286 REPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE COMMISSION. 
Several good observers out of doors are positive that the noise of the quake came from 
the southeast and died away toward San Francisco. In the afternoon of the 18th, my 
wife heard the noise of a shock and called out before we felt the shock itself. The noise 
seemed to come from the south or southeast. 
Many persons saw waves in the ground. Sifting out exaggerations, these appeared 
to be rather more than a foot in height. The best observer estimated the distance from 
crest to crest at 60 feet, others at much less; but I think the waves must have been 
greater, for there is no evidence in long brick walls showing any such vertical cracks as 
would have been produced by short waves. 
Six miles southwest from San Jose, a good observer described the waves as parallel 
with certain tree-rows which are northeast and southwest, and stated that the waves 
moved from him at right angles to the line and toward San Francisco. Six miles north- 
west from San Jose, a man looking south saw the waves (which he thinks were east and 
west) coming toward him, and hence toward San Francisco. About the middle of 
the quake these were met by other waves, and the whole surface resembled hillocks, 
or cross-seas, while the tree-tops waved wildly. To the man southwest of San Jose, 
however, the tops of the trees were almost still, while the trunks waved sinuously. Near 
me is a piece of ground 10 by 30 feet, raised about 7 inches; while about 150 feet south- 
east of this is an area about a yard square which dropt 6 inches. Possibly these repre- 
sent the crest and trough of an earth-wave. 
I estimate the duration, I think closely, at between 50 and 60 seconds. 
The wells of the vicinity seem to show slightly increased flow. One 80 to 100 feet 
deep has been a little roily since the quake, and one near San Jose was reported as having - 
increased the day before the quake. 
(M. Connell.) —On the farm of Mr. Fox, 3 miles north of San Jose, the water pipe of 
an artesian well was broken off 60 feet below the surface and carried by the heave of 
the land in a northwesterly direction 4 feet from its original position. 
County road south of San Jose (H. R. Johnson). — At Schutzen Park, 2 miles south- 
east of San Jose, the shock was felt quite severely. The road house was badly shaken, 
but very little glassware was broken in the bar-room. A 12,000-gallon water-tank was 
shifted slightly on its foundations. At this place the first part of the shock was thought 
to be quite light and the second part heavy; the general motion was said to be from east 
to west. At the 5-mile house, farther southeast on this same road, there was hardly any 
damage reported. Even plaster in houses did not fall. Thére was also little damage 
at the house 0.5 mile southeast of the 5-mile house. The chimney did not fall, but 
dishes and lamp-shades were broken. The movement was thought to be northwest- 
southeast in direction. 
It was stated by Mr. Russel, of Edenvale, that the shock was lighter there than at 
San Jose. A well-constructed brick building, which was built 3 years ago, had the 
roof loosened and the end walls were cracked. About 3.5 miles southeast of the 5-mile 
house at the Van Every ranch, a chimney fell, plaster on the first floor was badly 
cracked, and furniture slid around upon the floor. Water was spilt from a tank and 
a water-trough. 
Just northwest of the 12-mile house, where the county road crosses to the Fisher ranch, 
there were cracks from 2 to 6 inches wide in the coarse gravelly bottom of the Coyote 
River. There was evidence of water having been ejected from these cracks, as there were 
heaps of clean, fine material surrounding small orifices. It was said at the ranch-house 
that muddy water came out of these openings following the shock. Half a mile south- 
east of Fisher’s, a water-tank was down. 
Half a mile south of the 15-mile house, the Barnhart ranch-house, which was set upon 
wooden underpinning, was thrown from its foundation, so that it rested directly upon the 
