Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-12-21

AAS
EARTHQUAKES IN GENERAL.
From vari"us authenticated sources
we compile The following facts in
relation ia earthquakes. They are not
confined to any particular portion of
the globe, nor is their occurrence gov
crned by any known system of compu-
tation. No country escapes these WISH
tations, but in volcanic regions, and
districts tratersed by mountainous
ranges and bordering on the sea-shorc,
are more subject to them than the in
land plains. In Central America and
Peru, earthquakes are of frequent &C.
curence, and the habitations of the peo-
pie are built low and with substantial
walls, to withstand their violence.
Southern Italy and the neighboring
island Sicily, has been the scene of some
of the most terrible of earthquakes.
From 1888 to 1856, that country was
almost constantly disturbed. The de-
struction of the ancient cities of Pompeii
and Hersulaneum in GO, and Antioch,
in Syria, in the year 526 are familiar in
stances of the violence of these commo-
tons of the earth in those times. In
the latter catastrophe it is said that
$50, 900 persons persisted. OF modern
earthquakes that of Lisbon, in 1925,
and that of Madrid, Mo-, in 1911, pre-
sent some of the most interesting de-
tails. That of Chill, in 1922, is re-
markable for permanent elevation of
country between the Andes and the
coast which attended it, A depression
of the land was occasional in the island
of Jamaica in 1892, when Port Royal
was carried down beneath the surface
of the water. A thousand acres or
more su TX in less than q minute, the
sea rolling in and driving YES sells over
the tops of the houses. This catastro-
phe was repeated on larger scale, in
the island of Java in 1872, when an area
fifteen miles long and six miles wide,
containing forty villages with an ag-
gresate population of 1857 sunk from
sight. The destruction of Lisbon was
similar, Ii tidal wave submerging the
city. and destroying 10000 persons.
The earthquake of New Madrid, pre-
sents the example of incessant quak-
ing of the ground for several months
far from any volcano. The ground
sunk in places, and was burst open in
assures in others, from which mud and
water was thrown. The direction of
these assures was uniform, and the in
habitants resorted to the expedient of
telling trees at right angle with their
course, and stationing themselves there
on them to escape being engulied. The
city of Caracas was destroyed, with 49,
600 inhabitants. The earthquakes of
Naples and Mexico next succeed in time
and interest, but they were nowise as de-
structive as many of their predecessors.
The year 1868, is one of the most re-
markable for the wide spread distribu-
ton and destructive effects of earth
quakes. That which shook the Sand
witch islands commencing on the 9th
of March in the island of Hawaii is des-
cribed as the grandest of spectacles.
During the two weeks which succeeded
that date, full two thousand shocks,
followed at intervals by tidal waves,
destroyed villages and many inhabi-
tants. Broad rivers of lava flowed into
the sea from the volcano, Mauna Loa,
and the water boiled with the intense
heat. Lofty precipices were levelled to
the ground, and vast chasms were
opened. The entire Typographical ap-
pearance of the island was changed, so
that ancient landmarks could not be
identified by even the natives. The
earthquakes in South America, how
ever, exceeded even this in their devas-
tating effects. The first shock was felt
Aug 18th. At africa 500 persons were
killed, and not house left uninjured.
The waters arose over the lower portion
of the city, and the sea was violently
asitated. The U. S. Steamer Wateree,
lying in the harbor, was swept inland,
and deposited between two hillocks of
land, but slightly injured, and the U. S.
Steamship Fredonia was dashed to
pieces on reef and all on board were
drowned. AtArequipa over 600 persons
persisted. Nearly one hundred shocks
were experienced in a period of three
days. Callao, lea, Pisco, Iquique,
and nearly all the villages in the min
eral provinces were DESTROYED. The