Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1843-05-03

their terror preseniiment of their coming
The barometer falls extremely low.
Earthquakes act with astonishing rapidity.
1t was one single shock which, on the 5th OF
February, 1883, overthrowed Calabria and de-
sroyed Messina in less than TWO minutes. But
these agilalions are sometimes repeated for the
space of months and whole years, as in 1855.
The direction of earthquakes IS one OF the
most remarkable freaks in physical geography.
Sometimes we remark central point where
the shocks are most violent, and this centre
sometimes changes its place, as if the subter-
raneous force rebounded from one point to an
other; sometimes we can distinguish certain
line along which this force seems 10 move
The sphere Of such revolution seems often
to embrace fourth part Of terrestrial globe.
The earthquake which caused such devasta-
tons a, Lisbon was felt in Greenland, in he
Eas, Indies, in Norway and in Africa. That
of 1901 shook all Europe and part of Asia.
In 1903 the shock was felt almost simula-
neously at Agiers, in Greece, at Constantine
pie, Bucharest, Kiow, and Moscow.
No part OF the globe appears TO be exempted
from these terrible ofects The Alps contain
no Aaee of volcanic agency, and yet they are
at Kongsberg in Norway, was first opened up
10 view by shock in 1908. Even The frozen
zone is subject to earthquakes. Greenland
feels frequen, shocks; and in 1858 Lapland ex-
perienced violent commotion.
The sea often, but not always, shares in
the commissions Of the earth. In 1855 the wa
ters of the Tagus rose suddenly 10 80 feet
above their ordinary level, and retired imme-
diately with such force, that the middle of the
river was observed TO be dry. Four minutes
afterwards the same phenomenon recurred, and
ii was three times repeated
Similar motions occurred the same day at
Madeira, at Gaudaloupe, and at Martinique
In the earthquake which proved destructive to
Lima in l746, the ocean had movement of
the same nature; but proporlionae 10 the mass
of wafer which was thrown into agitation, it
rushed forwards upon the land for The space Of
several leagues All the large vessels which
were in port of Callao were swallowed up; all
the small craft were driven beyond the town.
Navigaiors assure us, that ships are very Of
ten dreadfully tossed by a sudden and convul-
sve motion in the sea, very similar TO those
which shake the land. These agitations of the
sea perhaps take place, though there is no cor
times, they are the effect Of submarine shocks
in the very bottom of the ocean.
The causes of these calastrophes are not
we'll ascerlained. 1t appears that there are
several concurring causes of very different
nature Some slight shocks arise, without
doubt, from faIlings in of the ground and sub
lerraneous sinkings, which take place after
great droughls. At other times, the shocks
may be produced by the terrestrial and atmos-
pherical electricity, which seeks 10 recover lis
equilibrium. These phenomena, the reality Of
which can scarcely be contested, depend upon
the temporary constitution of the seasons.
The most generally received opinion aitrib-
ues earthquakes to elastic vapours enclosed IN
subterraneous cavities whether they arise from
the abundance of rain collected in the craters
of VOLCANOES, or are disengaged from the lnflam-
mable substances with which the subterraneous
rivers or waters Of the sea may come IN con-
tact, or finally, are exiricaled by the fsrmena-
tion of that subterraneous fluid, which Deluc
supposes to be the residue of the mother wa
tiers of the globe These yapors become dla-
led by heat, and in seeking an outlet they rise
up or shake the earth.
If this hypothesis be true, as many circum-
stances lead US 10 suppose, the Japanese have
not been wrong in saying that it is great sub
marine dragon which raises up the earth by lis
breathng-A similar tradition prevails IN The
mythology of the Scandinavians. 1t is Proba-
bly, in alIusien 10 this, that Homer has given TO
Neptune the epithet of Ennosigaios, that is, he
shakes the earth.
SOloGuy.