Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-05-05
OLYMPIA, WisiiiNGruN TER.
FRIDAY ENEG, MAY ,. lNn2
Something about Earthquakes.


Something about Earthquakes.
Sunday night. at ten minutes to
eleven o'clock, when most Gf people
were in their beds Il heavy shock of
an earthquake was felt, wtich a"ak
ened many OF the sleeping ones and
removed all thought of olumhcr from
the minds of others who connect
such visitations Ill some WAY with
thoughts Of the judgment Day. The
first vibration was light, lasting pro-
baby about two seconds, ana seemed
to be from the southwest to the
northeast. This was followed, at ali
interval of a few seconds, by a heavier
movement, lasting apparently eight
or ten seconds. The scene, to one
on the street at the time Of the oc-
curreDce, was calculated to impress
the mind with the ma e-tv of those
mysterious forces Of nature which DC
casionally, by some unusual mani
festation, illustrate the omni poteLcc
of divine power. The tail shade
tees were violently agitated, theii
branches thrashing together in u
manner produced by no other natur-
al means, the buildings creaked like
ships at sea, aud everything movable
swayed to and fro in obedience to a
force irresistibly grand and pecu-
liar. The feeling of awe induced by
the strange phenomena was dispelled
by the scenes which followed i'm
mediately afterwards, when half-clad
women and crying children pour ed
forth into the streets like bees from
a great hive, to he reinforced by
stalwart men who showed scarcely
less trepidation. Many who have
had their ascension robes ready for
years, appeared decidedly averse to
DOMINIC them, when it was expected
every moment that Gabriel would
foot his horn of resurrection. In
this, poor human nature manifests
itself, and it is a remarkable .act that
those who profess to place the great
est trust in Providence likewise
retain with the most determined
persistence the remainder of Davy
Crocket's motto about keeping their
powder dry. The shock did no
damage in this vicinity except demol
ishing several chimney-tops.
IT'S EXTENT.
The shock Sunday night was felt
simultaneously throughout Oregon
on the South and by our British
Columbia neighbors to. the north of
us. At Portland it was said to have
been quite as severe as the shock
nine years ago, although strange to
relate. it did no damage. result
quite Unexpected where lofty brick
buildings are subjected to the trying
ordeal.
EARTHQUAKES IN GENERAL.
From various authentic sources,
we compile the following facts in re-
lation to earthq lakes. They are
not confined to any particular por-
ton of the globe, nor is their recur-
renee governed by any known system
of computation; but countries Dor
dening on the seashore and those
tiavcrsed by mountainous ranges,
are more subject to them than in
land plains. In Central America
and Peru, earthquakes are of fire.
quent occurrence, ind the habita-
tions of the people 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 17S6, that country, was almost
constantly disturbed. The destruc-
ton of the ancient cities of Pompei
and Herculaneum, in 60, and Anti
och, in Syria, in the year 526. are
familiar instances of the violence Of
these connections of the earth in
those times. In the latter catas.
trophe it is said that 250, 900 persons
persisted. Of modern earthquakes,
that of Lisbon in 1925, and of Mad
rid, Mo-, in 1911, present some Of
the most interesting details. Thai
of Chill, in 1872, is remarkable fol
permanent elevation of country be
tween the Andes and the coast which
attended it. A depression of the
land was occasioned in the island Of
Jamaica in 1892, when Port Royal
was carried down beneath the sur
face of the water. A thousand acres
or more sunk in less than q minute,
the sea rolling in and driving YES
sells over the tops of the houses.
This catastrophe was repeated, on a
larger scale, in the island OF Java in
1872, when an erea fifteen miles
long and six miles wide, containing
forty villages, with an aggregate
population of 1851, sunk from sight.
The destruction of Lisbon was SINH
lar, a tidal wave submersing the
city and destroyings60, 900 persons.
IL l. WI L.