Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-11-01

The EARTnQUAkE. The Earthquake Of
the 18th inst, was felt with more severity
apparently in Canada than in New-England.
The Quebec Chronicle of the 18th gives the
following account of it there =
About ten minutes before six o'clock yes
terday morning the citizens of Quebec were
startled by shaking of part of the earth's
surface, which was felt, with more or less
violence throughout the city snd district.
The phenomenon waS preceded by low
sound, precisely similar to that caused by
heavy laden wagons, and the duration OF
the principal shock is variously estimated at
from thirty to fifty seconds. Immediately
after the sound the vibration of the earth
quake com menced, and was sufficiently strong
to cause itself to be felt even in the largest
buildings in the city. The sensation is des-
cribed, by those who experienced 1t, as
somewhat sImiliar to that felt by passenger
in a railway car just commencing TO move,
and its shock subsided gradually into an un-
dulating motion, which could be felt within
| doors several seconds after it had ceased in
the streets.
We have not learned that any serious
damage was caused, but the effect was suffci-
emily perceptible to cause considerable alarm
and excitement In Grant street, st. Roch s
quantity of stones were detached from a
chimney and deposited in the street. Window
glass was broken in considerable quantities,
| house bells and door knockers rang ard
sounded d'mysteriously while crockerY and
other light articles placed upon shelves, were
thrown down. Chimneys and high walls
oscillated 70 and fro, to the great alarm OF
pedestrians, and in q couple of instances
F, piles of lumber were overturned. 1t is re-
markable that the shock was much
more violent on the low ground of the
city - along the cOves, in the Lower
Town. and in St. Roch 's-than on thu
heights in the Upper Town, or st. John, ant
ST. Louis suburbs This circumstance wal
exceedingly providential, inasmuch as tht
same violence of motion which prevailed IL
St. Roch' might, if felt in the higher part
of the city, have disturbed a portion OF the
cliff and notifications, and caused al fearfu
sacrifice of human life.
On the river the effects were scarcely les
marked. Schooners lying in the Palai
harbor, rocked violently backward and for
ward while along the coyes, the shipping
experienced tremor like that produced by
collision.
Immediately outside the city the shocl
was much more severe than within the limits
On the little river road, along the valley o
the St. Charles. at BEAUFORT, Charlesbourg
Lorette and Lake St. Charles, it is represent
ed as having been so severe that we are onl..
surprised more serious damage was not done
At the latter place the cattle became alarm
ed, and ran about the fields believing loud
ly.
But the phenomenon was not confined t
the north shore. A gentleman from Halifax
county of Megantic, last evening, informs u
that it was felt in that township with tn
same symptoms and euects as IN this city. /
correspondent writing from st. Christoph
d'Arthabaska d says :-"We had quite a shoe
of an earthquake. this morning at six O'Clock
1t continued two or three minutes. Th
house moved like the rocking of cradle, o
rather the earth trembled this will bette
describe the motion"