Show EARTHS SHOCKS IN AMERICA the two most disastrous were those of charleston S C and of san francisco since the earthquake which occurred in charleston S C in 1880 1886 the san francisco earthquake of april 18 1900 was the most severe seismic disturbance in this country the first quake was recorded at ti 5 IS 13 a in and immediately fire broke out in the ruins owing to the derangement ran gement of the water mains this could riot not be controlled the total loss of life was estimated at although the exact loss in this respect will never be known the total property loss was about of which a little over one halt half was coveted by insurance the buildings on an area of acres were almost aled entirely destroy destroyed ed As a result of this and other se seismic israle disturbances sei research was greatly s stimulated arousing the geologists in this country as well as those abroad the modern type of seismographs makes it possible to detect the large earthquakes on the other side of the globe from a particular station within a few minutes of their beginning and from the records obtained a close approximation can be made usually of the distance and direction the cause of ill the san francisco earthquake is traceable to the slipping of the rocks along a rift that runs nor northwest and southeast parallel to tile the coast the amount of dislocation 11 varied from 5 or 6 3 feet to 20 feet with a pro probable bable mean of 10 feet |