CDMG, 1981, p. 134

According to Engelhardt (1923), "In 1800, a violent earthquake was felt at Santa Barbara. Only a little damage was done to mission buildings, however." Engelhardt assigned the wrong year to this earthquake. The reference he cites, California Archives, Prov. St. Pap. vol. XIX, p. 327, describes the 25 March 1806 earthquake.

CDMG, 1981, p. 134

An earthquake cracked the chapel walls at Santa Barbara in three places (Bancroft, 1888; Geiger, 1965)

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 22

Midnight, VIII. Santa Barbara. The church walls at Santa Barbara were cracked. -B. MS. T.H.H. mentions a shock in March, with no date

The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, vol. 19, California vol. 2 of 1801-1824

Local events in 1806 were the injuries done to the presidio chapel at Santa Barbara at first by an earthquake in March and later by a gale in May. (p. 42). Santa Barbara presidio: On the 24th of March at midnight an earthquake cracked the chapel walls in three places. (p. 118).

.Extract of letter in Bancroft Library from Jose Carrillo to Governor Arrellaga dated 11 May 1806.

Earthquake at 12 midnight damaged the chapel of the Santa Barbara Mission "between the ends"

According to this letter from Arrellaga to Carrillo dated 19 May 1806, a storm must have further damaged the roof of the chapel after it was damaged by the earthquake (Richard Whitehead, Verbal Comm., 10 March 1975). Ed.

1810

Date Unknown

Hobrecht, 1925

SANTA BARBARA. (Commenting on noteworthy historic earthquakes in the context of the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake) "There were other tremors, indeed, and some of them (that of 1810, for instance) are recorded as violent. Yet, only in the year 1812 and 1925 was great injury done at the Mission buildings" (Hobrecht, 1925).

We find no additional information pertaining to an earthquake in 1810 and postulate that Hobrecht had in mind the earthquakes of 1800, or 1806, or more probably 1812. Ed.

History of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, California, Thompson and West, p. 466.

According to "Tuthill's History of California", Carpinteria and Santa Ynez were destroyed by an earthquake.

Historical Writings, by Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol. 5 pp. 113.

COAST REGION, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. Serious damage to buildings and loss of life at San Juan Capistrano and San Ynez; destruction at San Fernando and San Gabriel; seismic sea waves at Refugio and damage to strip 38 miles from Santa Barbara. Multitudes of aftershocks with continuous vibration of ground at Santa Barbara for 8 days.

This entry refers to two separate earthquakes - one on December 8, most probably on the San Andreas fault in the Wrightwood area, and the second in western Santa Barbara County in late December. See especially Brancroft entries below. Ed.

1812

Sep, Oct, or Dec? Sunday?

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 22

IX. San Juan Capistrano. Fatal earthquake; the church was destroyed, with loss of life (thirty to forty five persons). The Mission church at Santa Inez, near Santa Barbara, 170 miles from San Juan Capistrano, was completely destroyed and some lives lost. -J.B.T., "Register." see fifth entry below. A Spanish ship at anchor, thirty eight miles from Santa Barbara, was injured by the shock. -H.H.B. see letter of Lieut. E. O. C. ORD, USA (Nov. 1849), in Tyson's report, "Geology of California," p. 125, where, however, it is called the shock of 1814. Oct. 8th, between 7 and 8 am, is the day of the great earthquake which destroyed the church of San Juan Capistrano, according to a careful article in the San Francisco Bulletin, March 5, 1864. This date is often fixed in Sept.ember or on November 8. The Sundays were: Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27; Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25; Nov. 1,8, 15, 22, 29; Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27.

1812

Dec 8

CDMG, 1981, p. 134-136 (lengthy description), isoseismal map, references

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 22

VIII? San Diego to Purisima. Most severe at San Juan Capistrano. It is not clear that it was felt at either San Diego or at San Luis Rey. At San Gabriel the church the church was badly cracked and lost the top of the tower.

