Dr. F. Omori, Professor of Seismology in the Imperial University, Tokio, believes that the origin of this earthquake was out in the Pacific Ocean, not near San Francisco; that it was one of the greatest earthquakes, recording itself in Japan at 5:24:35 of April 18, or eleven minutes and five seconds after the time of its occurrence here. He assigns the cause to mountain formation which is still going on.
Professor Tarr gives the same cause in the Independent of some time ago.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRES IN THE UNITED STATES TO 1888.
Only Those the Monetary Loss of Which Equal and Exceed One Million Dollars Are Noted.
It will be seen that San Francisco's loss alone in the recent calamity—$400,000,000—is more than double that of the whole United States for the year last given in the above list.
INCREASE OF EARTHQUAKES.
By Editor
SOME who desire to make it appear that the world is growing better are putting forth the claim that earthquakes are growing less and less frequent. Some have expressed displeasure that this journal teaches the opposite. We will let the following statistics speak upon the matter, and they will do so without favor or prejudice.
No.
No. of years
Average
Those recorded before A. D. 1
58
1,700
1 in 29 years
Thence to the end of 9th century
197
900
1 in 4 "
" " " " 15th "
532
600
1 in 1 year
" " " " 18th "
2,804
300
9 in 1 "
" to 1850
3,240
50
64 in 1 "
" " " 1868
5,000
18
277 in 1 "
Of destructive earthquakes, such as have overthrown cities and destroyed many lives, the number registered is about as follows:
No.
No. of years
Average
From B. C. 1700 to A. D. 96
16
1,796
1 in 112 years
From A. D. 96 to 1850
204
1,754
1 in 8 "
From 1850 to 1865
15
15
1 in 1 year
From 1865 to 1868
15
3
5 in 1 "
These statistics are from a work by Robert Mallett, an English seismologist.
From the "Statistician and Economist" of 1890 we take the following table of "some of the principal earthquakes that have occurred since the twelfth century," just as they are tabulated there:
Year
Place
Persons killed
Year
Place
Persons killed
1137
Sicily
15,000
1812
So. California
50
1158
Syria
20,000
1822
Aleppo
22,000
1268
Cilicia
60,000
1829
Murcia
6,000
1456
Naples
40,000
1830
Canton
6,000
1531
Lisbon
30,000
1842
Cape Haytien
4,000
1626
Naples
70,000
1857
Calabria
10,000
1647
Santiago
4,000
1859
Quito
5,000
1667
Schmaki
80,000
1861
Mendoza (S. Am.)
12,000
1692
Jamaica
3,000
1868
Peru and Ecuador
25,000
1693
Sicily
100,000
1872
Inyo, Cal.
100
1703
Aquila (Italy)
5,000
1875
Colombia
14,000
1703
Yeddo (Japan)
190,000
1880
Manila
3,000
1706
The Abruzzi
15,000
1881
Scio
4,000
1716
Algiers
18,000
1883
Ischia
4,000
1726
Palermo
6,000
1883
Java
50,000
1731
Peking
95,000
1883
Anatolia (Turkey)
1,000
1746
Lima and Callao
18,000
1884
Island of Kishm
200
1754
Grand Cairo
40,000
1884
Alhama
3,000
1755
Kashan (Persia)
40,000
1885
Java
500
1755
Lisbon
55,000
1885
Cashmere
3,081
1759
Syria
20,000
1885
Soper (India)
700
1773
Guatemala
23,000
1885
Asia Minor
350
1784
Ezinghian (Asia)
5,000
1886
Greece
1,000
1797
Santa Fe to Quito
41,000
1886
Charleston
96
1805
Naples
6,000
1887
Villages of Italy
3,000
1888
Kien Shin (China)
4,000
It is estimated that 13,000,000 persons have perished by earthquakes. It will be seen that 2 are recorded in the 12th century; 1, in the 13th; 1, in the 15th; 1, in the 16th; 5, in the 17th; 14, in the 18th; 27, in the first 88 years of the 19th. This does not include volcanic eruptions. The above table shows an increase of one hundred per cent. in the earthquakes of the nineteenth century over those of the eighteenth century.
