Northwest History. Alaska. Earthquakes & Volcanoes.

• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1936
• Subjects: citizens; Seward; Alaska; earthquakes; Kenai peninsula; Mt. Katmai; the Aleutian range; the Alaskan peninsula; Tremors; Fairbanks; Anchorage; Seldovia; Cook inlet; Valdez; Cordova; Prince William Sound; Kodiak; Nenana; The Anchorage Times; the Bevers and Pfiel apartments; Alaska railroad; damage; Matanuska colony; Northwest; Pacific > History > 20th century; Pacific; Vigilante
• Online Access: http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/90642

Citizens Flee Into Streets. Citizens Flee Into Streets SEWARD, Alaska, Oct. 23 -- (UP) -- Rocked by a series of violent earthquakes for 10 hours -- most severe shocks in 24 years -- residetns of the Kenai peninsula feared further jolts today. No lives were lost and damage was slight, but people were badly frightened and nervous. At 6:30 a.m. today Seward hoped it had been shaken for the last time. The city rocked intermittently thruout the night after the first sharp quake at 8:25 p.m. last night. Quakes Heavy. Many of the temblors were "extremely heavy." In Anchorage, old-timers said they believed the quakes were the worst since Mt. Katmai of the Aleutian range on the Alskan peninsula erupted June 6, 1912. The first shock lasted 45 seconds, reaching its maximum intensity after 30 seconds. Tremors occurred until midnight, decreasing in intensity all the time. Because Fairbanks, 400 miles inland, felt the quake it was feared volcanoic action must have increased along the peninsula. Tremors are felt frequently in Anchorage, Seward and Seldovia along Cook Inlet, and in Valdez and Cordova on Prince William Sound. Kodiak, covered by ash when Mount Katmail blew up, is also often shaken. Subterranean explosions can be heard. Something New. But last night's rolling, twisting quake was something new. Matanuska colony, the government's resettlement project, was in line with cities which felt the jolt, but no report had been received from there. Nenana, nearly destroyed by a $100,000 fire October 2, was also along the quake line, 60 miles from Fairbanks. Anchorage rocked most violently. House and business buildings teetered, automobiles rolled back and forth on the streets and windows shattered but a checkup showed that loss thru property damage would be small. Frightened citizens ran into the streets and remained there most of the morning as the tremors continued at intervals. Several chimneys in the towns crashed from roofs, and fragile buildings were splintered. The Anchorage Times building lost a large plate glass window. The Bevers and Pfiel apartments settled slightly causing the doors and windwos to jam. Little Damage. Plate glass windows in several stores were separated from their casings, and storekeepers siad they had sustained some damage from stock falling from shelves. Vigilante fire departments remained in readiness to answer any fire alarms, but apparently no blazes resulted from the shakes. Repair crews dispatched along the tracks of the Alaska railroad said no damage had been done to the roadbeds.