The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, vol. 19, California vol. 2 of 1801-1824.

San Juan Capistrano: "It was at early mass on a Sunday about fifty persons were in the church, and only five or six besides the officiating padre escaped their lives. The edifice was of the usual cruciform shape, about ninety by one hundred and eighty feet on the ground, with very thick walls and arched dome-like roof, all constructed of stones imbedded in mortar or cement. The stones were not hewn [sic] but of irregular size and shape, a kind of structure evidently requiring great skill to ensure solidity. There is not much doubt that the disaster was due rather to faulty construction than to the violence of the temblor. A lofty tower at the church front fell upon the dome at the second movement of the earth, and in a moment the immense mass of stone and mortar came crushing down upon the poor neophyte worshippers. Thirty-nine bodies were recovered and buried during the next two days, and apparently several others later... An apartment in an adjoining adobe building [was] used ever since for religious services." (pp. 347-348).

San Gabriel: "The earthquake of Dec. 8 at sunrise overthrew the main altar, breaking [four statues]..., damaging the church considerably, bringing down the top of the steeple, and badly cracking the sacristy walls, and injured the friars houses and other buildings." (p. 356).

San Fernando: "The earthquake of Dec. 21 did no further damage than to necessitate the introduction of thirty new beams to support the church wall." (p. 358).

Purisma (Lompoc): "The earthquake of Dec. 21 destroyed the church, many of the mission buildings, and 100 neophytes' houses of adobe. [Footnote: Dec. 22 Payeras [sic] to President. There were several light shocks on Dec. 8th, doing little damage. On Dec. 21st, at 10:30 am, a severe shaking for four minutes, doing much harm, with a light shock while the padres were making an examination. Just before 11 another furious temblor of four or seven minutes, and the church fell. Five or six light shocks in the evening and others in the morning. The earth opened in several places, emitting water and black sand. Several wounded, but none killed." (p. 367).

Santa Inez: "The earthquake of Dec. 21, two shocks fifteen minutes apart, brought down a corner of the church at Santa Inez, destroyed one forth of the new houses near the church, ruined all the mission roofs, and cracked many walls: but the friars did not deem the damage irresponsible." (p. 368).

Santa Barbara: "Dec. 31, Arguello to Arrillaga[sic], almost daily shocks this month. Several buildings ruined and damaged at presidio and mission. Earth opened in several places, with sulfur volcanoes."

1812

Dec. 21

CDMG, 1981, p. 136-140 (lengthy description), isoseismal map, references

USDC

Earthquake of 21 Dec. 1812 - Off coast of California, occurred about 11:00, 34 N, 120 W, - Int. X (MM).

"This shock was damaging in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and northern Los Angeles counties. A strong and damaging foreshock at about 10:30 alarmed inhabitants and sent them fleeing from buildings. This undoubtedly saved many lives when the main shock came. Some people were injured, but there were no deaths reported. The church at Purisima Mission and many of the mission buildings were destroyed. At Santa Ynez Mission, a corner of the church fell, all homes were destroyed. At Santa Barbara, all mission buildings were severely damaged and the church was later rebuilt. At the presidio, some buildings were ruined and the remaining structures were damaged. The tower was wrecked and much of the facade of the church had to be rebuilt at San Buenaventura Mission. At San Fernando Mission, 30 beams had to be used to keep the walls from falling. Strong aftershocks occurred until February and shocks of less intensity continued until April 1813. This earthquake may or may not have generated a tsunami. A recent examination of evidence for a tsunami by Marine Advisors, Inc. (1965) neither proves nor disproves the occurrence of a tsunami wave. Mission records at that time mention fear of the sea, but give no details. Reports of a tsunami, which do not appear in the literature until many years after the earthquake, are based on the memory of several individuals.

