Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-12-27
HoU

to distant regions. No country escapes
these visitations, but in volcanic dis
tricts they occur more frequently than
elsewhere and commencing in these,
they have been known to pass beneath
sea and land, from one hemisphere to
another, tillaull ~one-eighth of the n
tire surface of the globe has been more
or less disturbed by the movement.
Such was the great earthquake of the
year l755, known as that of Lisbon.
Some countries are so subject to these
disturbances that the habitations of the
people are built low, with broad bases
and substantial walls, with particular
reference to their stability against the
shocks. This Is the case throughout
Central America, and in Chilli and
Peru. Taking into account the whole
surface of the earth, there is probably
not a day that passes without the oc-
cmrence somewhere of a sensible dis
turbance Of this kind, and hardly q
month without one or more worthy OF
note. The same countries have con-
tinued to be frequently visited by earth
quakes from remote periods. Calabria,
the southern extremity of Italy, has
been repeatedly devastated since its
early settlement by the Greek colonists,
and, together with the neighboring
island of Sicily, has been the scene Of
some of the most terrible earthquakes
OF record. From February, 1888, to
the end of the year l7S6, 4 period OF.
nearly four years. this country was al
most constantly disturbed. No fewer
than 9i9 shocks We're experienced in
the first of these years, of which sol
We're shocks of the first degree of force.
Lyell observes that these commissions
were not remarkable above many
others for their duration, violence, or
extent, but great Importance Is given
, to them from the minuteness OF the OBJ
| servations of men competent to collect
and describe with accuracy the ply
| steal facts which throw light on geo
losicalquestions. The details that have
been recorded Of the earthquakes in the
| countries bordering on the Mediter-
ranean would make this region appear
more subject to them than any other
part of the globe; but had any other
volcanic region been settled during the
same periods by Il population OF the
same degree Of civilization, it is prob
able that the records Of the two would
not have materially differed in this re-
Spect. Among the earliest accounts OF
earthquakes Of particular interest is
that which resulted In the destruction
of uerculancum and Pompeii in the
wear 90. which was l6 years previous
10 the time when those cities were
buried in the ashes from Vesuvius.
The ancient city of Antioch in Syria
was almost destroyed In the year llo,
at the time Of the visit Of the Emperor
Traian. who was himself hurt. In los
it was again visited by an earthquake,
and in SO occurred the most disastrous
one of which any record has been pre-
served. Gibbon states that 230.00t
persons are said to have persisted ri
this time. Il contluX Of strangers to the
festival Of the Ascension swelling the
multitudcS belonging to the city
History" lie remarks, "will distin'
guish the periods in which these calam'
itouS events have been rare or frequent
and will observe that this fever of the
earth ragged with uncommon violence
during the reign of Justinian. Eacl
year is marked by the repetition Of
earthquakes Of such duration that Con
Stantinople has been shaken above n
DAYS: of such extent that the shock
has been communicated to the whole
surface of the globe, or ut least of the
Roman Empire" The approach tc
earthquakes is heralded by several pre-
monitory symptoms Of an unmistak'
able character. The air appears to be
affected in some respect, perhaps i'll it
electric condition. and the brute am
mails show a senSitiveness to this by
uttering cries of distress and running
wildly about. Men sometimes are af;
fcctcd with dizziness, and q sensation
like seasickness. The atmosphere is
often hazy for months, and the sun
seen through it appears red end fiery
The weather suddenly changes from
fierce gusts Of winds to dead Gains,
and rains pour down in torrents nj
times. or in places in which they are
usually OF rare occurrence. lmmcdi'
ately before the shocks occur, the airs
generally very still, while the surface
Of the ocean or lakes is unusually dis
turbcd. A sound then breaks upon the
stiffness like distant thunder, or like a
carriage rambling afar off OF n rough
pavAmcnt /: or it may break at once
with an awful explosion, a when the
peal and the fash come together from
every part of the cloud in which II is
enyeloned: mt the same time the
ground is shaken and lifted upward, OF
thrown forward. rs by the passage OF
an irresistible wave beneath II. The
shocks may be repeated several times
in quick succession, orrccur atcr long
intervals: the movements may be SO
great rs 10 rend the surface into
chaSms, and these may open and shut
again. or remain In assures Of the width
of a few feet or yards, and extending
TO unknown depths; smoke and flames
are occasionally sent forth from them
during the continuance Of the earth
quake, even II the region be not vol
canic. Torrents OF water are elected
from these chasms, and springs OF
water are often forced by the convul-
SION into new outlets and directions.
Objects upon the surface, rs dwellings,
trees and animals, are engilfed i'll the
chasms; and by subsidence OF the sur
face, large trees, mountains even, and
whole cities are swallowed up. Occur
ring as they most frequently do along
the Seaboard, the water is observed
commonly TO retire to some distance,
leaving the harbors dry. and then TO
return in q great wave many feet in
hight. which sweeps everything before
it. This may occur by the progress OF
the great wave, the recession being oc-
c,sioned in the same way rs the similar
movement upon a small stale noticed
alon" the shore rs 4 steamboat APP
proachcs it. the water first receding,
aud then returning in a great wave;
or il may be owing to q tract being up
lifted in the sen ut som distance, to-
ward which the waters would first be
drawn from every direction, and i'm
mcdiately after be propelled back with
redoubled force. Ofa all the calamities
10 which man Is exposed, there are
none of so fearful a character a. earth
ouakcs; none involve such terrible and
| devastating destruction to life and
property. There are none of the APP
proach of which he is less f~orewarned,
! and none against which he can take
fewer prccautions.-Am. Cyetopedia.