The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-04-02
EARTHQUAKES IN JAPAN.

EARTHQUAKES IN JAPAN.
Their Frequency of Occurrence-An Ohio
Professor Relates His Experiences.
columbus (Ohio) Dispatch.l
The paper below was prepared by Professor
T. c. Mendenhall for the Typdall association
of this CITY, but tits of so interesting charac-
ter that we publish it in lieu of letter:
TOXIC, JAPAN, Jan. 4. 1t Is pity that a
chapter IN the history OF Japan devoted to
that celebrated chapter on "the snakes OF Ire.
land" which. ii win be remembered another
Fit has been forgotten'9, Consisted Of the
single sentence, "Tnere are no snakes In Ire
land" Unfortunately, there are earthquakes
In Japan, and they are often of an unpleasant
frequency of occurrence. 1t IS not with the
intention OF presenting to the association
such a thing were possible In the present state
of our knowledge, that refer to 1t at this
time, but rather TO describe the general Inn
pressions made upon the stranger, and to con-
vey some idea Of the frequency and violence
of the shocks at the present time. To do this
have written brief accounts of the shocks as
they occurred, principally that might com
pare my earlier Impressions OF Them with
those made after longer residence in the
country.
enjoys earthquakes than otherwise, for short
time after his arrival. The novelty of the
thing, the pleasure in finding that his antici-
pationS in that direction are TO be realized and
freedom from any unpleasant experiences or
recoIlections connected with the subject, COM
bine to produce this result. 1t must be con-
fessed that this feeling wears OF in little
time, and one can not avoid a little nervous
ness which he finds is "increnlable slightly"
at each recurrence of the shock.
Arriving in Japan on September Il, 1873, my
first earthquake was on the morning OF the
30th of the same month"; 1t occurred at a little
before O'Clock a. M, and was sufficiently
violent to wake everybody up from sound
sleep. The sensation of being awakened by
an earthquake is somewhat peculiar. Unless
the shock continues for some little time, one
hardy knows what mas happenea; nnsd me ne
same thing, and detects slight vibration in
some freely suspended body which may be at
hand.
The next shock was at :ls p. M, October g..
We were sitting at lunch when this occurred,
and Immediately took out my watch and no.
ticed that the motion lasted for about one
minute. The japanese lantern hanging from
the ceiling was set swinging, water in tum-
blers as set in motion, and the creaking of
the timbers of the house was quite loud. find
this shock marked in my note book as very
On Thursday, October Il, at O:3O a. M.
have recorded another shock, which is put
wave.
AT 1880 p. M, November s, was another, said
by many 10 be the most violent of the year
thus far. was riding in q jtunkisha on the
street at the time. and did not feel it, so /
rely upon the accounts given by Others
balances in the PHYSICAL laboratory, resting
on stone foundation, vibrated through an arc
estimated TO be six degrees or seven degrees.
The shock was thought to last one minute.
On Friday, November p, at about II p. M,
was another wave of soma violence. We were
awakened by it, and the bells connected
with the various rooms were shaken
so that they rupg. Hawks, crows and dogs in
the vicinity OF the house were disturbed by 1t.
My impression was that there were two shocks
separated by an interval of about five MIN
uteS. At S:26 on the evening OF November 70
was the most violent motion / have yet ex-
perienced. Mrs. Mendenhall and myself were
spending the evening with some friends about
two miles away, in an elevated portion of the
city. Earthquakes are not generally Thought
The house was a Iansnese house' somewhat
inclined TO be sishaky" at best.
This shock was preceded by loud
notes.-the only instance of this kind L
have yet observed. The house swayed back
and forth a good deal, and find that have
violent as wish to see." 1 experienced on
that occasion, for the first time, a feeling akin
saa ~ s fn comnere mental ho een
Hbrium did not exist among the inmates of
that house for at least 10 minutes after the
shock. second shock came on the same
night, about o'clock in the morning in fact,
which woke me out of a sound sleep. 1t was
less violent than the first.
The next and last 1 have recorded is that of
Saturday, December Ia, at 1890 a. m. was in
as s
0enneSs" and "sharpneSS-" The heavy pen
standing on a stone foundation, was set in
motion, as were several others which OBJ
served.
a shock of no very great strength occurred
q few days ago, which L have not yet record.
ed, as did not feel it myself, and have not
been able to get any exact Information about
As a general rule, the natives dread earth
felt. one Of the Siding Doors or windows is at
once opened that speedy exit may be possible
learned to do this from the fact that 1t has
often happened that the house becomes
so twisted and distorted that the doors
their places, and opening them is an
lmpossibiIity. 1t must be admitted that
N hpx-a
quakes, as many OF great violence have oc-
Cured, bringing with them great destruction
i4O0 s y eau pfnpeiT.y pnFiRg perod Oh some
OF earthquakes have been kept, there has
been an avarage of one destructive earth
quake every 10 years. The last violent earth
quake which affected The city of Tokio-then
1eddo-was in 1855. ana was followed by
scenes of disaster and death which can never
be forgotten. Over 1900 houses We're over
turned, and CONGREGATIONS, so easily started
various parts of the city, 1t is very difficult to
ascertain, with any decree OF accuracy, the loss
OF lie on this occasion, as no official records
overestimated in some accounts, having
o Seen lives put The as ,,s,o high as 100
in Japan does not lead to the conclusion that
tne period OF their greatest activity is past.
destructive earthquakes, and nothing to indi
cate that there are not yet more to come" 1t
may also be said that Japan is the child of the
nificent mountain in Japan, Fujiyama, an ex-
tinct volcano, and one of the most beautiful
mountains in the world-rIsing solitary and
alone TO height of nearly three miles-is said
to be the result or volcanic eruption since the
historic period began.
As might be expected, where earthquakes
are SO frequent, much interest is shown in
their stu1y and in the construction of instru-
ments for recording their phenomena. Mr.
Hattori, one of the vice directors of the uni
yersity, has prepared a careful resume of the
history of destructive earthquakes, from
which several of the facts given above are
drawn. Many instruments have been In
vented, and, in fact, one who is not the in
ventor of at least two or three cismographs is
hardly considered suitable person to be kept
in Government employ. Some of these we
hope soon to have in operation in our obser-
yatory, and after they have been tested shall
take occasion to communicate to the assCcfa-
ton more fully in regard to them and theil
work.
What a Deed of a New York Farm Includes