The New York herald., 1870-10-21
rHE SHOCK IN MASSACHUSETTS,.

BOSTON, Oct. 20, 1870.
Boston, as well as the rest Of New England and
the Canadas and Provinces, has been wonderfully
shaken up this forenoon by genuine earthquake.
II occurred at precisely twenty-six minutes past
eleven At first the shocks were unaccountabe, and
people were surprised at the nnw0nted tremor
which seized upon everything animate and inan-
mate. Before the vibrations accompanying the first
shock which were from east 70 west and
lasted perhaps ten seconds. had ceased,
however. the conviction took possession Of
the minds OF all that an earthquake with Its giant
strength was shaking them up and threatening
appalling destruction OF life and property. The mo-
lions were quite sharp and distinct, and IN many
cases created quite disturbance among heavy Dor.
table articles In houses Immediately the nature OF
the visitation was realized there was rush into the
streets from stores, ofces aud dwellings,, in some
places the scenes thus presented being quite AMI
mated and curious. Merchants without hats and
clerks without coats; grave bank presidents and
onicers Of life insurance companies men with pens
behin0 their ears, ana men without coats Or hats,
pale and panic stricken; ladies out shopping and
shop girls; even corner huxters and apple
destrlans the shocks were more perceptble than to
those indoors. These tell wonderful stories OF
buildings rocking 70 and fro e. On % rockers, nke
counts, that some OF the tall buildings IN their ir-
regular rockings did NOT MT their heads together
first snock, as already stated lasted about ten
seconds the lateral m0lon OF the earth being from
shocks, with a motion from norsh TO south. ana
being nearly ten seconds in duration and very
clearly defined. The houses along.
CONGRESS STREET
were fearrully SHAKEN but wonderfully preserved
Some parties on the street aver that some OF the
buildings seemed the point Of falling to pieces.
ON COURT STREET,
among other sensations, two gentlemen in the upper
part OF No. II building were talking, one sitting
oufo rha pQtp ms
motion and actually threw the sitter OH From
large buildings IN the vicinity OF Court square there
was genera exodus. Scollays Building was badly
shaken, and folks ran out pellmeli. The higher the
building the more they felt It, The upper stories
Of sears Building ~ n were especially nta day1rea ann ~
the cid STATE House du not perceive IT, probably be-
cause. havng been erected century ago or more IL
is pretty solid and well Doted togethei. IN the up
per stories OF
THE COUNTY COURT HOUSE,
in Court square, the movement assumed the form Of
steady vibration the building being OF such great
height. Some reporters were IN Lhe Superior Court,
where the dressmaking case - being tried oe-
fore Judge Reed. Tney accused cacn other oi shak
ing the table, and then resumed their writing.
The shaking continuing, they looked at each others
legs under the table very suspiclousiy. anu again
turned their attention to their pencils 1he ybra-
ton not yet ceasng they made third investlga
ton, when one remarked, ~ IS an earlhquaken s
feet and some twenty or thirty left the room Peope
went out also from other courts In the edi1ce me
vibration in the Superior Court room lasted full
sixty seconds and felt precisely as II some one was
sitting against the table and violently shaking nelr
shoess pronapy @ W the height and make Of the edSe
having the effect OF springs.
AT THE CUSTOM HOUSE
the motion was distinctly felt, and caused quite
stir among Uncle Sans veterans there assembled.
One OF these who had often raced the bullets Of the
without waiting to shake out the reefs In hs sails
scud the building and across the street 'under
bare poles." Some, however. were not badly pan-
icked by The earthquake which they characterize as
mo great shakesh alter all.
FULTON STREET.
gentleman, who was In the second story OF Mac
AvOy's iron and steel store on Fulton street, felt
shocks distinctly from nortn to south ana says mat
the iron and steel rods, &c, IN the racks on the
lower noor rattled perceptibly.
AT THE JAIL.
The shock felt at the Suffolk county jail, Charles
street. ~ said TO have been quite severe, ana pro-
duced an alarming sensation on the inmates. The
keeper Of the institution judged that the walls
shock manifested itself plainly In some OF the cells,
where there mad been TN dipperS OF water placed.
In one or two instances the contents oi the dppers
were displaced, to the astonishment and alarm OF
those IN duress.
Ofcer Ke6Seltruth, whose beat Is at the corner OF
State ielt no mOtton the passing carts probably hid
ing IT, but he astonlshed at finding people rush.
ing out OF several tall buildings close at hand. In
the edIfce occupied by Messrs. Pierce 4 Buchanan,
fruit Dealers il Merchants row. one OF the ancient
ediflces OF Boston an oid time store tne shaking up
door was shaken an inch from its position, aud
crowds have been examining II since. The free
IN STATE STREET BLOCK
the earthquake made things rattle and shake In such
manner as to create intense alarm among the In
mates in the manufactures in the upper stories OF
the bu lding, who rushed ont In the widest confu
sion and alarm. SO frightened were some OF the
girls that even alter the shocks had subsided they
could hardly be induced to return to their work
rooms even though bareneaded and lightly clad,
and the ram failing quite freely a; the time.
THE PANIC AMONG THE WORKING GIRLS
IN nearly every part OF the CITY was something
OF Messrs. Macullar, Williams Parker at the first
ntmation Of danger rushed wildly into the street,
frigntened-were not easy to reassnre, and Tor
some time remained outside In the RAIN, re-
fusing to venture into the building again In the
establishment Of Messrs lhones Talbot, No. 63
Congress street. the shocks were so sensiDly felt
that presses were thrown out OF gear and stopped.
The girls in the upper portion Of the building stopped
work and gathered in q group pale with apprehen-
sion and alarm The steam pipes shook and ratified,
and in some places were nearly disonted Dy the mo-
ton, but no material damage was done. In the
building adjoining which Is new one, the motion
cracked the wall ana broke cap stones IN several
places
The large building between water street and
Spring lane fronting on Water street, Is filed with
hundreds OF operatives-printers, eectrotypers,
&c.--and many OF them are girls. They felt the
shock very distinctly and forelby that it caused
them to rush down stars as If the building was on
fire. They were all most thoroughly frightened and
it with difficulty that they conld be persuaded to
90 back to their work
We hear that the shock made considerable havoc
with tail and slender chlmneys In various parts Of
the city. Four chimneys on Young's Hotel weie
toppled over and at the West End anu at East
Boston, several chimneys were quietly removed by
the mysterious vibrations.
Ia the public Library building the shocks were so
10 crack the walls In the upper story and
loosen the pastering that some pieces fell from
the ceiling on to the floor
In the cigar store, 81 Washington street, about five
hundred boxes Of cigars were shook of the shelves
IN some instances breaking The boxes and spilllng
their contents.
QUINCY MARKET.
The shock was probably considerably felt on all
made land. Quincy Market which occupies Sthe
site OF former dock, let 1t well. member OF the
firm OF Frost Dyer. large dealers, at the entrance,
was sitting against his marble slab. when IL shook
that he turned and took hold of II, not knowing
At the instant what was afoot. The stories that
meat was shaken of hooks, that some people CIR
cuate, are rabrIcations
MARKET NATIONAL BANK.
Many panes OF glass have probably been cracked,
but in Merchants row, where people were examln-