The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-02 00:00:00

AN EARTHQUAKE IN ENGLAND.

Shortly after half-past ten on Friday night a distinct
shock of earthquake was felt in many places in the West
of England and in South Wales. The unusual sensation
lasted for about a couple of seconds, and is presumed to
have been occasioned by what is termed an earth wave.
Five years ago (in October, 1863) a similar shock occurred,
which was felt throughout a considerable part of the West
of England.
The shock on Friday last was felt in Worcester and
numerous towns and villages on the western bank of the
Severn, up to the boundaries of the county on that side.
The incidents appear to have varied considerably. In some
situations it was so slight as hardly to be perceptible, while
in others the witnesses described it as even more
severe than that which was experienced in 1863.
It appears pretty certain that persons who happened
to be in the upper chambers of their houses did not
experience the effects of the shock so acutely as those who
were at the time in the basement. Many persons who
had retired to rest, and were undisturbed by it, were
incredulous when informed of the fact by their neighbours
until corroborative evidence was accumulated from all
quarters. The time when the shock was perceived was,
as near as can be ascertained, 20 minutes to 11. The night
was cloudy, but light, the moon being nearly at the full.
The indications of the earthquake were various. Some
persons describe it as a trembling of the earth as if a
laden waggon was passing along the street, others imagined
some animal had got into their bedroom and was
scampering about the floor. The motion of articles of
furniture, the jingling of glasses, and the oscillation of
beds were very common. Most of the reports agreed that
these indications were accompanied by a noise like that of
a high wind, or of a vehicle or train passing. Reports
were brought into Worcester in the course of Saturday
from different towns and villages westward, describing the
shock in very similar terms. It is a fact, though it may
have nothing to do with these phenomena, that up to the
time of the shock the weather was cold, but the thermo-
meter rose 15 deg. on Saturday.
Three shocks were felt in Leamington. They followed
each other in rapid succession, but none of them were
either violent or prolonged. The first occurred at about a
quarter to eleven o'clock, and was felt in different streets,
but more particularly in the west and north-west portion
of what is termed the New Town, which is on the north
side of the River Leam. At the time the night was quit.
calm, but somewhat close for the season. The shocks were
noticed by Dr. O'Callaghan, LL.D., the president of the
local Philosophical Society, who during a residence in the
West Indies had on more than one occasion felt the shod:
of earthquakes. On Friday night Dr. Callaghan called
attention to the occurrence, and found that the shocks
had been observed by some of his domestics. In York-
terrace and the Kenilworth-road the shocks were distinctly
felt. A lady on the l'arade was startled by an unusual
noise, and the shocks were noticed by other persons, but
do not appear to have attracted general attention. In
November 1863 the earthquake was felt in Leamington
with considerable violence. On that occasion things were
moved about in cupboards, and small articles of furniture
were displaced, while many persons were aroused in terror
from their sleep. The shocks on Friday night were much
lighter.
At Exeter many persons noticed the earthquake. Threz
distinct shocks were felt by the inmates of a house in
York-buildings. The occupant of a house, who has long
resided in the West Indies, recognised the shaking as
that of an earthquake. The inmates of the Eye Infirmary
felt the building shake, and experienced a peculiar sensa-
tion at the time. -

At Merthyr the shook was rather severe, and occurred
on Friday night about 10.30. The movement appeared to
be from south to north, and continued for three or four
seconds. The sky was covered with light, but there were
no thunder-clouds. A few minutes before the occurrence
there was that strange calm prevalent which has been notices
during the time of a complete eclipse. Great alarm was felt
by the inhabitants. At Twynrodyn and other high quartery
the people rushed out of t'ie houses, some attributing the
shock to explosions underneath in some of the coal or
mine pits ; but as Merthyr is not undermined, and no
mine or coal stratum exists there, this fact was conclusive
that the disturbances proceeded from a greater and more
mysterious cause. At the time of the occurrence there
was a grand procession by torchlight in honour of one of
the candidates for representing the borough, and the great
swell of the earth and shaking of doors and windows
contrasted strangely with the merry-making going on in
the galley.

The workshops at Stoke-upon-Trent railway sta-
tion were completely destroyed by tiro on Friday night.
Several carriages, a number of waggon sheets, &c., were
consumed. Tho damago is estimated at some thousands of
Pound