178 REPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE COMMISSION. 
This account by Mr. Matthes of the effects of the earthquake in the vicinity of Point 
Arena is supplemented by the following account of the destruction effected in the same 
territory by Mr. W. W. Fairbanks, who was on the ground at the time of the shock. 
His note covers the section of country from Alder Creek on the north to the town of Point 
Arena on the south, a distance of 7 miles, and from the coast eastward 1.5 to 2 miles. 
The note is dated May 5, 1906. 
The country described is low and flat, sloping gradually to sea. The coast from the mouth 
of Garcia River north to Alder Creek is low and flat, with sand-dunes. South of the Garcia, 
high and rocky bluffs occur, except at Point Arena Harbor, which is at the mouth of a gulch 
running east to the mountains, the town of Point Arena being on the northern slope and 
bottom of gulch. Three creek bottoms are embraced in this territory, with higher ground 
between, somewhat rolling and with outcroppings of rocky ledges underlying. 
Nearly every house in the territory described was injured, wracked, or moved more or 
less. The interior damage was severe. Stoves were thrown down and smashed into frag- 
ments. Nearly all chimneys were thrown to the east. Many wind-mill tanks were thrown 
down, those not containing water generally escaping. All church steeples stand intact, 
tho in some cases separated from the buildings. All old and flimsy buildings, barns, etce., 
escaped with least damage, many showing no injury or movement. Strong and stiff frame 
buildings suffered most. All brick buildings in the territory were thrown flat to the ground, 
except the government dwelling and light-house at Point Arena. Many frame buildings in 
Point Arena were utterly demolished. Buildings on or near rocky ledges, or buildings upon 
high ground with underlying rock formation, suffered the least; buildings on soft ground 
or creek-bottoms suffered most severely. 
The shock came from a southeasterly direction. A heavy roaring sound preceded the 
shock. The ground moved in undulating swells or waves, rising and falling. Men and 
animals — horses, cows, etc. — were thrown to the ground, and were unable to rise or stand 
during the shock. 
A great crack or fissure in the earth, starting from the sea-coast at the mouth of Alder 
Creek and extending in a direct line about southeast by south, termination unknown, past 
under the large wood and iron bridge over Alder Creek, throwing it into kindling wood. 
It past under the corner of the barn on Antrim’s ranch, wrecking same. It then past thru a 
potato field, and a large section of same sank about 4 feet. Farther on, it past under a water 
pond and the pond went dry, tho the water returned in a few days. It past under another 
barn, a large frame building, and utterly demolished it. All the section of country on the 
westerly side of the crack moved northwest about 8 feet. Buildings on the east side and 
near the crack suffered but little; in fact, the section west of the crack received practically 
all the damage. The crack was about 4 feet wide in places, and the ground was thrown up 
in a great ridge, as by a gigantic plow. 
In Manchester nearly every house was thrown west from 1 to 20 inches. There was one 
exception, however. A strong new frame house, 2-story, was thrown from its concrete 
foundations, the rear end swinging to the north and east 5 feet, the northwest corner acting 
as a pivot and remaining on its foundation pier. The house is built on soft ground near the 
creek bottom, with quicksand formation underlying. The woodshed and other outbuild- 
ings on same lot were thrown and swung in the same direction, but in less degree. Another 
house, 0.5 mile due east, on the same creek-bottom, swung to east and north, showing the 
same circular motion, tho moving but a few inches. 
Point Arena light-house, erected 1870, a brick tower 110 feet high on a high, rocky point, 
is still standing but dismantled and condemned. It was broken clear thru in sections, as 
shown in fig. 49. It leans slightly to the north. The keeper on watch in the tower says: 
“A heavy blow first struck the tower from the south. The blow came quick and heavy, 
accompanied by a heavy report. The tower quivered for a few seconds, went far over to 
the north, came back, and then swung north again, repeating this several times. Immedi- 
ately after came rapid and violent vibrations, rending the tower apart, the sections grinding 
and grating upon each other; while the lenses, reflectors, etc., in the lantern were shaken 
from their settings and fell in a shower upon the iron floor.” 
Iron rods, supports, railings, and brackets were bent, broken, twisted, and thrown from 
their positions, making the wreck complete. The dwelling-house, a strong brick structure 
50 feet distant, is badly cracked. Chimneys were not thrown, but one on the north was 
badly broken. The fog signal, 50 feet west of the tower, a wooden building containing heavy 
