USA > California > Alameda County > The centennial year book of Alameda County, California : containing a summary of the discovery and settlement of California, a description of the Contra Costa under Spanish, Mexican, and American rule, biographical sketches of prominent pioneers and public men > Part 24
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threat that day that he would " have a man for his supper " that night, and went into Ladd's house with the deliberate intention of taking his life. When he had him down he endeavored to shoot him with his pistol, but Ladd turned the muzzle of it against Hyde, and when the latter fired, he shot himself. Ladd's hand was somewhat lacerated by the powder and ball, as he held the weapon. Of course, Ladd was acquitted of all blame in the man's death, as he clearly acted only in self-defence and had no idea of committing a homi- cide. This same man Hyde, about a year previous, had killed a barber at Mission San José, but was acquitted, for some reason or other, of the crime.
The country along the line of the Western Pacific Railroad was looking up. M. W. Mendenhall donated 10 acres of land to the company, for a depot, near Laddsville, and laid out a town, naming the same after Livermore, the first settler in the valley. The name of the place called Alasal'was changed to Pleasanton, and a town plat formed. Under date of September 12, Mr. J. A. Neal advertised the first town lots for sale, the inducement to purchase being that the Railroad Company would establish a depot there. Land ad- vanced largely in price, and speculation throughout the county in- creased to a furor in the southern and eastern portions, as well as in Oakland and Brooklyn.
A new wharf, erected by the Alameda Ferry Company, was com- pleted this month. A new slip was constructed, the old wharf in- creased in width, making this one of the best docks on the Bay.
On the 6th of October there was an attempt made on the part of two prisoners named Jackson and Mann, confined in the County Jail, to effect an escape, and with this view endeavored to overpower Under Sheriff Borein. The latter made an effectual resistance and his cries soon brought assistance. He had hold of Jackson, but Mann managed to get out. The latter was immediately pursued and captured. Prominent among the pursuers was District Attorney Gilcrist, of Oakland, who seized an old musket, the same with which Thomas had shot Officer Richardson in Oakland. When Mann be- held the noble Attorney armed with an old gun, which had probably not been loaded for many years, he cried out with fear and trem- bling-" Don't shoot; for God's sake, don't shoot!" The usual quiet was soon restored, and the exploits of the day were subject for amusement for considerable time thereafter.
This being the year for a presidential election, there was a great
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deal of political excitement throughout the county. Mass meetings of both the Republican and Democratic parties were held in every town and prominent speakers engaged on the canvas. Among those who spoke in this county were, on the Republican side, Hon. S. Gar- field of Washington, Hon. A. A. Sargent, Hon. John B. Felton, Hon. Alex. Campbell, Hon. A. P. Dudley, Gen. John F. Miller, Hon. E. D. Wheeler, Hon. Chas. A. Tuttle, Hon. Walter Van Dyke, Hon. A. M. Crane, Hon. Noble Hamilton, Hon. I. A. Amerman, Hon. J. G. Eastman, General O. H. LaGrange, Hon. John F. Swift, Hon. Newton Booth, George C. Gorham, Hon. W. W. Gordon, Hon. W. C. Norton, Hon. John G. McCallum, Hon. John W. Dwinelle.
On the Democratic side were Hon. J. W. Coffroth, Hon. W. T. Wallace, Governor Haight, Lieutenant-Governor Holden, Zach Mont- gomery, Wm. Van Voorhies, and others.
The Republican Candidates for President and Vice-President were Gen. U. S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax; the Democratic Candidates were Governor Seymour, of New York, and Frank P. Blair, of Mis- souri. The Republican Electors for this State were Messrs. Felton, La Grange, Hoffman, Redington and Westmoreland; the Democratic Electors, Messrs. Henley, Kewen, Wallace and Pearce. The Con- gressional Candidates for the Third District, Messrs. Coffroth and Sargent.
There were enrolled on the Great Register this year, after the can- celled names were struck off, 4,623 names, while there were enrolled on the Poll List only 3,596 names, showing that a short time before the election day there were 2,027 persons who did not feel sufficient interest to have their names enrolled. The election took place on Tuesday, the 3d day of October, when the Republican Electors re- ceived in this county 1,861 votes each, and the Democratic 1,262, giving the former a majority of 599. The majority in the State for Grant and Colfax was 536. Taking the number of votes cast from the number of votes on the Great Register, it appears there were 1,500 persons in the county entitled to vote, who did not do so.
The Alameda County Teacher's Institute assembled at the Lafay- ette Grammar School, Oakland, on the 13th day of October. It was called to order by A. L. Fuller, County Superintendent. The pro- ceedings occupied four days.