Prof. Charles Burckhalter of Chabot Observatory, Oakland, Cal., states that from April 18 to June 4, inclusive, fifty-one earthquakes were recorded by the seismograph of that observatory. Of this number twenty-four occurred within twenty-four hours of the great earthquake, a rate of one each hour.
TORNADO STATISTICS DOWN TO 1888.
Alabama
102
65 yrs.
$38,175,000
Arkansas
34
47 "
17,125,000
Colorado
4
10 "
500,000
Connecticut
13
205 "
7,500,000
Dakota
46
12 "
7,300,000
Delaware
1
2 "
185,000
District of Columbia
1
Florida
10
12 "
375,000
Georgia
128
92 "
56,500,000
Illinois
127
52 "
46,125,000
Indiana
84
69 "
35,800,000
Indian Territory
6
12 "
1,250,000
Iowa
118
50 "
49,575,000
Kansas
153
28 "
64,000,000
Kentucky
26
77 "
4,000,000
Louisiana
19
18 "
5,500,000
Maine
7
27 "
375,000
Maryland
16
54 "
4,750,000
Massachusetts
22
78 "
6,625,200
Michigan
71
64 "
26,410,000
Minnesota
78
32 "
50,750,000
Mississippi
49
64 "
44,275,000
Missouri
156
73 "
94,325,000
Nebraska
52
16 "
22,100,000
New Hampshire
8
80 "
200,000
New Jersey
12
65 "
15,000,000
New York
67
100 "
67,000,000
North Carolina
59
61 "
26,625,000
Ohio
92
83 "
87,737,500
Pennsylvania
61
76 "
26,125,000
Rhode Island
1
South Carolina
57
126 "
46,875,000
Tennessee
31
79 "
6,875,000
Texas
73
34 "
46,525,000
Vermont
4
58 "
625,000
Virginia
18
73 "
3,625,000
West Virginia
2
7 "
600,000
Wisconsin
59
44 "
28,750,000
Total
1,867
$941,282,500
NOTE.—It will be seen by this table that no tornado (or cyclone) of account worthy of note has occurred in the states of California, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming.
THE EARTHQUAKE.
By Henry M. Hyde
[Henry M. Hyde, in the Technical World.]
MAN scratches little runways in the dirt,
And raises tiny mounds of stone and steel,
To tease the microscopes of curious gods.
Sends feeble ships to tempt the awful deep,
Plucks one red feather from the lightning's wing,
Then lifts himself in petty human pride
And boasts his lordship over all the world.
'Till earth—his Mother Earth—
Olympus shakes with laughter at the claim—
Tired of these vermin that infest her skin,
Stirs her vast bulk and in an instant's pause,
Man and his work are leveled with the dust,
In ruin absolute.
'Tis proved in Nature's plan
How small, how poor, how mean a thing is man!
Out of the ruins crawls a frenzied wretch,
Creeping on crutches from the death that flies,
Pallid with terror, whining in brute fear,
Hugging in impotence some tawdry toy,
Blackened and bleeding wins a little height,
There halts to view the chaos left behind—
A lifetime's labor turned to smoke and waste.
Then, as he stands there comes a potent change—
The god-like will, stronger than earthquake's shock,
Lifts high his cowering head and takes command,
While from his blood-shot eyes there looks a soul,
Deathless, undaunted in the face of doom,
Majestic in defeat.
Higher than nature's plan,
How great, how strong, how proud a thing is man!
Unto His Own
Once Christ “came unto His own and His own received Him not.” He came in humiliation. He did not awe men by His majesty. He would be received on account of His goodness, His sympathy, His character, or not at all. Humanity veiled His glory and majesty. And men whom He died to save rejected Him and His healing words of life. Only the few “of whom the world was not worthy,” received Him, and became the salt of the earth, its saving power from utter decay. Still the world rejects Him and the healing balm of His Gospel, and the ills of earth increase. Sometime He is coming into His own again, into His own kingdom which He has purchased with His own blood. He is coming in all the forthshining of His glorious majesty. Before His presence the earth will quake and the rocks melt. Everything identified with sin will perish with it. “The Lord alone will be exalted in that day.” All who are identified with everlasting righteousness will endure the shock and the fire, and live with Him. The wicked will plead for rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide from them His face. The righteous will say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is Jehovah; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”
INTERESTING ITEMS OF GREAT FIRES.
