Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-12

SUNDAYS EARTHQUAKES snocK.


lizard.
Sandy afternoon an earthquake shock
WAS felt throughout the eastern and middle
nd portion Of the southern States. The
direction Of the disturbance ia given differ
nly by various observers. The most
alarming vibrations were felt in New Eng
land. From our northern exchanges and
late kilograms we condcnse the following:
rn New York Cssy-A Gencrai shake.
The New York Times says; At 2;o6:s0
O'Clock. BY New York time, when the
douds overhead were blacklist, and the air
below was moist and sticky, sharp earth
quake shock passed through the city. caus-
ing tie most substantial buildings 10
Quivcr. The shock came suddenly, and
without the least warning. Persons walk
ing in the streets and wandering through
the parks were suddenly startled by low,
rumhliug sound. apparently beneath their
feet, which appeared like mutied thunder
in the bowels Of the earth, while the ground
seemed 10 culver gently, like the billowy
motion OF n great wave. Men stopped sud-
dcnly and listened with fear 10 the deep
crumhling beneath them, and stood trans
fixed for what seemed at least I've minutes
10 The more timid.
In the different buildings OF the city cxps-
ricnced the same feeling Of terror. intensi-
fed by the sensation that the walls were
shout 10 iall abont their heads. Massive
structures like the rost-Ofiice and Equitable
building seemed 10 sway gently back aud
forth. while above or fellow, according as
the observer wss on an upper floor or
nearer the street, rolled that terrible
rumblipg sound which gave an impression
"a thunder trying 20 burst through the roof
Of the building or through the solid ground
below. The entire duration OF the shock
was not above twenty seconds at the out
side. and in some points in the city il was
estimated by good judges. and what may
Ne considered experts In earthquakes, that |
II did not last more than seven seconds, but |
the seconds 10 those who experienced the |
shock were drawn out into minutes. and It |
seemed long tine before the earth became |
solid once more and men found their legs |
and their voices at the same time.
When the intense strain on the mind |
caused bv the shock was removed people |
began 20 ask each other what had happened.
The general impression was that heavy
explosion bad occurred some where in the
ncighb0rheOd 81 the city, and that the
ruInbling was the Teverbcrdtion OF The re- !
port which had shaken the city to lis
BE IN a few minutes. however. wncn re-
uorls began 10 De received ~ the Western
Union telegraph Office Of similar sensations
experienced over an area extending from
Pennsyvania 10 Maine. rs far south as
Washington and upto the line ci the great
lakes. Then he news spread like wld-fre |
Throughout The city that an earthquake
shock had been felt. For the rest OF The |
DAY nothing was talked OF but the earth |
quake. and men laughed at each other for |
the fears which they bad felt. Stories OF |
earthquakes in various parts Of The world !
were rctold. and grew with the telling, I'M
az lhc shock OF Yesterday seemed by COM !
pui>Cn 30 bea very trivial occurrence. That |
twas very severe shock, however, was adj. |
mitiCd Y people who have passed through !
earthquakes in California and South Ame- |
rics. and hsd it been but trile more i'll |
tense great damage 10 property and loss OF |
life might have Cnsucd.
In the large buildings down town the !
shock was most severely felt In this |
dfy. in the TimoS'S editorial -rO1ms =
noise, like The rolling Of tons Of weight |
over the floor above. which Is occu-
pied ~ a compo.inC.rOom. was suddenly |
heard. The rumhlng increased in intensity |
for about ten seconds, and then died grad
ually away. s. though the heavy truck and
is heavier weight had passed over the build
inc simultaneously with the rumbng /
noise there was q sudden, sharp, conyusiye
0uiyeIing Of the entire building. and those
stated in the editorial-ToOms felt vague
sensation Of danger from an unknown
source. This feeling passed away as soon as
the Tumbliug noise ceased, and TIE impress
sion on oyery mind then was that two or
three Of The heavy forms OF the Times had
been rolled across the floor above. In the 1
hs.tg form hoh
been moved. and the few compostors found
there 10 carly In the day were standing
gazing at e,Ch other in wonder, and many
I'd them with blauched faces. Being floor
higher than the cditOrial-rooms. the sway
Ing Of the building had been more percep-
tihle th0re than below. and the thick pillars
supporting the roof seemed TO culver, the
window sasbes ratified in their frames, and
for few seconds the roof seemed about 10
fail. The idea OF an earthquake did not /
enter the minds Of any OF the men, and |
most OF them simply gazed at one another |
in condemnation. while an indeserbabe /
feeling OF panic seized upon all. The /
first impression after the first feeling OF |
dismay was that the boilers had exploded /
i'm the engine-room in the basement. but |
this notion was speedily dissipated by the |
appearance OF The DreSSman, who had |
hastily ruE up the stairs 10 inquire what |
was the matter. The shock had been FELT /
with great force In the press-rOOm below |
the level Of the street. Before anybody !
could compare notes with his neighhOr, /
however, the shock had passed, and the true |
nsture Of the disturbance had been OWNED. /
In the post-C flee. which is probably the |
most massive Of the many solid buildings !
down town. the shock Was very perceptibly |
felt, and those engaged IN the building |
"a xarifb no fso Of
fear which seized upon persons in the
street. The boxes ratified in their frames.
and heavy rumbliug, as Of The passage OF
dozen heavily. loaded trucks on the side
walk without, was heard by the astOnished
clerks. The idea that an explosion had &C.
CURED in the building had scarcely had
tine TO enter their minds when the shock
had passed. having them puzzled and
shaking with fear. The great building
trCmbled spasmodically ana swayed very
perceptibly.
At ID. Western Union building. another
yeIy solid structure, the inmates had the
same experience. There was sudden
shock, which shook the building to its
foundations, and the operators stared at
each other in lear and trembling. When it
passed The word went around that the new
engine jrst put up ia the basement had
been started UP on trial, aud one OF the
clerks remarked that an engine so powerful
A. that would shake the building down
some DAY. Eits minutes later the news
came flashing over the wire OF the earth
quake shock IN Philadelphia. and then for
the first time the inmates Of the building
realized the nature OF the sensations which
they h.d experienced. In the Equitable
building and all the large and solid struc-
tules down own the shock Wa severely
fell, and the shaking Of the buildings caused
terror 10 the inmates.
The pseuliarity Of an earthquake Is that
IL IL impossible to locate the direction OF
the impsrding danger, aud This fact In
duces persons experiencing shock for tue
first time 10 rush directly to the street.
This was what those who had time 10 think
yesterday. and who were not utterly para
lived by fear, did. Houses, especially in
the tenement quarters, were vacated 10
hurry, and the narrow streets occupied by
the poorer elsssss were crowded with men.
women, and children, some OF them hall
clad aud all trembling With fear. Excite
ment prevailed all over the city during the
rest of the afternoon, and nothing wa,
talked Of except the earthquake and its ef.
feets. In some houses pictures and lamps