The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-28
new YORK SHAKEN BY AN EARTHQUAKE.
What Do Many Supposed IN Explosion Last
Saturday Evening Turns Out an Earthquake
All About the numbling viGtant- When
and How II Cana and the Extent
and Deviation Of tho Oscillations
Subsequent Shock in Brooklyn.

The present viii pe the nrst intelligence to most
OF the people living on New York Island that on
Saturday evening last we were visited by an earth
quake. It ia thrty.iour years since our city expe.
rienced the presence and shaking by one OF these
unusual and startling phenomena, but that shock
was 80 extended and the oscillation of the earth was
80 well defined as TO leave no doubt OF its reality.
In the latter case, however, there were wanting
these distinctive features. It's locality was
limited, being confined mainly to the eastern part Of
the CITY, below Fourteenth street. and Its duration
brief tnat thousands, though feeling the shock and
nearing the report or rumblng noise accompanying
u, did not for q moment suspect 1t was an earth
quake but some gunpowder or gas, or gycerine or
fireworks explosion, and thus only gave transitory
heed to It, 1t Is positive now that IL was genuine
earthquake and the proofs Of this startling fact are
many and conclusive. In addition to the fact we
have already alluded TO, OF thousands feeling the
shock, there is nothing else TO which the shock
can DO possibly attributed, ana q growing
comparison OF notes by those experiencing
It's efects clears the subject OF any shadow
OF doubt as TO the real cause, which was nothing
else than genuine Simon pure, original Jacobs
earthquake. Precursors there are OF earthquakes,
as OF thunder storms, hurricanes and cyclones The
precursor OF this was a
SUDDEN RISE OF THE THERMOMETERS.
At a quarter OF seven O'Clock p. M. ON Saturday
the Thermometer stood at eightnine degrees II was
hot sufiocating. the air like the hot air Of fur
ace nothing electric or life-giving In 1t. Scarcely
breath stirred the air. The children IN the streets
painted with the heat. Women with fans busy in
motion, sat Oh the doorseps and In the win.
dows. Men who had returned from their
days work had just dnisned their sup.
Suddenly the thermometer gave an upward Jump
OF Tour degrees, making the children pant more
making more lethargic the whitrs OF smoke from
the pipes. moment following this upward leap Of
the thermometer there came
QUICK, RAPID SHOCK.
lasted second, and was over. Lake a sudden
lightning nash on a dark summers night. II quickly
the women dropped their ians the men started TO
their feet.
What's that ~ called out the children.
whats that ?" trembingiy asked the women.
"Whats that ~ anxousy echoed the men.
AN explosion; 1t must be an explosion rose
| from hundreds OF voices
''The house shook" said one.
81 felt the earth tremble,'' said another
There was a rush To the holsetops, all
WONDERING WHAT 1T MEANT.
What we have described was general throughout
the eastern part OF the city and more particularly in
the Thirteenth ward. Some turned Their eyes in the
direc ton OF the gas works. IN Twenty first street.
ana some toward Hell Gate, and some looked toward
| the iron works along Dry Dock, thinking some OF
Some thought II might be one OF the monster engines
| in the Hecker Flour Mills, and some Thought the mag
aZne at tne brookIyn navy ara might have explod-
| ed The shock was ascrlbed to Il variety OF causes
but in vain the myriad eyes looked Tor rising clouds
| OF smoke and leaping danes OF fire and other
tokens of an explosion OF the gigantic character
| this was assumed TO be. While all were wondering
| and very few at the time supposng they had Just
| undergone the novel sensation OF an earthquake
SHOCK which, with a little more force, might have
rent into countless seams the rock-rbbed granite Of
our island foundation, and toppled over houses and
| swallowed up In Its huge assures buildings and
people and everything, and left no one to tell the
tae OF our city thus deeply and rrevocapy engulled
| into the rumbling and rate bowels OF the neither
earth, the thermometer went down again, falling
| seven degrees in short space Of time. THE
| DIRECTION OF THE VIBRATION,
according to all accounts, was from the southwest
| to the northeast. The wind, what little there was
| remained southwest during most Of the evening.
/ The shock was ike heavy blast under foot, We
| might fiji columns OF the
| VARIED EXPERIENCES
OF those feeling the shock, but it is unnecessary
| do 50, they all being nearly alike One gentleman
says that he felt the shock While standing at the side
of the hall door, resting his LETT foot with HI:
| shoulder against the wall. He felt the shock ali
| about TO toppe over. The osciauon was distinct
to oil In the house. Another gentleman was in the
cellar ana says he felt the shock directly under
his feet and the same fact is stated by another gen
tleman who was passing at the time through a
vacant LOT. Persons who were lying down felt IL
more distinctly than those sitting standing. One
gentleman says heSwas fairly twisted about IN his
char. good many-whlch Is tue strongest proof
OF all OF being an earthquake-fet that nausea
always experienced in earthquakes, the degree OF
the nausea depending OF course the duration and
severity OF the shock. But the story does not end
here. About seven O'CLOCK on Sunday morning there
was
A SHOCK IN BROOKLYN,
which was felt by large numbers. Here, too, hose
resident IN the vicinity OF the shock supposed some
terrible explosion had taken place not far away.
the fall Of the Old Hamilton Market, which now lies
mass OF ruins, was no doubt caused by the shook
here as 1t ie just after the supposed expo aon was
heard