The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-08-12

signal service the time Of the eartn~
Quake and its duration were noted;
Assistant observers Hellman ana
Merring were at the time IN
tue Office and about 10y
feet above the level of the street
The first intimatioh Of the earth
quake was low rumbllng souoo
ike the mutterings of distant
thunder; this was Immediately fol-
loved by q shock like that OF
Violent explosion, which caused inc
BUILDING to culver although IL did
not shake perceptibiy. The rafting
continued about eight seconds, ana
was accompanied by rumollng
SQUADS which gradually died away.
The fret shock was felt about eleven
minutes past 2. The effect OF tne
jar was much more perceptiole IN
houses of light structure, IN many
instances it being reported that a
clearly defined rocking movement
YVES felt and dishes IN pantrles were
shaken from shelves. Thus far,
however, no damage Of any kind is
reported. While the shock was felt
strongly in dwellings persons travel
ing in the elevated roads did not
know of the occurrence until they
were told of it by people gettlng In
at stations and thai the shock
felt on elevated stations was
slight compared with that on
the ground below. AS iar as
can be ascertained; the shock was
entirely imperceptible on the water;
Immediately after the shock had
been felt at the police central Office
considerable confusion was occa-
stoned, and the impression at first
prevailed that violent explosion
had ccurred in the neighborhood. A
little investigation, however, led
setting Superintendent Sanders TO
the conclusion that the cause OF the
disturbance was a real earthquake.
He at once sent out a general dis
patch to all precincts, asking for in
formation in regard TO the shock in
the city. Answers soou began to
pour in, and operators were kept
busy for hours, writing out reports
from different captains. 1t appears
the shock was felt with about the
same intensity all over the city, al
though it produced more alarm in
thickly settled tenement districts
on the east side. A telegram from
Yonker's police said the shock had
been felt there also. The greatest
excitement prevailed in the
Jewish and Bohemian quarters,
on the east side. The houses, which
are mostly high and lightly con-
structed teDements, were violently
shaken. The 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
parents who were hardly less panic
stricken and the population was
soon gathered in the centre of chs
street. In Lu low street, between
Hester and Canal the panic was al
It's height; the streets were swarm
ing with people, men, women and
children huddled together, evi,
IDENTIFY thinking the last hour hac
arrived and expecting every mo-
ment to see the walls of their dwell
ings fall upon them; women were
shrieking and children bowling
while men were either swearing OF
praying. This was kept up fol
nearly half an hour, when the com
motion finally subsidized and the
police persua led the peoI le to return
TO their houses. Similar scenes were
witnessed in Mulberry, jersey and
Mott streets, where Italians
have their colonies. The freight
however, was not so intense and af'
ter a little their loud shouts and wilC
gesticulations ceased. A few min.
utes after the shock grey haired
man rushed into Madison street po-
lice station and shouted that severa
houses in Monroe street had tumble(
down. Ambulances were called ane
tho reserve force sent out by ser
geanJ. On arriving at the place ind
Gated they found the street in from
of a large tenement was crOw6e (
with an excited throng Of people, blu
there was no indication of any acct
dent; the panic was caused by al
excited man who rushed out int
the street shouting "the house j
falling, Many incidel ts OF simila
character were reported in the tene
ment house district, but as far a
can be sscestsined, no damsge wa
done. In many houses many doc
bells vera set iingling, and its caue
was the subject of much speculation
especially among the ignorant classe
and it was some time before man,
understood the real nature Of the oc
currence. In Central Park tn
shock was more severe than in tn
surrounding region. Tne crowds u
the Mall were at once thrown int
a panic by the rombling in tn
ground, which was distinctly heard
Animals were frightened by th
shock, and many of them trembie
as if in fear and many laid psrfectl
, still for some time after Ii occurred
Operator Hoffman was thrown fror
his chair, but was not hurt. I'll
/ globes OF lamps in his Office cracked
The ceiling in the tenth precin(
/ station house was badly CRACKED
/ and a frame house, 147 Lewis stree
J cracked in several places, and one {
, the women who lived in the hOu;
: became unconscious from fright
). a street car on Aver ne b was lnte
Il from the track several tiD1e4. an