The Mineral argus., 1884-08-21
~EARrHoUAKE SHOCK.

Last Sunday, Last g several SeSOhSH'
Felt at Points Along the Atlantic Coast
And In Kew York, New Jersey, Pennsyl-
vania and MarylRnd-Eo Serious Dam
& Done.
New York Telegram.
About 2:O5 O'Clock last Sunday afternoon the
residents in this vicinity were startled by a Sc
we're shock of earthquake, lasting about ten
seconds. Particulars received at the Western
Union Office here show the shock was wide
spread. The first reports were received from
the following points: The Atlantic highlands,
near Sandy Hook; Long Branch, Philadelphia,
New Haven, Boston, Elizabeth, Plainfield,
Spring Lake, Cottage City, Martha's Vineyard,
and Portland, Nc. At the last point it was slight
Reports we're also received from many of the
subofices about New York. Reports as TO its
duration are diverse, but tho average seems to
be about ten seconds. The operator at Proyi-
dence was vaguely questioned as to whether he
had heard or seen anything unusual, and he
promptly replied he had had his hand on the
steam pipe and that it had trembled violently.
He had been looking up and down street 70 dls-
cover the heavy team which, up to the time OF
the inquiry. he had supposed was passing.
The question made him suspicious of an earth
quake. This suspicion was promptly confirmed
by various people rushing into the street and
Office. asking for an explanation. At 2;15
o'clock Atlantic Highlands experienced a sec
ond shock, but less violent than the first. AT
Philadelphia a scaffolding on some new build
ings going up on the corner OF sixth and heed
streets was shaken violently, and some bricks
on the boards were shaken and fell 10
the street below. The %severest shock was
reported from Seabright, N. j., where the de-
pot was shifted to one side, shaking up the
contents and alarming the sole inmate; AT
2:30 o. m. an Intellectual attempt was made to
raise the Long Branch Office, which had been
in communication with the local Office up to
the time of the shocck. The operator just had
time to report the shock, together Win Ihe
fact that the Jars of his battery had been over
turned, and the wire gave out. AT Hartford
bareheaded man rushed frantieally TO the tel
egraph office, holding IN his hands q newsPa-
per which he had been reading. He said ne
had been rocked violently, and that the plas-
tering on the ceiling above him had been cracked
in some places and had fallen to the hoor.
The telegraph manager at Coney Island
promptly asked for particulars of the "explo-
sion" supposing some oil refinery, powder
mill or dynamite factory had blown up. A
few minutes later, however, the fact became
known there that the whole Island had been
thoroughly shaken by vibrations, and that
guests and visitors were very greatly alarmed,
the fright in some cases amounting to a panic.
The first impression which seemed to take
possession of the inmates of houses in New
York was that the building was about TO fail,
and people ran into the street, only 70 discern
/ their nelRnDOfn GusQllk Jul dAlldLSA IN AANN
selves.
The effect of the jar was much more per
ceptible in houses Of light structure, In many
instances it being reported that a clearly De
fined rocking movement was felt, and dlshes
in pantries were shook from their shelves
Thus far, however, no damage OF any KIND Is
reported To-
ish and Bohemian quarters of the East SIDE.
The houses, which are mostly high and lightly
constructed, were violently shaken, and the ter
rifed inmates rushed out into the street, carry
ing with them whatever of their household et-
fects they could move. Children screaming
with fright we're borne out by their parents,
who were hardly less panic stricken, and the
whole of the population was soon massed IN
the middle of the street A gray-haired man
rushed into the Madison street police stauon
and shouted that several houses IN Monroe
street had tumbled down. Ambulances were
called and a reserve force sent out by the ser
geant. On arriving at the place indicated they
found that the street in front of a large tene-
ment was crowded with an excited throng OF
people, but there was no indication of any &C
cident The panic was caused by the excited
man, who rushed out into the streets shouting.
'eThe house is falling" Many other instances
of similar character were reported.
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 distinctly heard. animals III
the menagerie were frightened by the shock,
and many of them we're seem to tremble as If In
fear, while they remained perfectly still for
some time after it had occurred Operator
Hoffman, at Arsenal, wac thrown from his
chair but not hurt. Globes of lamps IN his
office were cracked
Late afternoon boats brought back crowds
from Coney Island. There the shock seemed
to be much more violent than in the city. The
piazzas and dining ICONS Of the great hotels
were well filled when the rumbling noise was
heard, followed by rocking of the ground,
which made windows rattle and shook dishes
and wine glasses from tables. There was a
general rush for the open air, and for some
time great excitement prevailed. At all the
other places of summer resort similar scenes
occurred. The sensation experienced on board
the receiving ship Vermont in the Brooklyn
navy yard was similar TO that felt when broad
sides are discharged from a ship at some dis
lance. According to the story of one sailor,
there was a distinctly felt jar and noticed by all
on board. Two hundred and fifty guests at the
Long Beach hotel ran from the dining room to
the beach, and refused to return to the building
for some time, fearing a recurrence Of the
shock. The amount of alarm by the earth
quake, everywhere was simply astounding.
Reports from Baltimore, Harrisburg, Wash
ington, Boston, Philadelphia, and all along the
coast are nearly identical with the shore, save
in incidental matters.
iowa, Badly scorched.