THE Chicago fire covered twenty-one acres, and burned two days and nights; 17,450 buildings were burned; 200 deaths resulted; and 70,000 persons were made homeless. The money loss was $190,000,000, with $7,000,000 contributed. It was largely rebuilt in a year.
The great fire in Boston in 1872 covered 65 acres, and the money loss is placed $75,000,000.
Estimating San Francisco's burned area at twelve square miles (it is given by some as high as fifteen square miles), 7,680 acres were burned. The money loss is $400,000,000 and doubtless more. The loss of life can not be estimated. With earthquake and fire, it was probably not less than 1,500. It has been estimated as high as 5,000, but this, doubtless, is exaggerated. It will be seen that it far exceeds all the other great fires. In fact, it is more than double the other three great historic fires of Chicago, Baltimore, and Boston. How soon it will be rebuilt is for the future to determine. Its donations to date are given in another column.
Redwood City Hall. This is typical of other public buildings in this beautiful little city.
Perhaps the greatest loss among Protestant denominations in San Francisco was that of the Protestant Episcopal. It figures its loss on church buildings at $429,000, and estimates that its other losses to clergymen and institutions will bring the total up to a full million. The Congregationalists report the loss of six of their churches in San Francisco, besides much damage in other cities. The Baptists report five churches destroyed and twelve others damaged. The Home Missionary Society of that church asks for $170,000 for rebuilding only. Three Presbyterian churches were burned, and several others wrecked in the cities around the Bay. The United Presbyterians had one church destroyed and one shattered. They ask for $15,000. The Lutherans report the loss of twelve churches and missions. The Church Extension Society of the Methodist Church has made an appeal for $250,000 for rebuilding California churches. At a recent session of Methodists at Evanston, Ill., it was voted to raise $500,000 for that purpose. A meeting of prominent laymen asks for $1,000,000. None of the churches belonging to the Seventh-day Adventists were ruined by the temblor or consumed in the fire, tho some of them lost considerable plaster. The Santa Rosa church did not even lose its chimney. The loss to the Catholics from fire and earthquake is over $5,000,000.
Sure Seal
Home canning of vegetables, meat and fruit made easy and certain by The Economy Jar
To give you an idea how easy it is to can fruits, soups, vegetables, meats, etc., in the Economy way—Note how easy it is to put your hand in and thoroughly clean the jar. No rough seams inside or out to catch lint, chip into food or scratch you.
After pouring the fruit in hot and wiping rim of jar, slap on the gold-lacquered cap (acid-proof). No screwing, twisting or prying. Just press the cap on gently. No bruises, burns, cuts or sprains when you use the Economy.
Put clamp on top to hold cap in position while contents are cooling. The cooling forms a vacuum and holds cap on firmly. Jar is then absolutely air-tight. Next day remove clamp, which lifts off lightly. If the food was cooked enough cap is held tight by vacuum, and contents cannot spoil, as no air can leak in. If cap loosens, contents were not cooked enough to sterilize, and can be heated again and saved. The Economy automatically informs you if contents are in proper condition to put away.
When ready to use, puncture cap with can opener and pry off lightly. No sprained wrists, no unscrewing, no hands gashed by broken glass. No glass particles in food; no smelly tops; contents fresh and sweet as the day you put them up. CAPS 20c doz.
No separate rubber rings required. The Economy is the jar you will use with comfort and satisfaction year after year. There is absolutely no jar that looks like, works like, seals like, keeps like, or opens like the Economy. Using some other jar cannot give you any notion of what the Economy really is and what it really will do. Try the Economy for yourself. Ask your dealer for it. Send his name and state if he sells the Economy Jar, and we will send you free a book of recipes. Write direct to main office.
