The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-03-17
only on the 18th did the regular ebb and

flow Of the tide recommence.
Far on beyond the shores of New
Zealand the great wave coursed, reach
ing at length the coast Of Australia. At
dawn Of Aug. IA Moreton bay was visit
ed by five we'll Unmarked waves. AT New
castle, on the Hunter river, the sea rose
and fell several times in i remarkable
manner, the oscillatory motion COM
mencing at half-past 6 in the morning.
But the most significant evidence Of the
extent to which the sea-wave travelled
in this direction was afforded at Port
Fairy, Belfast, South Victoria. Here
the oscillation of the water was distinct
ly perceived at midday on Aug. IA, and
yet, to reach this point, the sea-wave
must not only have travelled on a circui-
tous course nearly eqnal in length to
half the circumference Of the earth, but
must have passed through Bass straits,
between Australia and Van Diemens
Land, and SO have lost considerable
portion of its force and dimensions.
When we remember that had not the
effects Of the earth-sh on the water
been limited by the shores Of South
America, a wave Of disturbance equal in
extent to that which travelled westward
would have swept toward the east, we
see that the force Of the shock was s,lf1i-
cient to have disturbed tho waters Of an
ocean covering the whole syrface of the
earth. For the sea-wayes which reached
Yokohama in one direction and Port
Fairy in another had each traversed a
distance nearly equal to half the earth
circumference SO that It the surface Of
the earth We're all sea, waves setting out
i'll opposite directions from the center Of
disturbance would have met each other
at the antipodes of their starting point.
It is impossible to contemplate the ef-
fects which followed the great earth
quale-the passage Of a sea-wave Of
enormous volume over fully one-third
of the earth's surface, and the force with
which, on the farthermost limit Of it's
range, the Wave rolled in upon the
shores more than 10000 miles from its
starting place - without feeling that
| those biologists are right who deny that
! the subterranean forces of the earth are
diminishing in intensity. It may be
difficult, perhaps, to look upon the ef-
fects which are ascribed to ancient earth
throes without imagining for awhile that
the power of modern earthquakes is al
together less. But, when we consider
fairly the share Which time had in those
ancient processes OF change, when we
see that while mountain ranges were be-
ing upheaved OF valleys depressed tc
their present position, race after race
and type after type appeared on the
earth, and lived cut the long lives which
belong to races and to types, we are re
called to the remembrance OF the great
work which the earth's subterranea1
forces are still engaged upon. Even nov
continents are being slowly depressed o.
upheaved; even now mountain range:
are being raised to q new level, table
lands are in process Of formation. ant
greatvalleys are being gradually scoope<
out. It may need an occasional out
| burst, such as the earthquake of August
1868, to remind us that great forces ar,
at work beneath the earth's surface
But, in reality, the signs of change hav
long been noted. Old shore-lines shit
their place, old soundings vary; the Sc
advances in one place and retires in an
other; on every side Natures plasti
hand is at work modelling and remode
ing the earth, in order that it may a
ways be a fit abode for those who are I
dwell upon it.--Pzof. Richartl 4. Pro-
tor. ..' ...-