The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-10-22
THE EARTHQUAKE AT ST. LOUIS.
Incidents in Connection with It.

From the St. Louis EDening NeDs of last
Thursday we copy the following account of on
earthquake in that vicinity:
About twenty minutes past four O'Clock this
morning, rather severe shock of an earthquake
was experienced in st. Louis, as also in the
surrounding vicinities, likewise for many miles
on the Illinois side. Towards midnight of yes
terday, q moisture began to pervade the atmOs-
phere, and, finally, somewhat of dew was
formed. This did not increase in density until
about half past two o'clock in the morning,
when fog began to gather over the city, and
superseded the dew. 1t grew gradually thicker
and thicker, until about twenty minutes past
four O'clock when Ito give the words of officer
McMeans and fellow officer, who were sitting
on Third street, between Poplar and Plum, in
a doorway they heard loud rumbling noise
They jumped up, and had scarcely reached their
feet before they were amazed at the shaking OF
the ground beneath their feet 30 that they could
scarcely stand.
The windows of the houses on both sides of
the street clattered loudly in their frames, .he
blinds flew open, and out popped the heads of
scores of people in their night dresses, who &C.
cupied the houses. A great number ran Jut
of the houses, alarmed at the oscillation of tker
beds, windows, and furniture in their roo,ps,
lence that otherwise reigned at this early hour
of the morning. We may state that the avi-
dences just narrated we're experienced by CO.
pie all over the city. Upon comparing all .he
accounts together, it is apparent that the shock
proceeded from the southwest, and so travelled
along. Parties describe it as coming up from the
river west from which point it was felt most
severe. AT Meramac, and all points below
the river, it was very acutely felt. Persons
coming In from there state that, at the time of
the shock, the noise resembled at one moment
the rumblng induced by steam endeavoriug to
escape through mufflsd apparatus, and at an
other as though vehicles, heavily ladened, with
muined wheels, were being drawn, with express
sound was heard in this city.
AT Meramac, it was pitch dark at the time.
ana the people were very much alarmed, and
ran out OF the houses. There was likewise a
strong smell OF sulphur; and it is said, upon
good authority, that a sulphurc meteoric ball
rolled through the streets in this CITY, leaving
wherever 1t went most unpleasant smell. In
consequence of the early hour of the morning,
very little was known of what the outside effects
were but in regard TO the inside ones, they are
visible in many parts Plaster has fallen from
the ceilings, locked doors were unlocked and
thrown open, bricks knocked down, beds and
many buildings in the vicinity, are described to
US by some of the boarders to have rocked very
nearly like cradle, and large number Of
them quickly arose from their beds, in alarm.
Heads were popped out of the windows, and
many persons went into the street.
Four miles north from here, just before the
shock, it was very dark. After the first shock,
and about eight minutes after that came the
second shock, which was felt all over the city,
but was not so strong as the first, although very
percepticle when the moon shone out as bright
as ever. This is a very strange phenomenon to
be accounted for. How is it that, while the
shock Is In progress, darkness so peculiar
should prevail; and that no sooner had the
shock been felt than it quickly disappears, and