1868 Damage Photographs
Oakland and East Bay Damage
Damage in Surrounding
Counties
“Call” Editorial
on Quake Damage
“Call” Editorial
Urges Building Height Limit
Fire Chief Urges Care
with Fire
Bd. of Supervisor’s Special
Earthquake Meeting
Earthquakes and Real Estate
Prices
Chamber of Commerce Telegram
to the East
How to Act During an Earthquake
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OAKLAND AND
VICINITY
In Oakland and vicinity, from the time of the first shock up to half-
past four o'clock in the afternoon, there were twenty-six
distinct shocks. From the fact that the larger number of the houses in the
city of Oakland are built of wood, that city escaped without serious
damage. All the brick structures have been injured more or less. Among
those which have been damaged, is Boardman's new building in Twelfth
street. The fire-wall fell and demolished the awning. Shattuck and
Hillegass' brick structure, where is located the Police Court and Council
room, was considerably shaken; so much so, that is was not deemed safe to
enter the Court room for the transaction of business. Ratcliff's grocery on
Eighth street, was made a total wreck inside, all the shelves having fallen.
Nearly all the chimneys in town have been thrown down. The chimney of
the News office went through the roof into the editorial room. No
one was hurt. The only accident reported was sustained by Mrs. Cord, who
ran out of her residence, a one-story frame house on Twelfth street,
and just passed in front of Boardman's building when the fire-wall
fell. One of the falling bricks struck her on the head, inflicting a severe
wound.
Immediately after the first shock Mayor Merritt issued an order
that a thorough examination of all the chimneys be made before fires were
built....The only damage done to the Boys' College and the Girls'
College was the falling of the plastering. ....The draw of the railroad
bridge leading to San Antonio was thrown out of place, thereby
intercepting connection with the regular ferry. Passengers were forced to
go by the Creek route....At San Antonio, Brooklyn and Clinton, the
shock was felt more severely than at Oakland. At San Antonio, a two-
story brick building, owned by Frederick Schimelpfenings, was
shaken down....At Clinton, the machinery of the cotton mill was
thrown out of gear. The brick buildings in the above-named three
places were all more or less damaged.
THE DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM AT OAKLAND
The new structure in course of construction for the use of the deaf and
dumb, situated at the foot-hills near the Telegraph Road, four and a
half miles from Oakland, was greatly damaged. About one-third of
the front wall was shaken down, and also the greater portion of one of the
side walls. The chimneys were all shaken down, and the building was badly
strained. What remains of the two walls mention, with have to be taken
down and rebuilt. The building was constructed of stone, and was claimed
to be one of the strongest and best built houses in the State. It is estimated
that it will cost fully $20,000 to repair the damage.
San Leandro
THE JAIL SHAKEN DOWN–FATALITY.
At San Leandro the shock was more sensibly felt than at any other point on
that side of the Bay. All the buildings there were terribly shaken, adobes
were town to the ground, brick structures, and even frame buildings were
demolished. The Court House and County Jail were shaken down. The
prisoners were in the cells, in the basement, and when the building fell, the
scene which follows may be better imagined than described. Many of the
prisoners rent the air with their cries for help, while the others were
engaged in prayer, calling on the Almighty to save them from the peril
which surrounded them. The keys of the cells, which were in the safe, were
after some trouble gotten out, and the prisoners were rescued and taken to
the Calaboose in Oakland. Mr. J.W. Jossely, Deputy Clerk, was in the
Court room at the time of the shock, and before he could make this escape
the building fell, and he was buried amidst the ruins.
Back of San Leandro, in one of the canyons, the ground opened for a
distance of over two miles. In some places the fissure is eight feet wide.
When the ground opened, an immense cloud of smoke arose, which was
followed by water gushing up through the fissure.
San Leandro Creek, which for some time past had been dry, now has a foot
and a half of water in it.
In and about San Leandro a number of buildings were damaged.
CENTREVILLE, October 21.–The store of C.J. Stones was utterly
destroyed to-day, and goods badly damaged. Store of J. Salez badly
shaken and goods damaged very much. Dr. Selfridge's house partly
destroyed and child injured. Banker's Hotel settled about two feet and
badly damaged. At the Mission San Jose, the Church and many other
buildings are in ruins. At Alvarado, the brick house of A. J. Lattin entirely
destroyed, and the store of J. J. Sacks damaged, with great loss of goods.
No lives lost at either place.
San Francisco Morning Call
Thursday, October 22, 1868
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