The New York herald., 1867-12-14
THE EARTHQUAKES IN THE VIRGIN ISLES.

THE EARTHQUAKES IN THE VIRGIN ISLES.
Graphic Description Of the Great Bore,
Tidal Wave, Attending the Earthqnnke-
Direction OF the Earthquake Shoctss M -.
7'honas and 81. CrOix-E'issure Made In
saba Island.
81. THOMAS, Nov 81, 1867
To EDITOR TIE HERALD.
On Sunday, the 18th November, between two ana
three r. NJ slight shock WAS said TO have felt
shore az St. Thomas. The reliable witnesses
questioned said they heard decided "rumbng,''
which, by experience they knew the usual
paniment OF an earthquake.
On Monday, November Is. at about eight minutes to
three p NJ an earthquake was felt on board the flag
ship sasquehanual ! describe It only q kind OF
s'ca,th shuddcr, lasting frqm minute . minute
and half The vibrations distinct and regular,
with very slight increase in intensity about the mid
die OF the shock. The current seemed yibrate be-
the north and south points. Anerod barometer
% s. thermometer 10 degrees the average points at
which both instruments had stood for some days pre-
vous aud have done SINCE.
On shore found 1t difficult to got evidence that
would establish any data The iohabants seemed TO
state Of trepdation and panic that precinded the
possibility Of obtaining supported evidence point
Many buildings wero thrown down, and the falling Of
chimneys and loose masonry work destroyed injured
houses that otherwise unharmed Assistant Engi-
neer Ridder ior the fagshp) informed that he
crack or earth rent caused by the earthquake
At quarter past three L. M bore was observed ad
vancing with great rapdity toward the harbor It ap-
parertiy u tidal from the south which
broke into con,.ss on meeting The shoal water line OF
thrtvsix fanoms which runs round the southern side
OF S,. Thomas eight niles distance from tho shore
iiue. The about eight minutes from its arst
appearance lsupposedl the shoa line until II broke
upon Prince Krpert's Rocks. which extend half way
the mouth Of the harbor There II broke, i'm
parting momentum TO the DO ~ Of At the
protected entrance, which came IN as heavy swell
roller, without cap. and committed tho damaee
Thomas. A the bore at 81. Thomas and that
q 81. Croix occurred about the same time,
believe them to be identical in origin and eject
vessel miles outside the shoal ne and In direct
line between the hnrbor and Sc Croix in the direction
the came. observed under all sail and did
appear 20 be aecied bv IT, so that should describe it as
ldai wave starring from some point OF the Spanish
main say Iagusyra) aud travelling at great sneei mot
she shosi ws,er lire al ST Thomas and st. Croix and
broke into the anchorage, large crested wave The
helgnt OF the appeared At the shoai line APP
10 b. great thirty feet but approach
Ing Prince Eupsrts rocks comparing it with the height
o two vesseis brig and bark caught IN its
crest. was no. more than fifteen foe, high snce, by
On shoa ~ nde, has been found 70 ba
- .a,so. r:ssasd leaving =; a,ssAD s..oand star.
The secondary wave lifted her mp, thc surge on her
cable carrying away both anchor stocks and passed
whsrves fne briz ana bark alter weahering tho
crest n lore. whred together in the eddes
and hack set, and were ar shore on the steep
siaes Of The nsrbor outside Prince Rupsrs rocks The
vss ict bah and dry above high water
marx on the SIDE Of the biz. steam
steamer lying Ia 6frgore bay), On coming in sight Of
The puI hack with all speed but heimcd,
although she Dad but perhaps two hundred yards 10
20 reach safe waters small sloop csps,zed the
cress Of lhe bore 4 broke The tug disappeared,
rs .nS sas sss as
by boat from The flagship. For three hours after the
bore had broken the water In the harbor Was troubled
dies and circiea Al hAif-past six r. ~ Il ceased A
slight gust Of wind accompanied the bore In ~ drcc.
AZ seven O'Clock cent on bard the De Soto 10 ascer.
