At Bishop Creek somewhat less so. At 

 Sierra, brick buildings were cracked. At Benton, the same. At 

 Swansea buildings were leveled. At Belmont, a few stone cabins 

 were thrown down (X). — B. Ms. — Inyo Independent, March 30, 1872. 



March 26. Yosemite Valley (IX), many rocks fell, filling the 

 valley with dust and smoke. The largest trees waved to and fro 

 and were bent about like mere twigs. — B. Ms.— Sf. 2^. Bulletin, 

 April 10, 1872. 



The water of Owens Lake, Inyo County, rose very rapidly in July, 

 1872, sometimes as much as 4 or 5 inches in a night. During this 

 period the water in Owens River, the main and almost only 

 source of supply, w^as constantly diminishing. For a short time 

 after the earthquake the waters of the lake fell several feet and 

 became stationary, remaining at about the same point until the 

 time mentioned. Previous to the earthquake the lake had been 

 steadily rising for 10 j^ears. Innumerable springs broke out all 

 along the foothills. — B. Ms. — Inyo Independent, August 3, 1872. At 

 Lone Pine, Big Pine, Independence, the shock was severest; at 

 Bishop's Creek, Aurora (IX), Benton, and at the south end of 

 Owens Lake the shock vs^as less severe. 



March 26 to April 10. Inyo, Cal. The shocks continued up to April 

 10 at intervals of a few hours, and in the mountains near by 

 explosions were frequent, resembling distant artillery. — B. Ms. — 

 Alta, April 11, 1872, April 12, 1872. 



March 20. Cerro Gordo and Eclipse Mines, Inyo County, Cal. The 

 rocking motion was distinctlj^ observed, especially in the tim- 

 bering, and the miners went to the surface, but soon resumed 

 work. — B. Ms. — Inyo Independent, April 20, 1872. 



March 26, San Francisco, 2.30 a. m. The shock was comparatively 

 light in San Francisco, but was the most severe on record at 

 other places. It extended at least from Eed Bluff, in the north, 



