The Portland daily press., 1884-08-11
EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS
Reported from Many Sections Of
the Country.
Houses Violently Shaken
AND INHABITANTS FLEE TERROR
STRICKEN INTO THE STREETS.
Considerable Property Damaged, but No
Lives Lost.

NEW YORK, Aug. 10.-A distinct shock of
earthquake was felt throughout the cities
OF New York and Brooklyn at seven minutes
past two this afternoon, lasting ten or twelve
seconds and accompanied by subterranean rum.
blings which were clearly audible. The earth
motion was quick trembling movement with
out any lateral vibration, though some people
In various localities seem to think they felt the
fluctuations. In New York the motion was ap-
parently most violent in the northerly districts
towards Harlem People almost everywhere
differ widely as to the duration of the shock,
some estimating it at 10 seconds and others at
two minutes. The most leliable opinions are
doubtless those which place it at 10 to Is Sec
onds. Its effects varied very greatly. Every
honse in the city trembled, China ware setting
edgewise on shelves slipped out of place, chan
daliers and pictures tumbled, belle were ruDp
aud glass pendants were tangled. People start
ed from the chairs where they were seated
and ran exeitedly into the streets and in sever
al instances walls and ceilings were cracked.
At Everett's Hotel on Chatham street the
floor of the dining hall is of marble thing and
the tremors of the shock were very distinctly
felt. The walters ran from the hotel under tie
impression that the great steam boiler in the
basement was about to explode A watchman
at the Stevens building, II Broadway, said
that some ladies who were on the elevator
became greatly frightened, thinking the great
boiler had burst.
Residents of Harlem were thrown into
state Of intense excitement in consequence of
the shock. 1t was felt mainly between 125th
and 1920 streets, Third aud Eighth avenues,
and In that section it was SO great that men,
women and children rushed pell NELL and
screaming from their homes, coatless, hatless
and shoeless, fearing that the walls would fall
upon them. All of the streets literally
swarmed with the excited multitude. East
and West 18th street police stations were quick
~ crowded with anxious people, but they
OIL inf A.
policemen were just as badly shaken up. Num-
erous were the explanations given by excited
people. The west side of the city in thesvicini-
ty of Christopher and Hudson streets felt the
shock severely.
WORCESTER, Mass, Aug. 1O-A slight earth
quake shock was felt in this city and vicinity
at six minutes past two this afternoon. Houses
were shaken and pictures on the walls dis
placed, but no damage was done. At the
State Lunatic Hospital the shock was more
perceptible than elsewhere in this vicinity,
the heavy stone building being perceptbly
shaken.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass, Aug, 10.-An earth
quake shock occurred here at 2.0S p. M, with
several marked pulsations, extending over
about ten seconds, but no damage was done.
The shock was felt west as far as Pittsfeld,
and north along the Connecticut river, to
Brattleboro and probably beyond.
New HAVEN, Conn, sAug. 1O.-Two earth
4udho bAoChS FlSAtou Gn1S CITY THIS afternoon,
the first at 2.07, OF As seconds duration, and the
second was stronger and came 20 seconds later.
The damage was slight in this city, and con-
fined to glass and crockery. All the neighbor-
ing towns report slight shocks.
New YORK, Aug, 1o.-In the Signal Service
office, on the roof of the Equitable building,
Mr.. z. e. Hinman, assistant observer, said the
shock was quite perceptible. He heard a
rumbling sound shortly before the earthquake
began. In his opinion the vibration lasted on
ly one second and half. He looked immedi-
ately at the clock, and it was Just seven min
utes after two. Mr.. Human was asked if
there was anything unusual in the condition
OF tho atmosphere during the earlier portion of
the day, and replied, ''No, there was nothing
at all to indicate such disturbance"
Rev. Geo. A. Kimbal held his usual Sunday
meeting on the steps of City Hall. He had an
audience of about 200 persons All of o sud-
den the crowd scattered in different directions
and Mr.. Kimbal was left preaching to a soli-
tary park policeman. People who were there
averred that the stone steps leading to the diff
ferent offices shook.