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CHARLES P. EELLS.
MARCUS P. WIGGIN. WIGGIN & EELLS, Attorneys - at- Law, OAKLAND.
Union Savings Bank Building. P. O. BOX, 598.
W. VAN VOORHIES. F. J. BREARTY. VOORHIES & BREARTY, Attorneys - at - Law, Room 14, Cosmopolitan Block, Oakland.
JOHN R. GLASCOCK, DISTRICT ATTORNEY ALAMEDA COUNTY, Room 3, Court House, Oakland.
HENRY VROOMAN. A. A. MOORE· MOORE & VROOMAN,
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS-AT-LAW,
402 Montgomery Street, Room 31,
HENRY VROOMAN, City Hall, Oakland.
San Francisco.
JAMES C. PLUNKETT, Attorney - at - Law, 1055 BROADWAY, Between Eleventh and Twelfth Streets, Oakland.
R. J. CHRISTIE.
E. J. WEBSTER. CHRISTIE & WEBSTER, ATTORNEYS - AT - LAW Benitz Block, cor. Tenth & Broadway, Rooms 17 &- 18, OAKLAND.
WILLIAM HOSKINS,
NOTARY PUBLIC, Commissioner of Deeds for all the States and Territories, and Agent Commercial Fire Insurance Co. No. 909 Broadway, Oakland.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
ESTABLISHED 1875.
OAKLAND, CAL.
ORNAMENTAL
BOOK AU JOB PRINTING
NEATLY EXECUTED BY
THE PACIFIC PRESS.
ORDERS FROM ABROAD
THE PACIFIC PRESS
BOOK & JOB PRINTING.
No. 1059 Castro Street, Between Eleventh and Twelfth, OAKLAND.
Daily and Weekly Newspapers printed at reasonable Rates.
A constant supply of News and Book Papers cheap for Cash.
RECEIVE PROMPT ATTENTION.
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CHAPTER XXI.
FROM THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE OF OCTOBER, 1868, TO THE COMPLE- TION OF THE CENTRAL PACIFIC RAILROAD, IN NOVEMBER, 1869.
1868 continued-Effects of the Earthquake Throughout the State- In Oakland and the Various County Towns-The Court-house Destroyed at San Leandro, and a County Officer Killed- Edmundson's Large Grain Warehouse Destroyed, and Morse's Flour Mill Overturned at Haywards-The Residence of General LaGrange Ruined-The Old Mission Church Ruined-Fissures in the Earth-How the New Deaf and Dumb and Blind Insti- tute Stood the Shock-How a Man Felt on the Top of a Steeple, One Hundred and Fifty Feet from the Ground-County Records all Saved-The Methodist Episcopal Church in San Leandro Used Temporarily for County Offices-Josselyn's Funeral- The Supervisors Declare the Result of the Vote for Presidential Electors and County Officers-First Rain of the Season-Plans Adopted for New County Buildings-The Estudillo House Re- Opened with a Ball-Comparative Vote of 1858 and 1868- Ground for County Infirmary Chosen-A Murder in Castro Valley, and Sheriff Morse's Persistent Pursuit of the Murderer -Legislation of 1868.
On Wednesday morning, October 21st, 1868, a few minutes before 8 o'clock, occurred the severest shock of earthquake ever experienced in this part of the Pacific Coast. It was particularly hard in Alameda County, which appears to have been its center. It did much damage in the lower portion of the City of San Francisco, and several lives were lost by casualties occasioned by it. It was felt all over the State, and slightly on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevadas. At Sacramento it was so severe that it frightened people from the houses, whence they rushed in the most ridiculous manner. No serious damage was done. The chronometers stopped at one minute to eight o'clock, indicating the time of the shake. The water in the Sacramento River receded to such an extent that it left the
17
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
hulk Globe nearly surrounded by dry land. It soon returned in a wave about two feet high, setting the vessels at the levee rocking violently. Some walls in the city were cracked, plastering fell and crockery was broken. There were repeated shocks during the day.
At Marysville the shock was felt at about eight o'clock. It was the most serious ever felt in that city. There was a general rattling of glassware, doors, windows, etc., but no damage done.
At San José the shock was very severe. The time recorded is two minutes past eight. The vibrations were north and south, and were more severe than ever before experienced within the recollection of the oldest American settler. Great damage was sustained by many buildings. The large and elegant Presbyterian Church, with its tall tower, was very badly injured. The tower was so badly cracked that it had to be taken down. The organ was destroyed by bricks falling through the roof. The entire damage was not less than $3,000 or $4,000. About one-half of Moody's mill, a frame building, was thrown down. Numerous walls were cracked, and many chimneys and fire-walls thrown down. Other shocks were noticed during the day, and much consternation was felt.
