The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-09
THE EARTHQUAKE OF rs.
REPRINT OF REPORTS OF THE
SHOCKS IN RICHMOND.
The People Walked Up Near Midnight and
Many Badly Scared.

| uEtlnct SHOCKS 1eIt mere, ana accuTatt
reports obtained by the Dispatch showed
that they were likewise felt in Hanover
Caroline, GoochIand, Fluvanna, Louisa
and at Weldon, Petersburg, Norfolk
Burkeville, Farmville, Danvile, Greens
boro', Lynchburg. Baltimore, Alexandria
Charlottesville, and many other places
The following is a portion Of the report
written for this paper almost while the
earth was quivering, and gives fair ac.
count OF the sensations OF the moment, and
is followed by an account written by Mr..
Kelley the next day friday:
Our Earthquake.
About 11:45 O'Clock last night three Sc
we're and distinct shocks as Of earthquake
were felt In all parts OF the city, and Gre
ated great CONSERVATION. Thousands OF
people who were peacefully slumbering at
the time were aroused by the rattling OF
window-panes and the trembling OF their
houses, and awoke in great fright. The
sensation lasted for about twenty or thirty
seconds, and began with slight rocking,
which rapidly increased until houses
swayed to and fro and the earth seemed
slipping from beneath the feet OF those
who were on the street. a gentleman who
was quietly sitting smoking his pipe in bis
chamber In the western portion OF the city
says he heard the rumblng noise as if OF
some heavy vehicle passing on the macad-
amized street before he felt
THE oUTvERIYG SENSATION.
Then he heard the rattling OF the window
panes, and the floor began to shiver, pro-
ducng an unpleasant sensation, like he eX-
perienced when standing on the Supreme
Courtroom floor the moment before it gave
way with such terrible destruction OF hui
man lives. This gentleman states that,
looking at the headboard OF the bed in the
room, he clearly perceived it vibrating like
pendulum. There were three shocks, the
two last running into each other, not sharp
or sudden, but coming on rather slowly,
swelling IN force and then quickly dying
out. The gentleman ran to his window and
Opened it, and almost simultaneously seve-
raj other windows were raised. lie asked,
"Wbat is the matter:" and gentleman
from across the street responded, 1T Is an
earthquake. What shall we do ?" Even
at that time the earth seemed hardly set
tied. Every voice that was heard conveyed
the impression OF fright and OF some
dreaded
CATASTROPHE INPENDING.
The idea was that the shocks were from
north to south or from south to north, but
few peoplc were cool enough TO be able to
tell exactly from what direction they came.
AT the Dispatch office the shocks were pain
fully felt. The tall building trembled to its
very foundation, and the compositors on the
fourth floor, apprehensve that the structure
was toppling, left their stands with all the
10 nd rms hoI into tlp StrDpf
One of the compOSitOrs. whose stand l.
near the door, believing that the front OF
the house was falling inwardly, was the
first TO get out. He was followed by all
the Others. Many of the men reached the
ground breathless, and some say they were
almost out of their senses, not knowing
the character or extent Of the danger, and
heinz really unable TO decide when they
had reached q place OF safety. One or TWO
in coming down the steps hurt themselves.
One, with more forethOught than thc
Others, let himself down by means OF the
dumb-waiter. In less than five minutes
after the shock at least one fourth OF the
people OF the city were out
IN TIE STREETS
or in their yards-many in their night
clothes. Mothers graSped their babes
from their cradles and went out OF their
houses seeking open spaces 10 be away
from falling houses. so unexpected, so
unprecedented in the history Of Richmond
was the occurrence that none were pre-
preDared for it, and those who under ordi-
nary dangers would have shown bOldneSs
and courage lost all control OF themselves.
Never before was there such universal con-
sfernation. Never before, even in the
darkest days OF the war, when the almost
countless hosts OF the enemy were thun-
dcring at our gates and bOmbshelis were
bursting in the sight OF our women and
children. was there such fright.
At Fords. st. James, and Exchange ho-
tels hundreds of people were awakened,
and those who were not asleep felt the
ouake and heard the rumbling noise mos,
nlainly. At these hotels bells were rung.
lights put out, people were almost iostled
from their beds, and panic and confusion
took possession of many. The great de-
sire-indeed, the instinct seemed to be to
Get out of the buildings. At the Exchange
one man climbed out on the roof, seeking
q safe place.
In Manchester there was the same ex-
periencc.
A gentleman who has sleeping apart
ments in Stearns's building says he saw
lights springing up and down in all direc-
tions. The plastering was Knocked down
from the ceiling IN number OF houses.
Between Il and / O'Clock dozens OF gen.
tlemen from
ALL PARTS OF THE CITY
called at the Dispatch office. They gave
accounts agreeing in the main with what is
here written. One said he felt three sepa-
rate shocks as plainly as he ever felt any,
thing in his life. All described the move
.ment of the earth rs OF n regular rocking
rather than Of convulsive character.
There was a swaying TO and fro rather
than an upheayal or spasmodic movement.
MANY represent that the ladies had been
frightened nearly to death, and it Is certain
that large portion of our population
possed sleepless night, not knowing how
soon new shocks would come, or when
they came what would be the result.
Ouite number Of gentlemen, ladies, and
children passed the night in the open air.
Mr.. KEMEY's ACCOUNT.
Mayor Kelley graphically described the
sensation as follows. He said: had gone
TO bed, but found it impossible to sleep.
The extraordinary suItriness Of the atmos-
pbere, and a certain quality in the air for
which there is no name in our language.
but which may be sufficiently described by
the word "unbreatbableness," conspired
to keep me awake, and as is usual
when the wakefulness is complete and
at the same time protracted, an un-
usual sensitiveness to sound and mo-
tion followed. My bed lies with the
head to the southeast and in the third
story OF q very substantiaily-built house.
While living thus. perfectly awake. heard
the stiffness broken by what l supposed
was the first puff OF coming storm, and
had full time TO frame this explanation OF