Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-12-03
The Earthquake in Egypt.
The following are some further particulars o.
this event, as given in letter to Messrs rsa'
cock Brothers, of Sunderland, England:

The following are some further particulars o.
this event. as given in letter to Messrs. Psa'
cock Brothers, of Sunderland, England:
ALEXANDRIA, Oct. II, 1856.-On Sunday
morning last we had an earthquake here, which
was both severe and long. 1t occurred aoout
eight minutes to three A. NJ, true time: our
clock was stopped at twelve minutes to three
1t caused no little alarm, and, for my part, must
say never felt more uncomfortable in my life.
| had not been long in bed, and was not asleep
for had been sitting up reading, not feeling at
all sleepy,) when the first thing that attracted
nv attention was a little dog of Madame's that
sleeps in my room, which began to move about
unusually, and then felt my bed rock violently
as if half dozen fellows were tugging at IT.
NY first impression was that some Greeks on
the ground floor were kicking up shindy, as
they do sometimes, only that the roaring noise
bothered me. AS soon, as put my head out
side the mosquito nett at once became aware OF
the true state of the case, for the walls were
moving as though they were made ofpasteboard,
and the pictures were moving out from the walls
and then swinging violently back again-the
walls all the time cracking away like fun.
The first thing that struck me on seeing this
was, that there was no chance of escape, the
house would be down long before we could get
out of it; but madame's door opened on the 9TH
or side of the corridor, and she called out, Lecez
uous vite sortez, sortez. went and picked up
oil my trapsput them over my arm and bolted
all this time the lime and plaster were dropping
upon us in all directions, and at this critical mo-
ment the servant was so frightened, and the
door shook so that she could not unlock it for
some time. Madame was calling out all the
time, Noas sonancs perdue, nous S3naaaes perdue.
certainly was of the same opinion, for, on look
ing up to the rafters by the light of the moon, !
could sec first one side 60 up and then the
other, the walls all the time bending and crack
ing in all directions. The noise was awful-like
a very heavy gale of wind the whole time, and
the floor was heaving like ships deck at sea.
When the door was opened into the stairs the
poor servant called out, Mais madame nous SOM
mes en- chemise however, after hailing the folks
above stairs, sand getting ar answer,we all darted
down stairs, which were rocking like vengeance.
When we got into the street we found our neigh
bors out before US all in white, making very Gu
rous efforts to get on their dressing gowns. 1t
took them some time before that could be man
aged.
The scene was very ridiculous but not sim
gle individual felt inclined to laugh just then for
it was touch and go. Had the shock continued
little while longer, all Alexandria would have
been in ruins, for the last shock, instead fbeing
simply undulating like the first and second, was
a regular jerk upwards, which is the most des-
tructive. Properly speaking, there was but one
shock, but there were three intervals, that is to
say, the shaking became gradually stronger and
stronger up to certain point, then died away,
and then became strong again and died away to
faint shake, and then came the last jerking,
which finished off the business; it lasted alto
gether upwards of two minutes. When finish
ed my toilet in the streets | found out that was
minus both stockings and boots. AS soon as
the shock ceased went and got my boots, &C.,
put them on, and my burnous, with stock of
cigars, prepared tor any eventuality. All the
people got into the open places clear ofthe hous-
es, such as the middle of squares, &C., and Gu
rious lot of costumes there were lots of people
were very sick and completely done up. AS
soon as | got clear of the house lighted up and
smoked away till daylight, when | had some
grub and went to bed but the slightest thing
made me start up out Of sleep; the nerves had
been thrown off their balance, and even after
was asleep anything hitting the wall aroused me
up for moment. 1t was fortunate that the
weather was warm and pleasant, otherwise loads
of people would have taken their deaths with
COluS. i dlll uOL u uIt NOloS ioi OSih6 IA i'iS
streets in bare feet and night shirt.
The thermometer and barometer were not
changed at all by the earthquake. A lot of old
houses in the Arab quarter were shaken down,
but none in the European, though all show
marks. Many of them have cracks from top to
bottom, ours among the rest. The architects
and builders say the cracks are of no consequence
unless they are across, then the buildings become
dangerous l never dreamed of bricks, stones
and mortar having such an amount Of elasticity;
they hold out wonderfully; but they say that
the immense quantity of wood used here in the
walls was what saved them from going squash.
At Cairo 100 houses and one or two mosques
have gone down at Demiatta the shock was not
felt at all, but we have news to-day that it was
felt at Corfu; in Syria there was none. Wher-
ever it came from some dreadful disaster must
have occurred, for it was most violent here and
we are almost out of the range altogether
There is great difference of opinion as to the du-
ration, but most people make it at least two mi
nutes, and believe it lasted longer.
COMMON SooUNDREL PoRTRAITs.-The n. Y.
Loo for .l,o of f1,a