In Virginia and Gold Hill the tremblings were felt and great anx- iety experienced. Apprehensions were felt for the people of San Francisco, and the papers published extras to satisfy the want for news. A despatch was reported to have been received from the tele- graplı operator at Oakland, who stated that his office -- a frame build- ing-was a total wreck, and that he was sending this news from a place outside of the town, where he had cut the wires. This was all that could be heard from Oakland, and rather excited than allayed the general anxiety. A large crowd collected about the telegraph office, clamorous for news, but the pale and nervous operators could only repeat over and ever again what little they had been able to learn through the despatch from Oakland. But no such despatch was sent from the Oakland office.
In the towns north of the bay the shock was quite severe, but not so disastrous as south of this point. Martinez and Pacheco were considerably damaged. The center of the earthquake was in the mountain range in the southern part of this county, where the greatest convulsions were experienced and fissures made in the earth.
Oakland suffered less than any other place within the circle of the quake. A stranger passing through its streets immediately after would not suppose that anything unusual had happened, or that
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nature had been indulging in one of her convulsive throbs. The following particulars are mostly taken from the Oakland News of the following day :
THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE -- ITS EFFECTS IN ALAMEDA COUNTY.
There was yesterday another of those convulsions of nature which reminds men of their own weakness and of the frailty of their works. Oakland has sustained slight damages, in comparison with what have befallen other towns, for which we should feel peculiarly thankful. From our neighboring towns come sorrowful tidings, and in one case there has been a loss of life. The damage to property has been estimated with difficulty. In many cases the full extent cannot be known until a close mechanical examination has been made, and any statement that could now be given would necessarily be far from correct.
Yesterday morning the weather was the same that has for some days past prevailed. The usual mists obscured the sun until two o'clock, when the air became clear and balmy, and the remainder of the day was warm but not sultry.
THE EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS.
During the day there were a succession of shocks, the first and most distinctive occurring about six minutes before eight o'clock. A gentleman residing near Temescal, on the Telegraph road, about two miles from this city, kept a record of the different shocks that occurred, from which we extract the following :
First shock, at 7:54 A. M., very heavy-direction, northeast, east and southwest, a rolling motion. Almost like a continuation of this came a whirling motion. 8:26, slight shock ; 8:44, heavy shock, with rolling motion ; 8:47, slight shock ; 9:11, slight shock ; 10:15, heavy shock, with rolling motion, and up and down movement ; 3:12, slight shock ; 3:17, slight shock ; 4:08, double shock, up and down.
There were shocks during the entire day, some observers stating that there were thirty-two. Those we have named attracted atten- tion and were noted.
THE DAMAGE IN OAKLAND.
We believe that the damage to property in Oakland is insignifi- cant when contrasted with that sustained elsewhere. The private dwelling houses all sustained some small damage; in many cases crockery and glassware were broken, and great numbers of chimneys
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were broken off above the roof. Plaster was cracked in several houses ; the residence of Capt. Wilcox, Mr. Wedderspoon and Mr. Coleman being the most badly damaged.
Boardman's new brick building, on Twelfth Street, west of Broad- way, presents a badly damaged appearance, although the only injury sustained was the destruction of the fire-wall and awning.
Bigelow & Sessions' Broadway block does not appear to have sus- tained any damage.
Wilcox's three-story brick building, corner of Broadway and Ninth Streets, escaped unharmed, some of the cement merely being broken from the outer wall. This building is the highest in the city. Its walls are well tied together, a large amount of iron having been used in their construction ; this accounts for their security. Dunham & Cook, the proprietors of the Palace Photograph Gallery, sustained some damage from the destruction of chemicals, which damaged the carpeting of the waiting room.
Holmes' building, corner of Broadway and Eighth Streets, seems considerably shattered. The rear walls are cracked, and one of the iron pillars of the front is displaced. The shelving in Radcliffe's grocery, being imperfectly fastened to the walls, was thrown down and a large quantity of crockery and glassware was broken and the miscellaneous articles usually kept upon the shelves of an extensive retail grocery were thrown upon the floor. The damage cannot be far from $2,000.
Shattuck's building, on the opposite side of Eighth Street, was damaged in the rear wall, there being a large crack extending from the top of the building very nearly to the ground. Cautious men did not care to visit the Marshal's office or the Council-rooms.