(At Lompoc) On Dec. 21, 1812, there was an earthquake while the Fathers were making their examination of conscience. The earth shook so violently that it was difficult to stand. A brief examination showed that the church walls had been thrown out of plumb. "Just before 11 o'clock there came another more violent shock which brought down the church and nearly all the mission buildings, besides about one hundred neophyte houses of adobe. The earth opened in several places and emitted water and black sand. Several persons were wounded, but none was killed. Subsequent floods completed the devastation so that very few buildings were worth repairing. Engelhardt in Carpenter (1921).

(At San Fernando) "The earthquake of Dec. 21, 1812, did no further damage than to necessitate the introduction of thirty beams to support the church wall." Engelhardt in Carpenter (1921).

(At Santa Inez) "The earthquake of Dec. 21, 1812, two shocks fifteen minutes apart, brought down a corner of the church at Santa Inez, destroying one fourth of the new houses near the church, ruined all the mission roofs, and cracked many walls; but the Fathers did not deem the damage irreparable." Engelhardt in Carpenter (1921).

(At Ventura) "In Dec. 1812, three heavy shocks of earthquake occurred at San Buenaventura, which damaged the church to such an extent that the tower and much of the facade had to be rebuilt. The whole mission site appeared to settle, and the fear of being engulfed by the sea drove all away to San Joaquin y Santa Ana, where they remained until April, 1813." Engelhardt in Carpenter (1921).

(At Santa Barbara) "During the month of Dec., 1812, several earthquake shocks were felt. These shocks were so severe that all the mission buildings were badly damaged; the church in particular had suffered so much that it was thought more expedient to take it down and erect a new one than to make repairs. A new stone church was accordingly commenced in 1815, but no completed until Sept. 1820." Engelhardt in Carpenter (1921).

History of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, California, Thompson and West, p. 466.

Church of La Purissima destroyed by earthquake.

LOMPOC (Purisima Mission) "On Dec. 21, 1812, there was an earthquake while the Fathers were making their examination of conscience. The earth shook so violently that it was difficult to stand. A brief examination showed that the church walls had been thrown out of plumb" (4). "A strong and damaging foreshock at 10:30 alarmed inhabitants and sent them fleeing from buildings. This undoubtedly saved many lives when the main shock came" (at 1100 hours) (2).

Townley and Allen say two shocks, fifteen minutes apart, beginning at 10 am, were reported at Santa Inez. Whereas these may indeed be separate foreshocks, the report by Engelhardt (4) describes considerable associated damage at the Santa Inez Mission which seems to us more consistent with the regional intensity of the main shock at 1100 hours. Thus we conclude that the timing at Santa Inez differed from the other local missions and that the two shocks mentioned for Santa Inez were the 10:30 foreshock and the main shock at 1100 hours. Ed.

Santa Barbara, Ventura, northern Los Angeles counties: The quote here is from Townley- Allen.

"P. Gil reported that there was a huge earthquake wave at sea. A stick with a pendant ball was set up at the Mission (Santa Barbara), and the ball vibrated continually for eight days, and later, at intervals for fifteen days. A ship at Refugio was carried up a ca–on by the wave and returned to sea" (TA).

An examination of evidence for a tsunami (Marine Advisors, Inc., 1965) neither proves nor disproves the occurrence of waves, nor the story of the ship at Refugio. The San Buenaventura Mission record mentions the fear of the sea, but does not say conclusively that there were waves in fact. The tsunami reports do not appear in the literature until many years after the earthquake and are largely anecdotes based on the memory of several individuals. Ed.

Townley and Allen concluded that the destruction wrought is sufficient to warrant a maximum intensity of X. We observe that the only extant structures of substance were missions which, in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, were constructed largely of field stone and rather poor quality mortar. Moreover, the 1812 earthquakes were the first substantial earthquakes in CA capable of giving the Spanish architecture a thorough test. Thus the failure of the Mission may be owing as much to the design and materials as the strength of the earthquake. Ed.

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 22-23.

