81 



June 13. — A smart shock in San Francisco, which 

 Was felt at San Louis Obispo and San Fernando. 



Dec. 2. — A shock at Downieville. 



Bee. 31. — A smart shock at Downieville. Total 

 number recorded in 1851 is sis. 



1852. 



From the beginning of this year, until past its 

 third quarter, no disturbances were noted, until the 

 month of November. 



Nov. 26. — The number of shocks noticed on this 

 day at Sau Simeon was eleven, and at Los Angeles 

 and San Gabriel the same number. The same num- 

 ber, or nearly so, was observed by parties having in 

 charge a government train in transit from Camp 

 Yuma to San Diego. This earthquake was felt over 

 the entire country east and south of Sau Luis Obis- 

 po, to San Diego and the Colorado river, covering a 

 line of about 300 miles square. Subsequent accounts 

 prove that it affected the country south of the Colo- 

 rado as far Guyamas in the province of Sonora. 



For the term of sis days subsequent to the 26th, 

 the entire south part of the State was convulsed, 

 with slight intermissions. During their continuance 



I a mud volcano broke out upon the Colorado Desert, 

 and another south of the Colorado, one of which was 

 visited by a portion of the U. S. command under 

 Maj Heintzleman. 

 Dee. 17. — Two smart shocks occurred in San Luis 

 Obispo, which fractured the walls of two adobe 

 buildings, and threw down part of the wall of the 

 house belonging to, and occupied by Don Jesus Pico 

 and family. 



During the month of December the southern and 

 middle portions of California were much disturbed, 

 and the effects were felt as far north as the 37th 

 parallel. 



The shocks continued into the month of January, 

 and were noticed until the 5th of this month on the 

 San Joaquin. 



The period of time inclusive between the 16th 

 November (the date of the sad earthquake of Banda 

 Neira, in the Mollucas) and the 26th January, 1853, 

 cannot but be regarded as one of the most remarka- 

 ble periods of modern date. During this period a 

 greater proportion of the earth's surface was convul- 

 sed by eubteranean forces, than has been known for 

 many years, in the same length of time. 



The area most severely affected by these phenom- 

 ena is included in the parallels of 40° south 

 and 37° north latitude inclusive, making 76 degrees 

 of latitude, and extending from 120° east to 45° 

 west longitude, making 210 degrees of longitude, or 

 nearly equal to three fifths of the equatorial circum- 

 ference of the earth. 



At this time the coast of eastern Asia, the Islands 

 of the South Indian Ocean, Singapore, the Moliuc- 

 cas, the east coast of China, the north, east, and south 

 of Australia, the coast of California, Mesico, and 

 South America, with portions of the Atlantic coast, 

 south of the 34 th parallel shared in the general dis- 

 turbance that prevailed upon our own shores during 

 the period above named. 



With the 26th of January ceased the vibrations 

 on thiscoastat that time, (that were perceptible 

 without the use of instruments), but it appears that 

 they continued much later on the east coast of China 

 and Australia, extending into the month of Febru- 

 ary. 



1 853, 



Jan. '.'. .— A smart shock felt in Mariposa, and at 

 the same time in San Francisco, Shasta City, and 

 Bodega. 



Jan. 5.— A shock at Corte Maderia. 



Feb. 14. — A light shock at San Luis Obispo. 



March 1.— A Smart shock at San Francisco, felt 

 at San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. 



April 24 — A light shock at Humboldt Bay. 



April 26. — Three shocks at Weaverville. 



June 2. — Two smart shocks on the plains of the 

 San Joaquin. 



July 12. — Alight shock in Yreka, Siskiyou Co. 



Sept. 3. — Four shocks on the San Joaquin and Sa- 

 linas Plains. 



Oct. 23. — Three heavy shocks at Humboldt Bay. 



Oct. 25. — A light shock at Humboldt Bay. 



Nov. 16. — A light shock at San Jose. 



JVov. 21. — A shock at San Francisco. 



Dec. 11. — A light shock at San Francisco and Mis- 

 sion Dolores. 



Dec. 23.— A light shock at Shasta City. 



Total number recorded in 1853 is 15 



1854. 



Jan. 3. — Two smart shocks in Mariposa, and felt 

 at the same time in Shasta. 



March 2. — A light shock in San Francisco. 



March 20. — A shock in Stockton. 



April 29. — A light shock at Santa Barbara. 



May 23. — A shock at Crescent City. 



May 31. — An earthquake at Santa Barbara, at 10 

 minutes before 5 o'clock in the morning. There 

 were three vibrations, the first of which was accom- 

 panied with a deep rumbling : the second was pre- 

 ceded by aloud rushing sound, like the approach of 

 a strong wind. About four or five seconds elapsed 

 between each shock. The sea was much disturbed, 

 and a heavy surf swell came in soon after the second 

 shock was felt, which passed some thirty feet beyond 

 the old wreck near the embarcadero. The inhabi- 

 tants left their beds in their night attire, and sought 

 the street. But little damage was done. 



June 26. — Two light shocks in Placer county. 



July 10. — One shock at Georgetown. 



July 14. — One shock at Georgetown. 



Sept. 14. — A light shock at Nevada. 



Oct. 21.— A light shock at Monterey 



Oct. 26. — A smart shock at San Francisco, felt 

 also at Benicia. Vessels lying at the wharves worked 

 heavily on their hawsers. 



Total number of earthquakes in 1854 is 12. 



EARTHQUAKES DURING THE TEAR 1S55. 



The following is the record of the number of earth- 

 quakes that have occurred during 1856 in the State 

 of California, with the date and hour of the day at 

 which they were observed. 



Jan. 13. 6.^ P. M. — A smart shock occurred at San 

 Benito and San Miguel, and was felt also, though 

 light, at San Luis Obispo, 



Jan. 24, 10 P. M. — A heavy shock of an earth- 

 quake was felt at Downieville, continuing seven or 

 eight second/. This shock was felt severely at Gib- 

 sonville on the north, at Forest City. Minesota, I >r 

 leans Flat, Eureka, Georgetown, and Nashville, or 

 the Cosumnes, south, and at the Keystone Ranch 

 (Yuba Co.) on the west, The entire distnnoe in n 

 north and south direction affected, was ninety-fi ui 

 miles, and is a westerly line thirty miles, It was 

 preceded by a profound rnmblingi accompanied by n 

 ru bing sound like the approach of a strong wind in 

 the distance. This shock sin.uk buildings severely. 

 A large pinnacle of rock, about 100 feel In height. 

 was precipitated from the top Df the Downieville 

 Butte down to the south fori Of the Yuba at its base. 

 . .,, 10 A. M. was tell at Woi' 



