The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-07 00:00:00

THE EARTHQUAKE IN GERMANY.

The Cologne Gazette gives the following account of the
earthquake of the 26th ult., as observed in that city :

"This morning the inhabitants of our city were
thrown into the greatest fright and anxiety by an
earthquake passing from west to east. About three
to 9 a.m. a shaking and rising and falling of the
ground, after the fashion of waves began to be felt,
and increased more and more until buildings rocked to
and fro in a formidable manner. Tables, chairs' beds,
stoves, &c., set up a dancing movement, which became
so strong and tremulous that figures and ornaments
resting upon them were knocked against one another
and thrown down. We have been informed that
in several houses stoves and other heavy objects were
thrown to the ground, and that persons sitting
on chairs or leaning on tables were raised with force
and then thrown down. Several persons declare that
they felt as if an electric current were passirig through
their legs, and as if the earth were withdrawn from
under their feet, and a sudden giddiness came over
them. In several houses the door bells were set
ringing, and the small bell in the cathedral was rung
several times. In some places the pendulums of the
clocks ceased to beat. Towards the end of the vibra-
tion, which lasted about seven or eight seconds,
there was heard a dull sound like the roll of distant
thunder. After the first shock every one rushed
out into the streets, but here one was in danger
from falling roof tiles and chimney pots. Unfortu-
nately, a woman carrying a child was passing in the
Weichserhof-street just as two chimneys were falling.
One of them struck her, injuring her so severely that
she died almost immediately. The people who were
engaged at their devotions in the church of St Gereon
were so frightened at seeing the pillars suddenly be-
ginning to sway about that they all rushed out of the
church into the open air. We are further informed
that in all parts of the city greater or less damage has
been done by falling chimney stacks; in some houses
the ceilings have been quite loosened, in others,
stucco - work, lamps, balls, &c., have tumbled
down. Many persons also saw, after the move-
ment had quite subsided, that walls or arches of
their houses were cracked, or that the back
wall or front wall respectively had become detached
from the rest of the building. In some places women
who happened to be in upper stories, where, of comae,
the rocking was most sensible, were so frightened
that they went to throw themselves out of window,
and were only saved by the sudden cessation of the
motion. One woman pasoing in the street at the time
was so bewildered and excited by the sal thquake that
she lost all recollection of where she was, and had
to be taken home in a coach. Several persons with
whom we have spoken assure us that soon after the
first series of shocks there was a second but much
lighter one. There was another (a third) shock at
ILIO a.m., which was not equal to the first either
La waft or duration, It ine'y be rimarked


that no fall of the barometer was observed
to follow the earthquake." A letter from Deutz
(on the opposite side Qf the Rhine) says
"The ground rocked like waves unler my feet, and
the impression made was exactly as if one was stand-
ing on a ship which was being rocked very much by
the sea. Cloaks attached to the wall stopped going."
An interesting observation was made in the neighbour-
hood of Dahlheim on the Rhine.—" A very distinct
curl was seen to cross the river obliquely, from S.S.W.
towards N.N.E.O quite undisturbed by the current,
while at the same time a deep roar of the water was
heard. Even still (the afternoon of August 27) there
is an audible rattling of the panes of glass, and
domestic utensils, if close together, knock against cne
another, while a dull, rolling sound is heard."