Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-05-02
THE EARTHQuAKE.

shecks at Lesvenworth, Kansas City,
80. Joseph, Lswrence, and Dubuque-
Ceuerel Alarm, but Nothing Hurt--Ass
cisents and Incidents.
The telegrsphic dispatches Of Thurs
day morning last announced the, occur
renee of terrible earthquake shocks sim |
ultAneously at Leavenworth, junction !
City, Lawrence, Kansas City, st. Joseph |
and other points of Western Missouri
and Kansas, and also Iowa. The papers
published at the various points give i'm
teresting details, The Laevenworth Con-
scrvative of Thursday says the univcr-
sal topic of conversation last evening
was the earthquakes shock experienced
in the afternoon.
The first indications wtr1 perceived q
few minutes, perhaps fifteen, before three
o'clock, and but little attention was
given to the matter. Persons up stairs
imagined that the jar was produced by
something down stairs, while those below
accounted for 1t on the suppOsition that
the cause was above. The first shock Is
variously described, but generally as re-
sembling the passage ofa heavily loaded
railroad train driven at high rate Of
speed. There was very perceptibic
tremor or trembling of the earth, lasting
| possibly half a minute. Windows ratified
slightly and lighter articles were visibly
agitated.
Then ensued momentary palse,
during which time, we presume, brief rs
1t was, the matter passed from mind
| But 1t was only momentary: and then
| came that rafting sound in the air; that
subterreanean rumbling so inseperably
connected with the old "earth-din;" that
convulsive upheaving and rocking of the
earth which has so often presaged the
destruction of cities, and the death of
thousands. Suddenly, fearfully, came
the second shock and as If by precon-
certed action the entire populace rushed
into the street. "What is it?" whats
the natter" were interrogations that
| fell from tremulous lips, while faces were
blanched with fear of what might come
after such "terrible grumble, and rum
BILE and roar. =" Its continuance was brief,
perhaps not more than fifteen seconds,
and all was quiet again. In that short
time, however, an experimental knowl-
edge of earthquakes was gained which
will not soon pass from mind.
Brick buildings, the foundations of
which were deeply laid experienced more
fully than frame buildings the effects of
the shock. The vibrations Of such were
generally from three to five inches from
east to west, and even the Planters House
rocked to an extent not calculated to
assure the lockers on of the security OF
its walls.
The st. Joseph Union says:
About half past two o'clock yesterday
afternoon low rumDling sound, similar
, to that produced by heavily loaded
wagon passing over abridge, was heard
accompanied by trembling Of floors
and rattling of windows. After on in
terval offour or five seconds the rumbline
| I'm tlyith fnr N tnn m
sity, and huge brick buildings rocked
and rceled, as If they were about to come
down in indiscriminate mass. These re-
markable phenomena lasted but q few
seconds but before they terminated the
entire population of the city had rushed
terrified from counting rooms, work shops
and kitchens into the streets.
; 1t seems almost miraculous that an e n
tire city could be shaken as was ours
: yesterday, and no serious damage be done
: The dismantled walls of the old burnt mil
were partially thrown down, and some
piles Of lumber in Bells yard tOppled
over, but this In all the tumblng thai
has come to our knowledge, save all inf
! mite amount of tumbling down stairs
done by the affrighted inmates of totter
ing houses. In the Union Office, a broker
pain of glass and two or three cracks ir
n the wall remain rs smementoes. In Chest
( were thrown from the shelves. In Con
stables iron house, the stacks Of brass
resting against the wall played lively
tune.
The Lawrence Journal describes the
( shaking as having been accompanied by
II low rumbling noise. There were two
shocks which lasted for several seconds
= the second acting with much greater
!, Intensity and force than the first
Il A..