VIII? San Fernando. The church received serious damages. At San Buenaventura, three heavy shocks before Jan. 1. At Santa Barbara, a long series of shocks, beginning on the 21st and lasting several months days?]. -H.H.B.

Santa Inez; two shocks, fifteen minutes apart, beginning at 10 am. At Purisima (IX), at 10:30, Dec. 21, the earth shook for four minutes so violently that it was difficult to stand. Half an hour later another more violent shock. A succession of light shocks this day and the next. -H.H.B.

P. Gil reported that there was a huge earthquake wave at sea. A stick with a pendant ball was set up at the Mission (Santa Barbara), and the ball vibrated continually for eight days, and later, at intervals for fifteen days. A ship at Refugio (IX) was carried up a ca–on by the wave and returned to sea" (TA).

Several asphaltum springs formed in the mountains and tulares; gaps in the Sierra; the "shore volcano" has more openings, and another behind the Sierra de los Pinos. -H.H.B.

[The above accounts of the shocks which occurred in Southern CA in 1812 are quite unsatisfactory. Since the Holden catalog was published, Father Engelhardt's books on the CA Missions have appeared. As the accounts given in these books were taken largely from reports written by the missionaries a few days after the events, they should be accurate].

It appears that there were at least two destructive shocks in 1812, both in Dec. On the morning of Dec. 8, while mass was being held in the church at the San Juan Capistrano Mission, the shock came which practically destroyed the church and killed forty persons, all Indians. The church was of massive stone construction, but probably the mortar was poor, and it is difficult to assign intensity. The shock was local.

Bancroft and others state that Dec. 8, 1812, was Sunday, but this is an error; it was Tuesday. Perhaps he hastily concluded that it was Sunday from the fact that mass was being held, but in the Catholic Church mass is said on many special days other than Sunday. The day in question, Dec. 8, is "consecrated to the Most Pure Conception of the Most Holy Virgin."

The other destructive shock occurred on Dec. 21, with disastrous results for the missions at Santa Barbara, Santa Inez, and Purisima. At Santa Barbara the church was completely wrecked and a new one was built a few years afterward. At Mission Purisima Conception, which was located within the limits of the present city of Lompoc, almost total destruction occurred, as will be seen from the following account in the annual report of Fathers Payeras and Ripoll, written ten days after the earthquake:

"The extraordinary and horrible earthquake, which this Mission suffered on the memorable day of the glorious Apostle St. Thomas, entirely destroyed the church and vestry, buried under the walls the various images and paintings, and ruined the greater part of the furniture. The vestments have not suffered because they were inside the cases. Some of the work shops went down, but some more strongly built may serve as habitations if not for minor uses which require no such security. One hundred houses of neophyte Indians and the pozolera or community kitchen, the walls of which were an adobe and a half thick, and roofed with tiles, have become unserviceable. The garden walls of adobe, covered with tiles, have either collapsed or threaten to fall. The damaged portion will scarcely afford material for rebuilding. The furniture and other contents of the Mission have likewise suffered; some of the contents are entirely crushed, some are broken and all are damaged."

These buildings were all of adobe and were never rebuilt. The new Mission Purisima was built five quarter leagues to the north of the old site, on the Camino Real between Santa Inez and San Luis Obispo.

At Mission Santa Inez the destruction caused by the earthquake of Dec. 21, 1812, was considerable, but not so great as at the Santa Barbara and at the Mission Purisima. In Father Engelhardt's account there is no record of the loss of life at any of these three missions on Dec. 21.

As H.O. Wood suggests, the origin of this shock was probably on a submarine fault off shore from Santa Barbara and Lompoc, although an origin on land is quite possible. The destruction wrought is sufficient to indicate an intensity of X in the epicentral area.

References: Z. Engelhardt San Juan Capistrano Mission, p. 53; Mission La Conception Purisima, p. 30, Mission Santa Inez, p. 25; H.H. Bancroft History of CA, 2, 200, 347, 367, 368.

1813

Jan 14

The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, vol. 19, California Vol. 2 of 1801-1824.

