Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-11-11
PHENOMENA.
The Recent Earthquakes in the West
and South.

- Ef ga a-E aE
The earthquakes IN California bring
home to tile dwellers in the Atlantic
States, with fearful distinctness, the
terrible disasters in Peru and Ecuador.
The relations between the Pacific and
Atlantic States are so personal and
intimate that a painful anxiety and
solicitude is generally felt respecting
the fate of California. That State
presents numerous volcanic traces
that indicate tine possibility, if not
probability, sOf earthquakes. Happi-
ly, the shocks in California appear to
have been slight, although they
naturally inspired a wide spread
terror.
They were, no doubt, occasioned by
the same disturbing influence that
produced such fearful results in South
America in August This is in ac-
cordance with the general law of
earthquakes, which travel from south
to north. But in California the
volcanic forces seem to have expend-
ed their strength, and resulted in
comparatively slight undulations.
The observations on these phenOm-
ena warrant the conclusion that the
Californians have already experienced
the worst effects from the earth's
vibratOry motion, and that no further
injuries are likely TO occur.
The recent earthquakes appear to
have been diffused over wide extent
of territory. In PeshawuF, in British
India, an earthquake occurred ON the
S0th of August, seven days after the.
events in South America. The
strongest huildings were shattered,
but although the shocks were very
violent, no lives were lost.
In the Sandwich Islands, from the
I'd to the 9Th of August, numerous
slight shocks OF earthquakes were
observed. On the Sth terrible rain
storm, the usual attendant of earth
qualles, occurred at Hawaii, and a
few days afterwards the atmosphere
become sultry and oppressive, as is
frequently the case both before and
after telluric disturbance. In Sydney,
Australia, on the 18th of August,
there was an extraordinary tidal
for several days, that ex-
tended along the entire coast. The
water ebbed and flowed with great
and for several days the
tides were unusually high.
In Chill since the earthquakes of
the 18th of August, the atmosphere
has exhibited signs of sdltriness and
that oecasioned no slight
alarm among the inhabitants, who
connect these conditions with the
volcanic eruptions. Scientific obser-
vatidns have not confirmed this view
have occurred during
heat and cold: in storm and calm;
but the South American view, like
most popular impressions, seems to be
based upon some foundation of facts.
In nearly all the recent disturbances
from the shock in India on the Goth
of August, down to the recent disturb
ances in California, including the
disasters in South America, there
were the same conditions of sultrinese
and expressions in the air. This
California papers by the last steamer
all notice the warm, still air, and light
vapOr, which were attributed TO fires
in the woods in remote regions. But, |
in the light of recent events, ii may
be concluded that these atmospheric |
were connected with |
volcanic agencies.
, A review of the facts that have |
been so far gathered relative to the
recent earthquakes, indicates that they |
were all probably OccasiOned by the
same internal action, and were trans
nitted from the interior of the earth |
N place OF extending over its crust
n vibrating motions, as is usually the /
,ase. Further information upon these
md Other. points will be looked for
With peculiar interest by scientific 1
persons, as well as by the general
public.
The terror inspired by the compar-
ltively light shocks of earthquakes
n California, of which we have news
oy telegraph, is founded upon deep
" rooted principle in human nature.
These phenomena reverse all our es-
ablished ideas of the material
Universe. We are accustomed to the
changes of wind and water, but the
.arth Is always associated with the
IDEAS of stability and the ordinary
succession of events founded upon
known natural laws. An earthquake
-everses in moment all preeonceiyed
nations of the material universe, and
induces. an instructive terror to
which all other emotions and feelings
ire as nothing. Nor is this terror
confined to man. 1t is also shared by
he animal creation. During an \
the fright of beasts is
described as most pitable. In India
.rOcodiles and reptiles have been
Known to forsake the banks Of rivers,
hasten TO the forests, led by mys-
eriOus instinct.