Shattuck & Hillegass' livery stable buildings and hall were but slightly injured.
Delger's buildings, on either side of Seventh Street, received but slight damages to the walls. Lamarche's store was thrown into con- fusion, and some of the stock was damaged.
The one-story brick building, corner of Broadway and Fourth Street, was shattered badly, and will probably be demolished. It is an old building, and was not erected in a solid or substantial manner.
The walls of Herzog's building, on the west side of Broadway, between Third and Fourth Streets, were badly shattered, and it was deemed unsafe for a family to reside within them.
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The old one-story brick building, corner of Broadway and Third Streets, was very badly damaged, and its walls are kept erect only by means of props.
The front wall of the County Hospital was slightly cracked.
The rear wall of the brick building owned by Mr. E. C. Sessions, near the corner of Broadway and First Street, was so badly shat- tered that it will probably be necessary to remove it.
The walls of the Hotel de France building will need repairs to the value of about $500, as estimated.
The show windows of the stores on the west side of Broadway, between Fifth and Ninth Streets, were nearly all broken, and, in a few cases, goods were damaged.
THE CITY FRONT.
The large holder at the gas works, corner of Washington and First Streets, was thrown out of position by the breaking of a cast- ing, and the gas bubbled out through the water. By prompt action the damage was speedily repaired and last night the usual supply of gas was furnished.
Work was suspended at the Pioneer Mills after the first shock, as it was feared that some of the machinery had been thrown out of level.
The brick work about the engine and furnace of the Oakland Plan- ing Mills was very slightly cracked.
The portion of Broadway wharf extending east from Broadway, gave way, precipitating into the creek about seventy tons of coal.
A small quantity of the bricks which were stored upon Dr. Mer- ritt's wharf were thrown forward into the creek.
The heaviest damage that will probably be sustained is that which occurred at the lumber wharf of Taylor & Co., at the foot of Wash- ington Street. A trestle work pier, of frail construction, had been built for the storage of lumber, and upon this there were about 150,- 000 feet. The shock experienced shortly after ten o'clock precipi- tated this into the creek. A large force of laborers were immediately set to work to recover it.
BROOKLYN.
Considerable damage was sustained in Brooklyn. The fire-wall of the Cotton Mills, on the west side, was thrown down and slight damages were sustained by the walls. As in Oakland, many chim- neys were broken off above the roofs of houses.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
Schimmelpfennig's new brick building was almost entirely demol- ished.
Baryles' drug store sustained heavy injuries, the building and stock being damaged.
The injury to household furniture, etc., was greater in Brooklyn than in Oakland.
ALAMEDA.
The earthquake was very severe in this town, and scarcely a house escaped uninjured. The Insane Asylum building was badly dam- aged, and the contents of the stores were tumbled together, occasion- ing considerable loss.
On the San Leandro Road the concrete dwelling house of Mr. Creighton was damaged, one of the walls being demolished.
SAN LEANDRO.
At San Leandro the earthquake was much more severe than in Oakland or Alameda, and not a building escaped damage. The saddest calamity was the death of Mr. J. W. Josselyn, Deputy Clerk, a young man of much promise and ability, who has for a few years past been in the office of the County Treasurer. He was crushed in the ruins of the fallen Court-house.
The entire Court-house building, above the second or main floor, is in ruins, and the walls of the lower or basement story are so cracked and thrown out of place that they never can be used again. The foundation and part of the walls of the Recorder's Office being built, were partially destroyed. Of the Court-house, only a small portion of the roof remains in its original position, and the base of one of the columns that stood at the entrance was left. An exam- ination of the ruins showed that the building had been improperly erected, and that the charge of criminality or carelessness attaches to the county officers who had accepted such an affair from the con- tractors.
Under-Sheriff Borein, Deputy-Clerk Josselyn, Charles Palmer and two workmen engaged in making a vault for the Treasurer, were in the building at the time of the earthquake. When the first shock came Mr. Borein was in bed. He endeavored to escape by the door, but on account of the vibrations the door could not be opened. He crouched down in the corner of the room, supposing that only the roof would fall ; a portion of the wall fell, some of the debris striking him on the head. He escaped by the window, over the fallen brick and mortar, which was piled to the height of the second floor.
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The prisoners, five in number, were yelling and praying, some to get out and some for pardon for their offences. One of the windows on the north-west side not being covered, tools were passed to them, the keys of the jail being covered up. Finding it impossible for the prisoners to dig out in this way, the Under Sheriff and Mr. Collins, one of the contractors on the new building, went down and broke open the front door of the jail and succeded in rescuing and securing the prisoners, who are now in jail in this city.