Commandment to Governor, speaks of shocks of Dec. 21st still in operation: "P. Gil said there was a huge earthquake at sea; the people all ran to the mission to chant litanies; a stick with a pendant ball was set up, and the ball vibrated continually for 8 days, and later at intervals for 15 days."

1815

Jan 18

BSSA, Vol. 29, n. 1, p. 24.

Santa Barbara. "Five shocks" - H.H.B.

1815

Jan 30

BSSA, Vol. 29, n. 1, p. 24.

Santa Barbara. "More shocks" - H. H. B.

1815

July 8-9

BSSA, Vol. 29, n. 1, p. 24.

Santa Barbara. "Six shocks" - H. H. B.

All of these earthquakes in 1815 may be aftershocks of the Dec. 21, 1812 earthquake. Long aftershock sequences are typical in the Santa Barbara Channel region. Holden speculates that these faults were generated by the Santa Ynez fault. Ed.

1821

Jan 1

BSSA, Vol. 29, no.12, p. 24.

San Buenaventura and San Luis Rey. "A severe shock" - H. H. B.

CDMG, 1981, p. 141.

Fray Luis Gil [y Taboada] reported in the 1830 annual report from San Luis Obispo that: "The buildings are in bad condition. The Hospital and part of the Rancheria (where the Indians live ?) are in ruins; the rest of the Rancheria threatens ruin. The farm and the building of S. Miguelito is totally destroyed; the house of Santa Margarita has all its wall cracked or broken from the earthquakes. The Frontis (front) of the Church of the Mission was torn down because it threatened to fall down and also two corners. The only re-roofing that was done was: the _____; part of the living quarters of the _____; two or three houses of the Indians and the rooms most free from ruin. Seeing as how there are so few able-bodied; many old and sickly (perhaps a majority ?); and all lack enthusiasm for the task, I don't dare guarantee the re-edification nor even the replacement of the buildings. Because of the planting, which is the most important, we find ourselves _____."

1852

Nov 27-30

Historical Writings, by Edwin M. Sheridan. Vol. 5 pp. 113.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. Continuous shocks over area 300 miles which opened fissures 30 miles long in Lockwood Valley.

1852

Nov 27-30

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 28-29.

Southern California. "Continued shocks disturbing an area of over three hundred miles square, extending east from San Luis Obispo to the Colorado River, and north (?) to San Diego. -J. B. T. The shocks opened fissures at least thirty miles long in Lockwood Valley. -Verbal account of J. Deb. Shorb, Esq. [There is a place called Lockwood in Monterey County and a Lockwood Valley in the northern part of Ventura County, not far from Frazier Park and Lake of the Woods, through which the San Andreas fault runs. Mr. Wood feels certain that the epicenter of this earthquake was in the Ventura County region and not in Monterey County. If there were fissures in the ground thirty miles long, the intensity in the epicentral region could hardly been less than X]

BSSA, Vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 18-19.

1852, Nov. 27-30, with a preliminary on Oct. 26, indigenous to the district - Santa Ynez and San Gabriel Ranges.

"... the first (earthquake) of record is a group rather than a single event, and occupied the last few days of Nov. 1852. The disturbance appears to have been located chiefly on the system of faults traversing the Santa Ynez and San Gabriel mountains and was thus indigenous to the district".

If the intensity were X in Lockwood Valley, the earthquake would certainly have been felt throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara, but unfortunately we have found no independent support for this inference. On the other hand, the Oct. 26 earthquakes were centered all over southern California, and noted especially at San Simeon. If the San Simeon earthquakes were truly foreshocks for the Nov. earthquakes, then it seems reasonable to conclude the main Nov. earthquakes were in Monterey County, not Ventura County. The conclusion to be drawn is that the locations of the Nov. earthquakes, aside from that near Fort Yuma (CDMB, 1981), clearly speculative. Ed.

