The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1867-05-22


ing the bar dry, and then rolled in with
gigantic wave fifty feet high, which swept
over the lower part ct the city, drowning
thousands Of the miserable Inhabitants who
had He'd to the streets and squares for
safety, A great concoursc Of the people
had collected on new marble quay, as a
spot we're they could atand beyond the
reach Of fallen ruins, when il suddenly
sank, with all who we're upon il, and it is
said that not one of the dead bodies ever
hoated to the surface. The water above
The spot Is now one hundred fathoms deep.
Over 100000 persons were destroyed by
this earthquake. It's effects were felt on
all sides to distlnce OF many hundred
miles: the agitation reaching even to Great
Britain. where lakes and springs we're
affected IN the most remarkable manner.
ln Loch l.omond, Scotland, the water sud-
denly ruse two feet and four inches, and
subsidized below its furmer level. II was
reported that similar phenomena were cb-
served in Lake Champlain and in some
ponds in Massachusetts. The vibration,
or wave, Of the earthquake appeared to be
transmitted at the rate Of about twenty
miles minute. The Island Of Sicily and
the western coast OF Asia Minor. in the
same latitude. have been repeatedly desc
lated by earthquakes involving the ues-
tructcn Of towns aud villages with the
greater part Of their populations.
Following this earthquake zone across
the ocean into The United States, we find
that the only great terrestrial convulsions
TO which this country has been subjected
occurred upon II. The frs. at New Ma
drid. Mo-. latitude SS-sg degrees) in 1911.
The ground at New Madrid was in quak-
lng state for several months, though the
number oi seryere shocks were few. Among
the remarkable changes that were wrought
~ this region were The formation Of lakes
twenty miles in extent in the course Of an
hour, and the drainage Of others equally
large in the same space Of time the sink
! Ing OF the site Of New Madrid. and the riy-
&c bank tor fifteen miles above, elgh. teet
below their iormer level the busting open
OF the soil. and the election OF vast volumes
Of water. sand, and pit coal as high as the
tops "f the trees, The splitting oi the earth
into ehasIns IN direction generally from
northeast 10 southwest, During these
shocks the earth rose in great undulstions
anu as the waves advanced, the trees bent
beiUre them as il to hurricane. We be-
llese that no lives were lost in this earth
4 axe. Still. following this line across the
continent. we come tu San francisco and
The surrounding country on the Pacific ".
ing IN sS-s9 degrees. Here occurred ano.
Tier memorable earthquake in 1865, which
gave the last people oi San Franclscoa new
sensatlon--One that they do not want re-
peated. Nobody was killed, il We reccllect
rightly, and but little damage was done 10
property but the confidence Of the inhabi-
lants 10 the stability VI their real estate
once shaken can never be entirely restor-
ed. This is pecuIiatlty ofearthquakes-
that they destroy our trust IN what IS ap-
psrently the InOs: solid and permanent OF
things. the very earth beneath our leet, and
introduce new aud vague source OF ap.
prehenslon into the troubles Of life. Gross
Ing tie Pacific Ocean, On The same line OF
latitude, We hnd the coast oi Japan pecu.
liarly subject TO these disturbances. Sey.
'eral wears agu Submarine earthquake oc.
cured about fifty miles IRON the coast and
drove iu u huge wave. which destroyed
several villages with mos: Of their inhab-
itants. The same wave lett its mark on
the eastern shore OF the Pacific, to the
height OF twelve feet in sume places, has-
ing travelled the entire distance az the es-
tinated rate OF about 500 miles an hour.
We do not propose TO suggest any ex.
planation Of the coincidence ~ which we
have alluded. They are too remarkable
TO be accidental, and might. u carefully
aud philosophicolly Investigated. she'd ne"
light on the mystery Of t,e earthquake
that rude. primeyal prdcess OF Nature
which still throws its stumbling blocks, a:
IL in mere wantonnsss, across the palh d
cur civilization. ..