, 1884-08-12
AN AWFUL SHOCK.
Eastern Cities Experience the
Terrors of an Earthquake.
Buildings Badly Shaken Up,
People Fearfully Scared
And Prayers and Supplications
Heartily Sent Heavenward.
An Shock.

NEW York, August lO.-New York.
Philadelphia AMI several other cities near
the sea coast experienced an earthquake
that lasted ten seconds on Sunday after
noon. Many people were greatly alarmed,
and while many buildings were badly
shaken little actual damage was done.
The greatest excitement prevailed in
the Jewish and Bohemian quarters on the
east side. The houses, which are mostly
high and lightly constructed tenements,
were violently shaken, and the terrified
in inmates rushed out to the street, carrying
with them whatever of their household
effects they could move. Children scream
ing with fright were borne out by their
parents who were hardly less panic
striker, and the whole population was
soon gathered in the centre of the street.
Iu Ludlow street, between Hester and
Canal, the panic was at its height. The
streets we're swarming with people. Men,
women and children huddled together
evidently thinking the last hour had ar
rived and expecting every moment to see
the walls of their dwellings fall upon
them. Women were shrie king and
children bawling. while men were either
swearing or praying. This was kept
up for nearly half an hour, when
the connection finally subsidized and the
police persuaded the people to return
to their houses. Similar scenes were wit
messed in Mulberry, Jersey and Mott
streets, where Italians have their colonies.
The fright, however, was not SO intense,
and after a little their loud shouts and
wild gesticulations ceased. Many other
instances of similar character were re-
ported in the tenement house district but
as far as can be ascertained, no damage
was anywhere done. In many houses the
door bells were set %jingling by the shock.
Its cause was n matter Of much specula-
ton especially among the more ignorant
classes and it was some time before the
real nature Of the occurrence was under
stood In Central Park the shock was more
severe than in the surrounding
region. There were large crowds on the
mall, who were at once thrown into a
state of violent excitement by the strange
rumbling in the ground which was dis
tinctly heard. Animals in the menager-
les were frightened by the shock and
many of them were seen to tremble as if
in fear, while they remained perfectly
still for some time after it occurred. OPP
orator Hoffman, at the Arsenal, was
thrown from his chair, but was not hurt
The globes of the laIppE in his office were
cracked.
HAvERH1LL, Mass, August IA
shock of earthquake was felt this morning
at Mount Washington. The shock
jingled the chandelier pendants, opened
the inside blinds and awakened the people
from slumbcr. 1t was not noticed in the
centre of the city. but felt in Georgetown.
PLAINFIELD, y. j., August ll.-Mrs.
Charles Scheler, who was sick, was so
affected by the earthquake Sunday that
she died in a few hours.
FAR RocKawAY, l.. l., August IL
Another shock of earthquake was felt in
the villages. 1t was along the south side
of Long Island this af%tenoonnot as heavy
as yesterday, but sufficient to cause ex-
element. The Court House shook several
seconds, crockery, &c, on hotel tables
ratified, and some fell over, making the
guests start from their seats. The shock
was felt here about 1890, a few minutes
later the big hotel on Rockaway beach
was shaken. The doors and windows
ratified loud enough to be heard a con-
siderable distance. The outer doors of
other buildings closed by force. Hemp
stead, Long Beach, Woodbury., and
other places report similar experiences.