Whether going East or coming West, do not fail to take advantage of the most essential features of traveling
Speed, Comfort, Safety
Which are given the greatest attention in the equipment of the
Overland Limited
Running over the Southern and Union Pacific. Secure tickets and make reservations for berths from any
Local Agent
Southern Pacific Company
--- OR ---
City Ticket Office,
Ferry Bldg., San Francisco, Cal.
San Francisco’s Shipping Facilities Spared
One matter over which Californians, especially San Franciscans, have great reason to be grateful is the merciful sparing of San Francisco's docking and shipping facilities. We learn from a report prepared by Chas. H. Spear, president of the State Board of Harbor Commissioners, that the facilities for docking, and all other agencies essential to the movements of trade at San Francisco, are uninjured, and that that part of San Francisco is in a position to handle all business that may be presented with as much ease as before April 18. Wharves and bulkheads are all standing and are as solid as ever. All vessels, towboats, barges, dredgers, fire-boats, transports, ocean steamships, bay and river steamboats, ferry-boats, coastwise steamers, wharves, bunkers, elevators, etc., etc., escaped damage either of earthquake or fire. In addition to this $2,000,000 has been appropriated by the state for improvements, which have already begun.
Bank of Mountain View
By Editor
WE publish a little monthly paper called the "Bank of Mountain View Journal," devoted to banking. We will send it to you free if you will drop us a postal card asking to be placed on our mailing list. No matter if you do live away from California, you will find it of interest, so sit right down now and write for a copy. It is easy to save money if you know how to begin. Let us tell you how. Address
Bank of Mountain View
MOUNTAIN VIEW
Santa Clara County California
IMPORTANT TO TRAVELERS
The WASHINGTON-SUNSET ROUTE announce the opening of their through line via New Orleans. Personally conducted cars, San Francisco to Washington, D. C., via Coast Line and Los Angeles, tri-weekly. Tickets at lowest rates to Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, New England, and all Eastern points. Through the Old South. Quick time. Best service. Write Phil K. Gordon, 1708 Filmore St, San Francisco, for full information.
Millennial Text-Book
MILLENNIAL TEXT-BOOK.—Every known reference, over 500 arranged according to events, adapted for instant reference or profound Bible study; result of 12 years' search. Mailed for 10 one-cent stamps, or a dime. Eugene A. Brown, Phoenix, Ariz.
Write Me To-day
By Alfred Mallett
If you are out of work or not, for a position that will start you in a paying manufacturing business on a few dollars, suitable for either sex. I will give you all information and find all material. You can start on $5. This is a chance for every S. D. A. to be independent of others for work. I can not offer my proposition to any in the following states at present: California, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, or Washington, but shall be glad to hear from every village and town in the balance of the states and Canada. Don't wait; write to-day. Address,
ALFRED MALLETT, Elkridge Sta., Baltimore, Md.
GRAND CANYON
OF ARIZONA
"A whole chaotic underworld. Most sublime scene on earth. A mile deep, 13 miles wide, 217 miles long, and painted like a flower."
The great round world has nothing like it. A railroad to the rim. Excellent hotels: El Tovar, Bright Angel, and Grand View. Passengers going via Santa Fe may stop over at Williams for side trip to the Canyon. Round trip fare $6.50. Ask for pamphlet, "Titan of Chasms."
FRED W. PRINCE, city ticket agent,
649 MARKET ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
HOW THE EARTHQUAKE WROTE HIS AUTOGRAPH.
The pen which records the directions, peculiarities, violence, and duration of the earthquake is called a "seismograph," from two Greek words, seismos, earthquake, and grapho, to write. And a curious handwriting it is.
1. The first one on the left is a record taken in Oakland of the earthquake of April 19, 1892, at 2:49:2 A.M. Its duration was 38 seconds. This is a very long vibration.
2. The second seismograph at the right, is the record of the earthquake of March 30, 1898, 11:45 P.M. The duration was 45 seconds. This was the most violent earthquake since 1868, until the recent one.
SEISMOGRAPHIC RECORD CHABOT OBSERVATORY
This is by the same instrument. The scale is one to seven, That is, the pen of the seismograph passes over seven times more space than the vibrations of the earth. No lives were lost. Damage to buildings, $3420,00.
