The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-20
.THE ATLANTIC.v

From the article entitled ''Great Earth
quakes in the Old World, " we make these
quotations.
Part of the imperfection of the record in
earlier times is due to the fact that, of the
many thousand shocks in each century, not
over the one-hundredth part are of such vio-
leEce as to be longgremembered for their
effect. Thus the earliest records comprise
only those disturbances which proved of
great desolating power, or S''uch were so con-
nected with human affairs as to ne deemed
Omens or judgments. 1t is only since the
middle of the sixteenth century that tellurit"
phenomena have been observed in the spirit
of scientific investigation. The earliest re-
corded earthquake is that which is mentioned
in the Book of Exodus as having attended the
promulgation of the Mosaic law From the
obscure description, we may conclude that
there took place something like a volcanic
eruption attended by the usual shock. The
geological character of Mount Sinai accords
we'll with the phenomena attributed to it; and
although there is no evidence of any consider
able eruptions within time geologically so
recent, there is no question of its true vol
canic nature, nor is it improbable that sutfi-
cient activity to have produced just the phe-
aCmena described may have existed at that
time without leaving any traces of activity.
LII Is ull1lCUlU W VI
circumstances better calculated to produce
an overwhelming impression on an ignorant
and imaginative people, than the events
which Scripture asserts accompanied the
giving of the law. Coming from a region
of plains, where their previous eXpe-
rience had shown them only the most
uniform operation of natural agents-where
even the annual flood of the great river came
with a regularity which took away from 1t all
convulsive characteristics impressible people
were suddenly confronted with a most inn
posing volcanic mountain. And there, while
the mount poured forth the flames of an
eruption and the ground heaved beneath
their feet, Moses proclaimed those laws
which sank SO deep into the hearts of
his people. Thus the code of laws
which has had the greatest and
most far-reaching effect of any ever given to
man was stamped upon his mind by the awful
phenomena of a volcanic eruption and an
earthquake shock.
-Four other events mentioned in the Old
Testament seem to indicate the action of
earthquake forces. The first of these is de-
scribed in Numbers xvi, when Korah, Dathan,
and Abiram were swallowed up by the open
ing earth but the description of the circum-
stances does not make it quite clear what was
the precise nature of the event which the his
torian meant to record. At a later time near
the close OF the wandering IN the desert, we
have the singular account of the overthrow
of the walls of Jericho, which is probably a
confused description of earthquake action.
After lapse of six centuries, or about 900
b. c., we are again told of an earthquake,
which is strangely described as a great
and strong wind which rent the mountains
and broke in pieces the rocks. But for the
context, which puts the nature of the event
beyond doubt, one might feel a doubt as to
the character of the force displayed. A few
years later there was probably a considerable
CONFUSION in Judea, inasmuch as we find in
Amos i. l, and Zechariah xiv. 3, events dated
from an earthquake shock which took place
during the reign of Uzziah, King of Judah
A very severe convulsion desoated Pales-
tine about 33 B. c.; there is no mention of it
in the Scriptures, but profane writer's assert
that thirty thousand persons lost their
lives. In the New Testament there is
single earthquake recorded, namely, that
which occurred on the day of the crucifxion.
The description of the events connected with
this shock, though brief, is quite in accord
apce with the usual results Of earthquake