1852

Dec 17

CDMG, 1981, p. 144.

Trask (1857) states: "Two smart shocks occurred in San Luis Obispo, which fractured the walls of two adobe guildings, and threw down part of the wall of the house belonging to, and occupied by Don Jesus Pico and family." Now newspaper account of an earthquake on this date has yet been found. Don Jesus Pico's house was near San Simeon, not San Luis Obispo, and it was damaged by an earthquake on 1 February 1853 (Daily Alta California, 24 February 1853, p. 2).

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 29.

San Luis Obispo. Two smart shocks -J. B. T.- Perrey. (Fractured walls of two adobe dwellings and threw down part of the walls of the house belonging to and occupied by Don Jesus Pico and family. - Amer. Jour. Sci., 2nd ser., 22, 112. Intensity probably IX). T-A, p. 29.

------------------------

Intensity rated VII-VIII by USDC 41-1 (MM)

1853

Jan 10

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 29.

Captain Dana's rancho, San Luis Obispo County. B. MS. Alta, Feb. 24, 1853.

1853

Jan 29

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 29.

Santa Barbara. -Perrey.

1853

Jan

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 29.

San Luis Obispo. Also Mariposa and San Francisco. -Perrey.

1853

Jan 29

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 29.

Santa Barbara.

1853

Feb 1

CDMG, 1981, p. 144.

The adobe house of Don Jesus J. Pico was cracked (VI MM) and the occupants ran out for fear of the walls falling. No reports from any other locality have been found. An earlier shock was reported at Captain Dana's rancho, twenty five miles south of San Luis Obispo on 17 January.

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 29.

1 pm. VIII. San Simeon, San Luis Obispo County. Violent shocks. Houses were injured. -B. MS.- Alta, Feb. 24, 1853.

1853

Feb 14

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 29.

San Luis Obispo. -J.B.T.-Perrey. [Trask says a light shock.]

1853

Mar 1

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 29.

San Luis Obispo, Santa and Santa Barbara. "Smart shock - J. B. T."

1854

Apr 20

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 30.

Santa Barbara. -Perrey.

1854

Apr 29

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 30.

III. Santa Barbara. A light shock. -J.B.T.-Perrey.

1854

May 3

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 30.

5h 10m [5:10 am.] V. Santa Barbara. Three severe shocks. -J.B.T. [Trask does not give any shock on this date. See May 31.]

1854

May 13

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 30.

Santa Barbara. -Perrey.

1854

May 29

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 30.

Santa Barbara. -Perrey.

1854

May 30

Charles Huse Diary, published by Santa Barbara Historical Museum, 1977

"Tuesday, May 30, 1854 - At 5 in the morning a strong earthquake awakened me, which shook the house hard. I jumped up and immediately ran outside. No sooner, the earthquake stopped. Everybody was astir, frightened. Fifteen minutes after this, two others followed, shaking briefly and weakly."

1854

May 31

0450 hrs

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 30.

4:50 a.m. Santa Barbara. Three shocks. -J.B.T.-Perrey. [Sea Waves; people frightened; left beds and houses. VI. In Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., 3, 137, Trask gives the time as 5h 10m. In Amer. Jour. Sci., 2d ser., 22, 113, he gives it as "ten minutes before 5 o'clock in the morning."

1854

Dec 23

BSSA, Vol. 29, no. 1, p. 31.

9 am. Violent shock occurred in Japan. In the harbor of Simoda the water was agitated so that its depth varied between eight and forty feet. The waves were transmitted across the Pacific and registered on the tide gages of the United States Coast Survey at San Francisco, Astoria, and San Diego. The velocity of the sea wave was: Simoda to San Francisco, 369 miles per hour, 5.966 [6.133] miles per minute; Simoda to San Diego, 355 miles per hour. -A.D. Bache, in Amer. Jour. Sci., [2d ser., 21, 37.] -Perrey.

No indication that the tsunami was perceived in Santa Barbara. Ed.