EAETHQUAKES ON THE PACIFIC COAST 199 



The public schools were dismissed. All the pupils g-ot out without 

 creating a panic. At the city prison the greatest excitement pre- 

 vailed. A number of police officers rushed into the street, ex- 

 pecting the collapse of the old building. Jailer John McManus 

 stood at his post, with key in hand, prepared to turn loose the 

 prisoners in case the building showed signs of collapsing. 



1892. April 21; Dixon. 



At 9.40 this morning the people of Dixon were warned of the 

 approach of another earthquake, and the streets were soon filled 

 with people rushing out of buildings in search of a place of 

 safety. Small shocks continued at intervals all day, and to-night 

 the houses are nearly all deserted and people are walking the 

 streets. 



The brick buildings are still standing, but every shock cracks them 

 worse, and people expect them to fall down. The frame build- 

 ings are receiving so much shaking that many of the occupants 

 have fled to the country for safety. 



In the country things are getting to be in a frightful condition. 

 Hardly a farmhouse has escaped injury, and many of them have 

 been moved off their foundations. Most of the occvipants have 

 put up tents out in the fields. Reports of damage coming in 

 to-day place the losses much higher that at first estimated, and 

 it is now considered that $100,000 will not cover the loss. 



1892. April 21. 



Santa Rosa received a severe earthquake shock at 9.40 a. m. to-day. 

 The vibrations were from east to west, and lasted fully fifteen 

 seconds. A deep rumbling sound was heard just before the first 

 movement was felt. There were five vibrations, increasing in 

 intensity to the last, which cracked many brick buildings and 

 precipitated a good deal of plaster to the floor (VII). In two 

 places brick walls were slightly bulged out, iron columns moved, 

 and in some parts of the town chimneys were wrecked. 



Many think that the shocks of to-day were much severer than w^ere 

 the shocks of Tuesday morning. The rumble of the earthquake 

 was preceded by perfect stillness in the atmosphere. 



The court-house was slightly damaged and everybody in it more or 

 less frightened. 



1892. April 21; Snisun. 



Two severe shocks and one or two slight ones were experienced 

 here to-day. The first heavy shock occurred about 9.40 a. m. and 

 the next at 7.15 p. m. Although not so severe as that of Tuesday 

 morning, they have terrified the people. All the stores were 

 closed at 7.30 o'clock in the evening. Plaster was torn from many 

 buildings, window panes were broken, clocks stopped, and many 

 chimneys thrown down (VII). 



