New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-06-19
BAYARD TAYLOR'S LETTERS.
AN ARTHQUAKE-CHINESE OFFICIAL VS.
TTS-A CHINESE MILITARY DISPLAY

AN EARTHQUAKE-CHINE OFFICIAL VS.
ITS-A CHINESE MILITARY DISPLAY
Editorial Correspondence ofN. Y Tribune.
SHANGHAI, China. Monday, April %, 1853
Ten days ago our attention was diverted from tue
alarm and excitement occasOned 10y rumcrs OF the az
rroao of the rebels through the unexpected vista
ton of an earthquake 1t occurred on Thursday night
the 14th inst On that evensg, NJ. DO MOntigoy, the
French Consul entertained Col. Msrshal q. dinner
Capt Buchanan and Purser Barry, OF the Susqushanna
Mr. Cunningham Capt dc Plas, of the French steamer
Cussini, and several other gentlemen were present
About quarter past II o'clock, al the gaesis we're
taking leave some OF them being still il the passage
putting on their OvercOats for il dark drzzing
night there was sudden violent noise, the tnbers Of
the house cracking and the walls swayng 10 and so
was standing just under the at the time, snl
my first impression was that the building was tain
bling down upon ne. ,uade spring into the court
with strange feeling of bewildgment for everything
see med Keeling and unsteady AL this was the work
of an instant There cry from the ladies' within
and they came rushing out in great terror, excaimng
" an earthquake earthquake We stood IN the
open court yard, awaiting second shock Inc earth
continued TO heaye with slow, regular notion grad
ualIy diminishing, until the thrcbs ceased pre-
duced slight giddness ard nausea IN some Of u.s. In
mediately after the shock passed away wild cutlery
arose from the Chinese city, and the large wooden
drums in the temples were heard sounding far and
near The object Of this 70 socthe the great hsh
upon which the earth rests, and by whose unessness
the earthquake WAS caused.
On reaching the Consulate, we found that every body
In the house bad felt the shock and the chandeliers ia
the drawing room still vibrating from H. Mt L'
one of the clerks stated that his attention was hrst
HID to ~ nv
licked fly open without any apparent agency Ia me
other house belonging to Russell X Co chimney was
thrown down, and Of the jcists drawn from ITS
sock set and forced through the ceiling About hleen
wards of high brick wall around Mr. Nye's house
was oyerthrown, and large Chinese warehouse ID inc
city almost entirely destroyed The dogs loi when
there is 10 scarcity in Shanghai hOUed disma!y whe
the motion lasted The direction OF the wave was ifon
northeast 10 southwest and the extent Of us mohon
was I should Judge, about two feet. Shanghai s SUD
ect TO slight shocks bnt this is the most severe winch
has been felt for several years The nearest volcanoes
are in the japanese island OF kGsu, ABOUT s1 hundred
miles distant.
About midnight two additional shocks were felt but
they were much lighter than the first On retiring 10
rest We found that number OF articles II inc rooms
lad been thrown upon the foor. IL me morning :
walled UP 10 the northern part OF Tie set1ieIenl'
where tie shock appeared 70 have been much more
violent than at the southern end IN Mr. Nyes godocd
(warehouse) the heavy bales OF goods were hurled from
their places Several other chmneys were sprung ana
walls cracked but tie nature OF Inc SOL on when
Shanghai sards--an elastic, cayey loaIn Two uudred
feet in deTth-saycd the place from greater injury In
corrany with some friends went 10 the bowling alley
the walls Of which lad previously showed disposition
10 give way and supported On one side by props
After plsyipg AMOUR OF two noticed that the ~ an
efn Wall had suddenly sunken outward more than slX
inches and was cracked from top 10 bottom. There
lad been in fact another smart shock AZ that very
time and We Lad not perceived IL The props alone
prevented tie whole building from coming down upon
our heads.
The Chinese servants stated in tie morning thar
hairs were ALWAYS found in the earth AFTER an earth
cuake and brought I'D two three gray hOrse-hars-
or what appeared TO be such-which they Pr9essei 70
have found in the yard Several OF the gentlemen in,
rediatey went down aud commenced searching ana
10 their astonshment found numbers OF gray haments
from four 10 ten inches long. They projected tws or
three inches from the soil and were most abundant
among tie grass They were strong, Ike coarse
Iemnep fber. and were readily drawn out without
breaking. ANer careful examination with power
ul maQliyine glass, il was found that they had not
the tubular structure OF haiS but what tley are ana
whence they come, is mystery. Son c oil the proahs
sumrnary account for them b. declaring tha me shocA
Of tie earthquake caused the Eaths hair To stand on
end from fright They we're PICKED up IN nearly all
the gardens in town The Chinese say they are caiy
found Tor three DAYS after the shock, which, a. tar 40
/ can learn, has also proved correct
Another circumstance attending the earthquake, VAS
the shower Of fine dust, which tell Tor TWO OF tnIee
DAYS afterwaTa The thing was noticed aiter
NE earthquake of FAC which was less violent than me