The New York herald., 1875-12-24
Further Particulars OF the
Effect Of the Shocks.
RICHMOND SHAKEN UP.
Opinions Of Learned Professors on
the Visitation.
THE PHENOMENON IN WASHINGTON

the earthquake The result that 1t turned out TO
be much serious startling and, perhaps dangerous
than or Everywhere the citizens were
walking about the streets half dressed congrcgated
corners discussing the events. Some OF them re-
mained their houses with the doors open prepared
the symptom OF another rumble TO rush to the
for safety from the impending danger Of falling
houses. Few courageous enough 10 retire again.
and those who did kept their clothes
on TO be ready for fight In any
emergency. and numbers chose tho seemingly
safer alternative OF walking about all night Never in
the history OF this city, famous for disasters and
terrible ca,astrophes there such disrnay and
sternation depicted the countenances OF tho popu-
lace they stood in their doorways In the Streets
trembinRy looking forward TO = calamity more awful
thon any thing they had yet experienced From inter-
views had with persons Of intelligence and cool judg
ment It is certain that the city and vicinity were
violently shaken by three distinct rumblings OF
earthquake, accompanied by noise resembling thun-
der rushing sound in the air and tho shooting Of
thousands OF meteors through the heavens.
THE FIRST SHOCK
Everybody agrees that the nrst OF the shocks
the terrific and startling OF them ALL shaking and
swaying the houses like the rocking OF crndle ratng
glasses and glassware, ringing bells and, in many in
stances throwing persons from their beds with force
and violence the floor This latter incident occurred
Scverl OF the notes OF private uWeli-
ings and the effect at once TO produce panic and
the widest CONSERVATION that can be imagined. Men
and women alike rushed into passages and Streets
screaming with terror unable TO realize such awful
visitation and the confusion and rproar which en-
sued escaping the effect Of the second "shake" which
followed In about three minutes after the first
SHOCK.
This lator shock was less violent, but like the nrst
II came with the same rumbling and II suppressed
sound of thunder the rushing noise like whirl-
wind, and the shooting OF metcors in the
pyrean, which filed with electricity, producing
the most brilliant and ut tho time the most
astonishing effects Those who were calm and col
lected enough TO witness the latter display in the
streets became terribly impressed with this extraor
binary demonstration Of nature and there was many
mental resolution, tending to a reformation in tho
future, made in the few minutes that II lasted.
THE THIRD SHOCK.
In about twenty minutes from the hrst shock the
third occurred and this still less violent than even
the second, but accompanied with the same atmos-
pheric phenomena as the preceding two.
After that there was the usual midnight or early
morning stiffness, unbroken only by the wander
ngs OF the panic stricken citizens and their specula
tions and discussions to the recurrence Of the
markable and exciting events OF the night Nothing
further happened, aud many were becoming Queted
three A. NJ, still another very slight and feeble shock
felt and heard, but very slight that but few
noticed IT. though many vouch for It as actual fact
BEGAN.
From every source in the city, Mt least, the concu-
has been arrived at that the rumble quake be-
gan at point in the southeastern portion OF the
State passing under the James River and travcrsng
the entire territory lying between tho North Carolina
border and the Potomac River, where seems 10 have
between
the Atlantic Accounts vary in stating the dura
ton OF tho hrst rumble from ten to thirty seconds
or even Nifty, some say; but the authentic re-
ports place at twenty seconds which think Is the
correct estimate II Is OF course differently described
according 10 the temperament OF the Individual
1t 10 SAFE however, that earth upheavcd
in a manner similar TO tho motion Of swell in mid
during dead calm, and this comparison Is
at all exrayagant. IT. thcn the reader who has becn
the deep will rccolect the sensation caused
while on board trembling steamship riding swell In
calm. he will then have proper appreciation Of the
earthquake last night The ground rose and fell with
the regularity and symmetry OF an ocean swell, and
houses and earth groancd and shook with that samo
sensation peculiar 10 tho working and trem-
bling OF tho machinery OF ocean steam
ship. The second and third shocks IL is said fully
bore out this theory in regard TO the motion Of the
earthquake and many thorough in the belief that
al some points houses stood at an anglo OF fortynvc
degrees during the convusion. This must be taken
with grains OF allowance Professor Mact, OF the Uni
vcrsity OF Virginia. says that the shocks last night ap
iottesve by many persons at twenty minutes
twelve P. NJ Washington time. The direction was
PREVIOUS SHOCKS
Tho earthquakes record az Richmond as fol-
Severe shock August u 1902
In Virginia, May 16, 1904
Richmond again, In December, 1871, simultaneously
with the New Madrid earthquakes in the Mississippi
Valley.
Earthquakes arc OF maximum frequency from Novem-
ber 10 January ard they have been supposed to have
been preceded by unusual heat and by low barone,cr
with much oscillation.
4 telegram from Charlotte, n. G., in the vicinity of
R.ld atufAe hat @h0 IA
but At Greensboro, n. G., Immediately beyond
the Virginia border. shocks we're felt half
The window psnes, but did no damage These
very slight The shocks felt in every por
ton o. the s,ais accessible ey The with 'he
Staunton and west OF tho Blue Ridge showing that il
was peculiarly Virginia earthquake.
KFPEcT Il
IN the coal mines OF Chesterfield the miners at work
experienced severe Shocks and believing that
cdent had happened, set to work 10 ascertain tho
cause but finding nothing wrong they quietly resumed
their occupation. These mines have an average depth
OF about 900 feet
CONNECTING WITH vKsrvrUs
Professor Charles H. Winston Richmond College,
says that the earthquake OF last night
cause or effect He is, however, strongly
inclined to it with the present threatened erup
ton OF Mount Vesuyus announced by telegraph yes
tcrdays papers. Earthquakes and volcanic cruptions
frequently occur together IN regions subject 10 their
Der TO- 1874 SO frightened the good people OF New
York, attended by volcanic throcs In Iceland and
70 Of many others Nor is u necessary Tor this theory
suppose that the whole earth be bodily shaken
before We connect earthquake here with volcano
there
POKER SHAKEN
The incidents In the city are numerous, amusing and
often slngulary dramatic in their character poker
party OF i've young men were quietly enjoying their
game when one, who had lost aconslderabc amount,
exclaimed In despairng tones, ''uh, wish an earth
quake would shake these cards up The words had
scarcely dlcd upon his lips when the laundering rumble
and shake cnmo, and, looking each others aces IN
specchess terror the party broke up and fed TO the
street In the dock Of the James River the water
sinsulary disturbed and agitaed and 80 great was
this that Two tugs, one schooner and heavy barge
parted their lines and cables and drited considerable
distance down IN the river Al other places the
river seamcn, dockkeepcrs and watchmcn observed
the water 10 be vlsiby agitatcd, and such manner
that they iancicd there uphcavAl in It's bed.
Persons on The lower portion OF Belle Isle the famous
prison Of federal soldiers during the war imagined the
island sinking and about 10 be enrulfed in
the rushing waters Of the James The Ballard and Tx.