190 EARTHQUAKES ON THE PACIFIC COAST 



1892. April 21; San Francisco. 



Quite a sharp shock was felt in this city this morning- a few minutes 

 before 10 o'clock. The temblor appears to have extended over a 

 good portion of the central and northern part of the State, 

 though, happily, in most sections no damage was done. In 

 Solano and Yolo counties, however, the destruction was consid- 

 erable. The town of Winters appears to have suffered most. 

 The earthquake felt in this city to-day extended over a wide area. 

 The disturbance was felt as far east as Reno, as far north as St. 

 Helena, and as far south as Fresno. According to reports, it 

 was of longer duration in the interior than in this city, where 

 the period of vibration was not less than three nor more than six 

 seconds. 



Upon the question of duration there is the testimony of two ex- 

 perts with chronometers at their elbows. Mr. F. W. Edmonds, 

 who is employed in the Geodetic Survey Office, noted the time 

 as follows: 



h. m. ^. 



Beginning 9 42 27.4 



Ending 9 42 30.2 



He noted further that the direction of the vibrations was from 

 east to west. 

 Thomas Tennant, the well-known nautical instrument maker, was 

 standing wdth his face to a chronometer. His record is as follows: 



h. in. s 



Beginning 9 42 30 



Ending 9 42 36 



Vibrations east and west. Rolling shock. — T. T. 



Those in the upper stories of buildings were the most startled, and 

 the effect upon the majority was to make them hasten to their 

 doors, reaching there, however, only in time to appreciate that 

 the critical moment had passed and they were safe. The average 

 clock is very sensitive to jars of any kind, and the earthquake 

 stopped the swing of many a pendulum (V). But no serious 

 damage is reported from any part of the city. 



" A light shock was felt in this city at 7.14 p. m. Duration 2 sec." 

 — T. T. 



1892. April 21; Vacaville. 



Another earthquake was felt this morning, not so severe as those 

 of the preceding days. Some shaky walls were demolished and 

 a number of ceilings cracked, but no serious damage is yet 

 reported. Slight shocks were felt at 6.15 and at 7.23 this evening. 

 There was no special damage done, though the people were 

 badly frightened. Governor Markham has sent twenty-five tents. 

 Occupation of tents is general. 



