REPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE COMMISSION. 
Table giving data in regard to the moving of furniture. 



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Directions. furniture, ete,, specie) ere Directions, furniture, ete., pk ee 
moved, moved, — moved. : “moved, a 
NW. 19 14 SSE. 2 
SW. 31 6 ESE. 0.3 
NE. 18 4 ENE. 0.3 
SE. 11 6 NNE 0.3 a 
NNW. 1.3 W. 5 5 
WNW. Ld 2 E. 34 2 
WSW. 2.0 N. ye By 
SSW. 1.3 S. 3 3 







Here again the movements in northwest, southeast, southwest, and northeast direc- 
tions far outnumbered all others. The total movements in these directions is 79 per 
cent. There were many cases of movements in directions slightly oblique to these, but 
tending the same way, which, if included, would swell the total. The southwest direc- 
tion was much more frequent than the northwest, and the movements along southwest- 
northeast lines were much in excess of those at right angles. The west and east shiftings 
were more frequent than those to the north and south. The pieces of furniture moved 
in various ways, tipping over, sliding, and jumping. The movements were often back 
and forth. There is an apparently authentic case of a china closet tipping to the north- 
west, resting at an angle of about 60° against an obstruction, and tipping back 
to its original position. The number of heavy pianos, stoves, and safes which were 
moved is given in the preceding table. Sixty-six per cent of them were moved north- 
west and southeast and southwest and northeast. The evidence is especially good in 
such cases as the sliding of cash registers and scales on smooth counters, which in several 
instances went northwest, southwest, and southeast. The ornamental top of a soda 
fountain, balanced and free to fall any way, fell toward the southwest. 
Experiences and testimony of people. — An earthquake comes and goes so suddenly 
and unexpectedly, and there are so many things to think about, even when one is able 
to formulate any thoughts whatever, that the description by people of the manner in 
which they felt the shock is apt to be only fragmental at best. It is the almost universal 
testimony in the San Mateo region that the first shock was followed by a lull, and that 
this was followed by a renewal of the motion in a different direction. Many state that 
the shock following the momentary lull was the heavier of the two. As to which of 
the two movements along lines northwest-southeast and southwest-northeast came 
first, little evidence has been forthcoming. Persons who agreed in regard to there being 
two successive directions of vibration differed as to which preceded. There were two 
cases of the spilling of liquids noticed by persons, and in both the statement was made 
that the liquid splasht toward the northwest at the first shock. In one of these cases 
the northwest splash was followed by one toward the southeast. A lady who was awake 
when the shock came said that things on the southeast side of the room began falling 
first. A jeweler declared that he was satisfied, from the movement of his pendulums, 
that the main shock was southwest and northeast. Two people were thrown out of bed 
in the same house, one of them being thrown northeast, the other southwest. One of 
these, after getting up, was thrown southeast from a standing position. 
Splashing of liquids. — A form of evidence that could not be influenced by artificial 
position of any kind is that of the splashing of liquids. It is, however, evidence that 
is difficult to get at, partly because the signs of direction are so transient, and partly 
because even when they remain long enough to be seen, they are apt to be either care- 
lessly or not at all observed. The 30 cases of spilling that were considered trustworthy 
and were recorded point to movements northwest-southeast and southwest-northeast. 
