The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-08 00:00:00

THE EARTHQUAKE IN AUSTRALIA.

The following extracts from the South, Australian Re •
gister, of the 26th June last, furnishes some interesting
particulars respecting the shock of the earthquake felt
near Adelaide. The Register says—
" We know not as yet over how wide an area the sub-
terranean convulsion spread, but from Gawler, Gumera•
eh% Teatree Gully, and a variety of other places, we
have received special information. The numerous ac-
counts that have reached us agree with remarkable
exactness is all the particulars of the visitation. The
shock took place at a quarter to twenty minutes past
two on Wednesday morning. It lasted for a minute or
more, advancing from north to south, being accompanied
by a rumbling sound, in some localities louder than
thunder. Houses were violently shaken, many people
springing from their beds in consternation. Dogs barked
and growled furiously in consequence of the prolonged
shaking and creaking of the doors, windows, and other
articles. At the time of the shock the air was calm, al-
thoughjust before the occurrence a strong gale prevailed.
After the shock had passed the wind revived, and in some
places hail fell. The sky was overcast and gloomy, a
heavy and oppressive sensation being experienced by
many persons."
The Register givesletters from persons resident in Ade-
laide and the suburban districts. Mr. Hill, of the School
of Art, says that he heard a " low Thumping sound,"
and felt "a quick jolting sensation, similar to riding in
a waggon over rubble." Mr. Dalton, of the High-street,
Kensington, writes that " Mrs. Dalton says it appeared
' to her as if one of the children had fallen heavily out of
bed, and she heard the bottles in the shop rattle dis-
tinctly. My son, who sleeps in tbe shop, says the bottles
rattled against each other ; and the shock was so great
that the doors and windows rattled, and some parrots
flew violently about their cage. It was followed by a
strong wind and hailstorm." Mr. R. D. Hawkins, inn-
keeper,
a minute," r,of Old Tiers,
and then
iers,saysthahte"hheiasrd a bed
rquumitbeisii;lg
shock for
about
like thunder. He adds, "It is no fancy. The nearer,
my barman,
n'canconfirmit
An anonymous "Subscriber" writes from Mitcham :
" A dull, rumbling sound, not unlike the noise caused by
a railway train passing
.over the Turrena bridge, was first
heard, almost immediately followed by a trembling
of the earth, which caused my house to shake, and the
furniture in the room to creak loudly. At the same time
a sensation was felt which reminded me of my skating
days. The earth seemed to undulate in about the same
degree, and in the same smooth and quiet manner,
that ice does when the water below is trcubled by the
weight of eager skaters above. At the time of the
shock the wind was blowing very wildly, and I think I
could detect a blast or so from the north. A quiet pens.
trating rain soon after followed."

In addition to the above letters, the Register has been
favoured with the following memorandum :
" Particulars from Revenue Station, Aneroid Barometer

and Thermometer.
" June 24-7 a.m., bar. 30.6; 9 a.m., bar. 30.4, ther.
56 ; 2 p.m., bar. 30.0, ther. 59 ; 5 p.m., bar. 29.90, ther.
55 ; 11 p.rnr. bar. 29.80. Wind light and fresh, N.N.W.
to N. W. Sky cloudy and threatening.
"June 25-2.22 a.m., bar. 29.80, ther. 59, wind very
strong,light,N.W. N.W.; 2.30.
bar.
29.76,ba her 5
bar. 29.82, ther.4. 59, wind
" Shock occurred about 22 minutes past 2 a.m. ; via
lent rocking of beds and glasses, and shaking of win-
dows ; low rumbling sound, like that produced by a
heavy railway train in motion, increased as it ap-
preached, and died away in the distance ; direction,
W.W. to N.E."