Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-10-21
The Earthquake YESTERDAY.

From the kilograms from all para of the
North and Ncrths west II ap pears that the earth
quake Yesterday was experienced over a very
extensive area, and every where about the same
moment, following for difference in time , that
Is at LIS a. m.
In The early history of the country earth
Puakts were noted as of frequent occurrence on
the Atlantic slOps. 4 he annals of the New
England pilgrim fathers have several references
10 earthquakes occurring at short intervals, but
for the last hundred years nothing beyond slight
tremoIs Of the earth have been experienced in
that part Of the country. The most destructive
earthquake that has ever occurred in this coun-
try was that at New Madrid, below st. Louis. in
ISL. Humboldt comments upon it as one OF
the few examples Of the incessant quaking of
the ground for several successive months far
from any volcano. The ground rose and sunk
over an extent of country three hundred miles
in length in great undulations, and lakes were
formed and again drained. The surface burst
open in assures, from which mud AMI water
was thrown as high as the tops OF the trees. The
grave yard at New Madrid, with all its sleeping
tenants, was precipitated into the bend of the
stream Most Of the houses were thrown do w.
number persisted who sank with their boats
in the river. A vast extent of country was COW
cred with water three or four feet deep, and
when the water disappeared a stratum of sand
of the same thickness was left in the place. The
undulatiOns or the earth are described as re-
sembling waves, increasing in elevation as
they advanced, and when they had at
taintd certain fearful height the earth
would burst, and vast volumes of water
and sand, and pit coal were discharged to
great height. There were a great number of
severe shocks, but two series OF conclusions
were particularly terrible; and il was remarked
that the shocks were distinguishabIe into two
classes; those in which the motion was hori-
zontsl and those in which it was perpendicular.
The latter were attended with the explosions
and the terrible mixture of noises that preceded
and accompanied the earthquakes in a louder
degree, but were by no means 50 desolating and
destructive as the other. Where they were felt,
the houses crumbled a.d the trees waved TO-
gether, and all the destructive phenomena were
conspicuous. Great chasms were made in a
direction from southwest TO northeast, AMI the
people felled the fullest trees at right angles to
these cEasms, by which precaution IN any escaped
destruction; for more than once the earth opened
beneath and would have engulphed them in the
abyss.
Earthquake shocks vet occur in that region;
blasts of air and gas yet lind their way to the
surface through many of the half filled assures
and il il the opinion of men of science that the
same terrible power lies dormant there, and
that at any day a shock may be experienced
there vastly more destructive than that of 1911,
because the country is now thickly populated.
One OF our most distinguished biologists, treat
ing upon tins earthquake Of ISL, and the prot
ability of its repetition in that region, says
- We are satisfied that if the same severity of
shocks we're to occur at this day at st. Louis, the
destruction of life would be appalling and that
city would become an undlstinguishable mass
of ruins"
The dread Of such a calamity may not proba-
bly, greatly hinder the business career of St
Louis; but, as in the case of earthquake regions
in ether parts OF the world, it may deter the
erection Of buildings of commanding height.
OF course the people of the country would
never consent to waste large sums of money in
the erection of a capitol and other stately gov
eminent buildings at a point where they are
liable to be cracked and tumbled down at any
moment like so many card houses.
We may add, with some complscence tn ut
the District OF Columbia has never experienced
the fsintest tremor OF an earthquake. To b,
sure, We have many other and better reasons
why Wa hington should always remain the seat
of government, but IL is well enough to knog
that all the foundations of our prosperity are
permanent