3. The lower one of the three is the record of the earthquake of April 18, 1906, at Yountville, Cal.
4. An Eastern autograph of the great temblor from Current Literature, taken in New York at the office of the State Geologist, 3,000 miles from San Francisco. Presumably the plate or ribbon moved under the pencil.
5. The signature of the earthquake of April 18, 1906. The following is its description from the pen of Professor Burckhalter of Chabot Observatory:
"This print is a copy direct from the original from the seismograph of the Chabot Observatory, Oakland, Cal. It shows that the main motion was gyratory, but the wave-like, and the up and down motions were present also. The dashes and dots represent the up and down motion. The instrument enlarges the diagram, the real movement of the earth's surface being a little over half an inch, but not as much as six-tenths of an inch. The time was 5:14:48 A.M., April 18, and the duration 28 seconds. The shock was so violent that the pen ran off the plate several times; that is, the instrument was not capable of recording so severe a shock."
"C. B."
A diagram from the Scientific American showing how complex was the motion of the earthquake. Monuments, gravestones, bases, and pedestals, clearly indicate that the motion was from every direction.
PRICE OF THIS PAPER.
By Editor
In lots of 5 to 500, SIX cents each; 500 and upward, FIVE cents. Mailed direct from this office to lists of names furnished in lots of 5 or more, SIX cents each. A mistake was made in price in our last issue.
Will There Be More Earthquakes?
By Editor
"Will there be more earthquakes?" is often asked. We do not know. No one knows. There may be one to-morrow; there may be one the next hour. "Are you not afraid?" No, we are not. We feel just as safe, just as secure, in the Golden State as we would anywhere in the Empire State, the Bay State, the Buckeye State, the Wolverine State, or any other state or country. Do you know that you in Illinois or Nebraska may not have an earthquake to-morrow? Of course you do not know. Therefore we wish to say it again that we consider this state as safe as any in the union.
A Special Number
By Editor
This issue of the Signs of the Times will meet many new readers. To them we wish to emphasize the fact that it is a special number. Our regular issue deals with Bible Christianity in its fullest sense. It deals with man's condition, man's need, man's fulness in Christ Jesus his only hope, with the great mission field, with fulfilling prophecy, with man's future home, with the signs of the times, with pure, common-sense home life, with all that makes for better home-people, better neighbors, better citizens. It is the constant desire of its editors and publishers to make it a paper for God and humanity. Its cost is only $1.50 a year of fifty-two numbers; 75 cents for 6 months; 40 for 3 months. Study these questions with us for a year.
And After the Earthquake a Fire
"And After the Earthquake a Fire."—What application does this have to San Francisco?—Specifically, it does not apply. Generally, ethically, it has tremendous application. Read the whole passage from which it is taken. To Elijah and his work, representative of John the Baptist and his work, representative of God's last great threefold message and people, came this experience: "He [God] said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before Jehovah. And, behold, Jehovah passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before Jehovah; but Jehovah was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; but Jehovah was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire; but Jehovah was not in the fire; and after the fire a still, small voice." 1 Kings 19:11, 12. By whirlwind and storm and tempest and earthquake and fire judgments from God's perverted law have come upon the world. These always cause great fear and trembling. The lesson which God would have us learn as well as Elijah is that while these may startle men, may arouse them to a sense of their helplessness, there is no saving power in them. Jehovah is Creator, and Saviour. He is not in the earthquake nor fire, but in the still, small voice which speaks to the soul and changes the life and character. Blessed be those who look beyond the earthquake, beyond the fire, to the power of God which changes the life in the secret recesses of the soul.
Investigation of the Earthquake
Governor Geo. C. Pardee, in the early days of the earthquake disturbance, appointed a committee of inquiry, consisting of Prof. A. C. Lawson, University of California; G. K. Gilbert, United States Geological Survey; Prof. Fielding Reid, Johns Hopkins University, expert seismologist; Prof. J. C.
Duration of the Record
The above refers to the black plate. In other places the record of duration ranged from 40 to 48 seconds.
