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


est shock sustained in California. of
which any record has been kept, but
occurring in sparsely populated re-
gion, the casualties are proportionately
small. Here the phenomena were sub
stantially the same as those already de-
scribcd-dcpression and rising of the
earth, seams and ehasms, and tidal
wave on Ovens lake. The oscillations
continued until the close of May, al
though in that month they were but
mere vibrations doing no further dam
age. The loss of life was less than
thirty, which is remarkable, consider
ing the destruction of tenements. Prob
ably the materials of which they were
built-adobes, or sun dried bricks-and
the low manner in which they were
constructed will account for it.
During that year many earthquakes
are reported in almost every quarter of
the globe, but these include all that
were attended by much loss.
ATTENDING PHENOMENA.
The approach of an earthquake is
said to be heralded by several premon-
itory symptoms. People are sometimes
affected with dizziness, the sun appears
red and frey, and dumb animals fire.
quently utter cries of distress. This is
attributed to an electric change in the
atmosphere, which produces feeling
of uneasiness. The wind lulls and
rains pour down in torrents at times.
The atmosphere is generally very still,
while the surface of the ocean or lakes
is unusually disturbed. A sound as of
distant thunder or the firing of artil-
lery, sometimes accompanies or pro-
ceeds the movements.
THE CAUSE
of earthquakes is defined by Mr.. r.
Mallet, who has made the matter sub
ject of much thought and research to
be ca wave of elastic compression,
produced either by the sudden fexure
and constraint of the elastic materials
forming a portion of the earth's crust,
or by the sudden relief of this con-
straint by the withdrawal of the force,
or by their giving way and becoming
fractured" The theory that the center
of the earth is a molten mass subject
to constant agitation, affords the most
reasonable solution of the cause of
earthquakes. Prof. Rogers attributes
the movement to pulsation engen-
dered in the molten matter, giving vent
to elastic vapors, escaping either to the
surface or into cavernous spaces be-
meath. That the electric current which
pervades the earth, the subtle fluid of
which so little is known, should vary or
respond in some degree to the changes
that occur at the time, is not surpris-
ing; but it does not conflict with the
theory or afford material upon which to
base another recognizing it as the pri-
mary agent or cause of these convul-
sions of nature.
HOW WE FEEL ABOUT IT.
These instances of the effects of con-
WILSON'S of the earth ranging through
eighteen centuries, are not cited to Gre
ate alarm, but to familiarize the mind
with the phenomena in it's various forms
and shapes. Taking the length of time
into consideration, the mortality from
this cause is insignificant compared
with the many other casualties to which
humanity is liable. More lives have
been destroyed by war or the ravages
OF prevailing epidemics, and more prop
erty by fire in single decade, than by
all the earthquakes that have occurred
during the Christian era. We daily
pass through dangers without realizing
their presence. The widespread ma
ture of the recent shake-up would ap-
pear to indicate that there is no cause
for apprehension of danger from local
causes. There is scarcely day that
passes but what there is sensible dis
turbance somewhere of the earth's sur
face. A large proportion Of these
shocks pass unnoted, and it is safe to
infer that many even occur that are at
tributed to other causes than their true
origin. Only those that have been at
tended with great devastation are chron-
icled, and their effects lose nothing BY
narration or the lapse of time that has
intervened. Our advice to all is: Rest
contented. There is no more danger
now than has existed from time imme-
moral, and the mortality record would
appear to indicate there is really less.
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