Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-11

ooou' o-oo' acdfu TWO ioud fuhoung SOUNDS accom-
panied with slight tremor OF the ground, which he
at the time attributed to the blasting operations in
the tunnel Tor the new water supply, but wondered
at tne singular character OF the sound, which diff
lered from that OF the usual blasts In being much
more prolonged and terminating with peculiar ao-
ruptneSS AS no blasts were fired at that time he
thinks the disturbance had some relation to the
earthquake reported In the morning papers but
cannot account for the difference Ia the time 10
ported from other sections OF the country.
What Prof. NcSvcOmb Says About IL.
THO SUN SPOTS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH n.
"What can you tell me about the earthquake yes
terday?" asked STAR reporter OF Prot Simon
Newcomb this morning.
''Not a thing" was the reply "I knew nothing
OF 1t until saw the reports in this mornings pa
pers, although was out walking at the time it oc-
CURED, and should have felt the shock. have no
doubt, however, that there was an earthquake"
how can you account for the earthquake p
"Some scientists attribute 1t 10 unusual changes
on the surface Of the sum-" suggested the reporter
,,,. Utter nonsense, " was the reply: "Changes OF
sun spots undoubtedly have an effect on the earth.
Ihey are apt TO cause severse hurricanes or to
twist the magnetic needles about, but they
wouldn't bring an earthquake"
what does cause an earthQuake?' asked the
reporter.
.'The only common sense explanation to my
mind is that down In the bowels OF the earth. say
from twenty to one hundred miles beneath the
surface, there Is fluid matter which, gradually be-
coming cooled. contracts, leaving space between
II ana the solid parts Heavy weights on the
earths surface above the space are apt to cause
The surface to Siuk and there you have the earth
quake. No, the sun spots didn't have anything 10
90 with 1t, you can rest assured OF that" be said,
as the reporter hurriei or TO see what effect the
earthquake had on the Washington monument
The Washington Monument UnmOved.
"Not In the slightest degree" answered Capt
DAVIS, the assistant engineer In charge OF the mon
ument, in answer to the reporters inquiry II the
v1nnr a.,y,f
plummeuS which hang from near the top Of the
monument to the bottom did not measure the
slightest deviation The most minute scientific
examination failed to show any change in the posi-
tlon OF the structure. We measure the one sixty
fourth part OF an inch devialion-about the size
common horsehair-but there was not even that
much movement"
"Did anybody in the neighborhood feel the
Not that know OF. One OF the watchmen there
said he noted 1t, but guess 1t Was only after he
heard other reports about IT,"
wouldn't such shock have any effect at all on
the monument" asked he reporter.
"Certainly. The whole structure could sway, you
know, but II would come back to It's original up
right position. All high structures do that. Tie
Old time light houses used to vibrate in storms To
such an extent that the oil would be spilled out OF
the lamps, but they would come back TO thelr orig
inal position, just as the monument will"
The Charges Against Clevcland's Char
aCier.
TIE BUFFALO COrRIER, AFTER AN INVESTIGATION,
PaoNOuTCES THEN GRoUSDLrSS.
The Buffalo Courier today prints the following:
"When the scandal against Gov Cleveland was
first published the Courier did not notice it. The
newspapers IN which 1t appeared was known to be
both sensational and venal, and the reputation OF
the man behind the newspaper, who was found to
be primarily responsible for the sea ndal, by no
means as sacred as his calling. so that 1t seemed
good TO trust to the character OF Mr.. Cleveland as
held against the arrows OF Slander The charges
were cunnngty concocted and the m1SrepreSenta-
tion so m!nyiel with circumstances OF detail that
no mere denial would suff1ce. InveStig alton was
necessary 10 dsenangle the single thread OF truth
from the web OF SANDER, and it is on the basis Of
such an investigator hat we speak.
"Ihe Buffalo Telegraph made only one accusation
IN detail wherein Names dates, and places were
given. It has been possible to trace this case and
refute It, The slandnrous story accuses Gov Cleve-
land Of seduction, abduction. and cruelty. and evil
dence can be produced TO diprove each OF these
ment Is not based on any quibbe the fact that
the woman In the case was not young girl but q
widow There WAS no abduction The separation
OF the mother and her Child by the removal OF the
former TO an inebriare asylum, told with so much
cheap pathOS was the act OF the authorities OF the
est OF the latter The infant had been ntrusted TO
the care Of the orphan asylum and then withdrawn
by the mother. and the authorities interered and
TOOK possession OF the Child again only when in
formed that 1t was In danger. There no cruelty
The mother was In state OF fnLoxication. and She
was removed lawfully, and with no more force than
the settlement OF the case as has been reported
The same may be said about the story that two
reputable citizens once found Gov. Cleveland nght-
Ing with another lawyer In q Sloon for the possess
SION OF woman.
"Ihe general accusation OF drunkenness and de-
D1ucAery made In the Telegraph can only ba met
in general way. Gov. Ciev: land Is wei known 20
the business and professional men OF Buffalo, and
eSteei1ad among them. The uniform answer Of
such men when questioned as TO his habits Is: Il
never saw hin drunk; never heard that he was
immoral
.'rhe Rev. George II. Ball has been devoting him.
sell for month to the pu ucauon OF scanda.ous
lies respecting Grover Cleveland We have before
other city. from which We quote:
AS to Mr.. C's drinking. take on. fact He and two
other lawyers fw since visited their club house
on Grand Island F,aca OF drunkenness and lust ard
the three bsastly drunk their tnr city
Osca: Folsom. esq. of them tell from the carringe
aud broke his neck If you desire facts VIII do
my best to supply them.
Yours truly. GEO. H. BALL
SIN August, 1875, Oscar Folsom OF this city while
ont driving with Warren P. Miller. was thrown from
his buggy and killed Mr.. Cleveland had not been
with either Mr.. Folsom or Mr.. Miller that day. but
was In his room in company with George s. Ward
Well when the sad news came OF the death OF their
friend. All these gentlemen were memhnrS OF the
Beaver Island cluU, bat MessrS- Folsom an Miller
had not visited the club On the day In question.
Properly construed the last clause or Mr. Balls let
ter would read: III you de ire more lies, l Will do
my best TO supply them"
John KelIy's Position.
BE WILL NOT BOLT THE TICKET, BUT TAMMANY Will,
DO NOTHING FOR 1T.