What INJURIES she had received. Shs had been
chored between the naysh aud the Liverpool Com
pany's iron wharf. The flagship anchored in four
fatbos cf water entire OF Prince Rnpcs rocks bear
iog louthl The Liverpool Ccmpany's ~harf sank into
VAR before the bore he'd III; and II that
tse rcnDx bad been strong enough 10 carry away,
essc thai the bore impelef before IL body OF water
which acted heiow the surface The wharf did not
torpe towards from ihe bore sank squareiy
d0en, iis foundations bad given way. The
De Sosc. with four anchors down, was whried
helpiessiy In scfnlcirces from north to south.
she parted two cables heaviest anchors and was
aSainsi the debrs OF the iron wharf Prince
Raport's rocks. sgs aiming some damage; steam was
ina fia'eiy gofen up and her steam pumps put In
re0ulAson 10 rNar her o. water. No lives lost
heard the nagshIp 10 soto The ne soto lost
q her b9ss aid bal three rendered Useless by niu
rus The hassnip picked Up 10 ne habor about nteen
men ane dead body.
Tho tAWAHe 1uue DF tNt eaftnauake ana 0oFe seems
have escsded thai done by the hurricane the 2sth
ull bas under the excited condition OF peoples minds
no 70 able details were obsainable.
Ihs esfeclon ~ the OF fluctuations board
snip wAs not ciesriy de1nablc thcy appeared TO be
sthw2u ships. from rarboari 70 port As she beaded
about east northeast thcy may be said 10 have run from
east 70 norm. Or thsrcaboats.
on the mOFning u November 10 visited the Liver.
pool mail saearship Ia Plata tshe w& lying In
Guvure hay - Oaer any assistance IN our power Her
caplsn rpouna that 'he the bore rise The dis
tAnce. shen hs dsei w4s thirty feet 10 height; that
esne Aiong the rocks In front Of the anchorage
brsks ferce struck tbe Ia Plata on the starboard
qusrler siAg a. 4 q tho upper works and
tnx her ssAy irsm her anchors bot she sustained no
Ne s.sd ne, during tho earthquake the Island Il Saba
vas reported 70 him issuing flames and smoke, but
whssssr o smeks Or aasl he could not s The pur.sr
~ shs In rsis said hs ccud r.aisiy sss the flames
: assure Az ms me sssd e sso whicn he assured
u.s 80 no. there before. and as he hAd been very
Ssex .lms sAillns bs,~cca ~ thomas and Easand hs
ehssgs tsd Teen esscssd. observed that ths walls Of
sbe tssnss iocses nee snf fresh bss tnsre we're no
p~rwsSss asras me nighS. lo@lng only two women.
Later IN 10 lay The II Plata came round into
.hs hsssss ssd 7 am led = suseses that sss -
psrirs We sseslns ~ tns 18Th vent On shsre and
fssss t6sl ss,sr hsd penessnsea W town, about
ksssss. ds,sSysss prspsrsy &c. Bosn and small
sss ~efs earned op spi landed 10 shs streets; slocps
80 h.1 Iss ~. 49, "a sse<s ssm ssssrsi sssexs cf
ssfsklusss s.y ssvei o. sghs; moot ef them we're
ssfv fasS Via ~afcsly cay motion. bls accompanied
by Npunt san<whaa iks The moan that prsc>ics the
ypkeoa Uns stsrk. however, wss very dlsircs, and
sarned ths fsnlfs ~ IN vushy considerably. 10 The
b<~ - my Inssnsat ran ~ sndaiAi,rx wAvcs IRON
sDDal seusA wu~f ~ nofIhes<. hcginnlrr with
me~n, wnieh followed nv fev vsbrAiiuns,
s<sim fuus~tf ~ Q lsnxf s~vc~ more dssitnct.
nscta rlthsv 'he rerpr on shn<s vsrs more sea
sMlv~ ana fhsw serves scrsfn<~iy stretched ~
tbsr snniss AID sxpsrspce elsa Nv some eisctrch
esses, IN 49, 80, s,~s,s rrssss~d shs ssry Ora
sssas ~ sou4as . khetk. Tns say dafinx TIE day
pftsertss edsnsy sppsssses ts~ trade sind elouas
were bangles AsN<AAr osFfnfM4 ihr NestAcf Ssr
calm ana salsfg. Ibf& ineideNt - a ths time
" ms ts sortheNt trade vnds prsvaa vnn tneat