There were in the Clerk's office four persons besides Mr. Josselyn. Mr. Josselyn endeavored to escape by the front entrance to the building, and when passing the threshold the falling walls buried him in its fragments. The other persons, seeing the front give way, escaped through one of the windows.
The Beatty House and the Estudillo House, the two principal hotels, were badly damaged. The walls were shattered and the floors covered with debris.
The Beatty House was cracked in every direction, and the south wall was entirely demolished. The roof and walls of the Gazette office fell in, and it is doubtful whether the publisher can issue his regular weekly edition next Saturday. [But he did.] The type and forms of the Democrat office were pied, and much damage was done. There is only one chimney standing in the town. A tank ten feet wide and six feet deep was entirely emptied of water by the move- ment imparted to it. People are afraid to remain in their dwellings, and were camping in the streets. The bed of the San Leandro creek, which had been dry for several months, is now coursed by a stream of water six feet wide and one foot deep. Back of San Leandro, in the mountains, there are numerous fissures in the earth, from which came clouds of dust, and from some have come great volumes of water which flows into the San Leandro creek.
HAYWARDS.
Bad as is the destruction of property at San Leandro, it is worse at Haywards. We did not observe a building there which was not in some manner damaged. Previous to entering the town, the first wreck noticed is that of the residence of General LaGrange. The house, a frame one, is not thrown upon the ground, a mass of ruins, but it is broken into several parts, and rendered unsafe and wholly unfit for residence. On account of the partial destruction of his house, General LaGrange will be unable to fulfill all of his appoint- ments for public speaking, his family requiring his attention,
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In the town, many wooden buildings fell which would have re- mained secure if they had been built upon proper foundations. Stilted up, so to speak, no great force was required to move them, and a storm, similar to those which sometimes occur in the Atlantic States, would have prostrated them.
The flouring mill owned by Sheriff Morse is a complete wreck. The most valuable parts of the machinery are supposed to be unin- jured. The immense grain warehouse of Mr. Edmondson is as com- pletely ruined as it could possibly be, hardly one brick remaining upon another. C. T. Ward, Jr., writes to the Times that "the large amount of grain buried in the ruins of the warehouse will nearly all of it be saved, and the loss will not exceed sixty tons. Some consid- erable excitement existed at first amongst the grain-owners, but it was soon allayed. Work is being commenced to remove the grain and rebuild the warehouse. Fortunately there has been no loss of life, and but one man badly injured. The cook at the Washington Hotel had his leg broken. An open crack runs through the town, its course being south 53° east, said to be nine miles in length."
Mr. Ward gives the following rough estimate of the damages done :
Edmondson's warehouse, complete ruin, $25,000 ; Morse & Hes- lip's mill, complete ruin, $12,000; Washington Hotel, complete ruin, $4,000 ; Castro homestead, damage, $3,000; Lee & Ryland's Hotel, damage, $4,000 ; Chas. Spoerer's, damage, $1,000 ; Wm. Hay- ward, damage, $2,500 ; George Brown, property damaged, $2,000 ; S. F. & A. Railroad Company, property damaged, $500 ; A. S. Rock- wood, house upset, $400; Horace Hall, blacksmith shop, damaged, $750; Smalley & Stratton, livery stable, damage, $2,000; Louis Barbolla, restaurant, damage, $500 ; Wetterau & Co., bakery, dam- age, $500; M. W. Levy, store damaged, $1,000; Larabee & Co., buildings damaged, $700; A. B. Grogan, dwelling-house damaged, $2,500 ; Globe Hotel, damaged, $450 ; Loon & Co., brewery dam- aged, $250; New York Brewery, damaged, $600; School-house, damaged, $450; Linakin & Barnes, damaged, $350; Creig & Mor- ton, blacksmith shop, damaged, $200; J. S. Rivers, blacksmith shop, damaged, $250.
WASHINGTON.
The store of C. J. Stevens, at Centreville, was entirely destroyed to-day, and goods badly damaged. The store of J. Salze was badly shaken, and goods damaged very much. Dr. Selfridge's house was partly destroyed, and his child injured by the crash. Bamber's
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Hotel settled about two feet and was badly damaged. At the Mis- sion San José the church and many other buildings are in ruins. At Alvarado the brick shop of A. J. Lattin is entirely destroyed. The store of J. J. Stokes was damaged, with great loss of goods. No lives lost at either place.
Between Haywards and the Mission San José, there are numerous fissures in the earth, and it was difficult for a stage to be driven from one place to another.
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