The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-28
PHENOMENA.
The Recent Earthquakes I'm the West
and south.

anu BOubhs
The earthquakes in California bring home to
the 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 inti-
mate tba painful anxiety and soLlciIude Is
genersy felt sne iats Socane S Sraoss
that indicate the possibility, II not prooaolllty,
of ear hquakes Happily, the shocks in Csli. ,,
naturally inspired wide spread terror
They were no doubt occasioned by the same
disturbing influences that produced such fearful
results in South America In August. This Is in
accordance with the general law of earthquakes,
which travel from south to north. But In Call
fornia the volcanic forces seem to have expended
their strength, and resulted In comparatively
phenomena warrant the conclusion that the
Californians have already experienced the worst
effects from The esrlh's vibrstory notion and
that no further injuries are likely TO occur.
The recent earthquakes appear to have been
difused over awlde extent of territory. 10
Cured on the 20 n OF August, seven days after
the events in South America The strongest
buildings 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
ear hquake were observed On the Sth ter
rible rain storm, the usual attendant OF ePrth-
quakes, occurred at Hawaii, aud few days
afterwards the atmosphere became sultry aud
oppressive, as is frequently the case both be-
fore and afier telluric disturbances In sydney
Australia, on the 10Th of August, there was an
extraordinary tidal disturbance for several
days, that extended along the entire coast.
lence and for several days the tides were unu-
sually high.
August, he atmosphere has exhibited signs OF
sultIiness and oppression that occasioned no
slight alarm among the Inhabitants, who con-
meet these conditions with volcanic eruptions.
Scientific observations have not con drmed this
view. Earthquakes 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 disturbances in California,
including the disasters in South America, there
were the same conditions of sultriness and op-
preston in the air. The 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 IL may be concluded that
these atmospheric peculiarities were connected
with volcanic agencies.
A review of the facts that have been so far
gathered relative to the recent earthquakes, in
dicates that they were all probably occasloned
by the same internal action, and were trans.
mitted from the interior of the earth in place
of extending over its crust in vibrating mo-
tions, as ls usually the case. Further informa-
ton upon these and other points will be looked
for with peculiar interest by scientific persons,
as well as by the general public
The terror inspired by the com paratively light
shocks of earthquakes In California. Of which
we have news by telegraph is founded upon
deeply rooted principle in human nature.
These phenomena reverse all our establish
ideas Of the material universe. We are accus.
toned to the changes of wind and water, but
the earth is always associated with ideas of sta
bility and the ordinary succession of events
founded upon known natural laws. An earth.
quake reverSeS In q moment all precOnceived
notions of the material universe and induces
an instructive terror to which all other emo.
tions and feelings are as nothing. Nor is this
terror confined TO man. 1t is also shared by
the animal creation. During an earthquake
the fright of beasts is described as most pitia-
known to forsale the banks OF rivers ahd has
ten TO the forests, led by & mysterious instinct