Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Volume III, 1863-1867

by Various

There is no good reason for the supposition that we are in more danger from these phenomena than upon the Atlantic border, for the reason that we are so far removed from the centers of immediate and violent volcanic action, that it would require dangerous tension of the imagination to place California within the range of those physical causes which are so conducive to violent, repeated, and destructive earthquakes. This State cannot be considered more subject to earthquakes than it is to volcanoes, relatively, and this is said too in the face of our own records relating to the former. We need have little fear from these disturbances so long as we are so far removed on either hand from the great centers, and even from the terminal points of those centers of volcanic disturbance, from the action of which such disastrous consequences have, and will again follow to their immediate districts.

A moment’s consideration will convince the most sceptical of the prevailing fallacy relating to this subject. In the first place, we are situated between two great termini of active volcanic ranges, the nearest being Colima, 1,200 miles south, the other on the coast of Alaska, more than 1,300 miles to the north; the distance inclusive between the points being nearly or perhaps quite 2,600 miles, in which NO active volcanic vents abound, unless we make an exception of Mounts Hood and St. Helen in Oregon, of which the testimony is somewhat dubious, and the nearest of which is 700 miles. To the east there are no volcanoes for a distance of 2,500 miles, and to the west for a much greater distance than in either of the other directions. This, certainly, should be sufficient to palliate the fears of the timid, in some degree at least, and to silence in part also the sensational articles which appear from time to time in the press of this and the eastern States, as to California being an oven within the range of active volcanic action, and a volcanic country.

In preparing this paper I have endeavored to obtain, as far as possible, the most correct information relating to the history of these phenomena in former years. It is my desire also to correct some of the misrepresentations and statements current relating to the severity of earthquake shocks in this country during the earlier periods of its history.

I have at the present time some additional information relating to the great earthquake of 1812, which did not appear in my first paper on this subject, and which must now be placed on record. These facts relate more to the phenomena occurring during that year, rather than to the destruction of the missions, all of which will be found in their proper place below.

From careful inquiry of the early settlers and residents I cannot learn that any more than one earthquake has occurred which was in any considerable degree of a serious character, and but one which has caused the destruction of either life or property to any extent.

This earthquake occurred in the month of September, 1812, and destroyed the Mission San Juan Capistrano, in Los Angeles County, and the Mission Purissima (Viejo) in the County of Santa Barbara. The following is the history of that event as obtained from the older native inhabitants and foreign residents on the coast at that time.

The day was clear and uncommonly warm; it being Sunday the people had assembled at San Juan Capistrano for evening service. About half an hour after the opening of service, an unusual loud, but distant rushing sound was heard in the atmosphere to the east and also over the water, which resembled the sound of strong wind, but as it approached no perceptible breeze accompanied it. The sea was smooth and the air was calm. So distant and loud was this atmospheric sound that several left the building attracted by its noise.

Immediately following the sound, the first and heaviest shock of the earthquake occurred, which was sufficiently severe to prostrate the Mission Church of San Capistrano almost in a body, burying in its ruins the most of those who remained behind, after the first indication of its approach was heard.

The shock was very sudden and almost without warning, save from the rushing sound above noted, and to the severity of the first shock at that moment is to be attributed the loss of life that followed.