Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-11-07
misffllaneGus.
About Earthquakes.

from Virginia to Maine. was shaken BY an
earthquake The shock was the most vio-
lent on the coast OF New JERSEY, in New
York CITY. and on the shores OF Long Is
land Sound Probably every little reader
of Young People in that section OF the
country felt the strange movement. and
wondered about this strange, mysterious
earth upon which we live.
When the earthquake occurred we were
sitting quietly in a house on Brooklyn
Heights. ENJOYING the beautiful Sabbath
stiffness. The skv was overcast. and all
nature seemed hushed and tranquil. Sud
denly we heard strange sound like the
rumhling of heavy artillery. deep under
the ground Then the house began to
tremble. and the floor seemed as If rock
ing under our feet. The glass pendants
on a pair oil antique candlesticks which
| stood on the mantel trembled and swung
AGAINST each other with silvery tinkling.
/ Then the sound and the strange motion
died away. and all nature was tranquil
once more The mysterious disturbance
lasted about half minute.
We knew the instant the subterranean
sound began that it was an earthquake,
and we sat very still watching intently
the marvellous display of natures power.
But when it was over, we began to talk
about it.and to pull down from the library
shelves all the books that contained ac-
counts OF earthquakes in all countries.
! Here are some of the Interesting things
we read about.
It is very difficult to explain the causes
which produce earthquakes. 1t has been
clearly shown by scientific men that the
globe we call the earth is not a solid mass.
It's interior is supposed to be in heated,
| fluid condition, and that the slow cooling
process which is constantly going on
causes the outer crust of the earth to con-
tract suddenly at times, forming great
! assures and underground caverns. 1t
seems natural that such gigantic move
ments miles below the surface should pro-
duce subterranean noises and tremblings
which can be felt by the inhabitants of the
earth who live above the depths of the earth
where these movements take place.
And if the CONFUSION is accom-
panied by the explosion of vast vol
umes of gases, as is supposed some
times to be the case, 1t is not strange
that the surface of the earth gets violently
shaken.
Think how far away you can hear the
noise and feel the jar of an explosion
above ground, or even of the firing OF a
large cannon, and then consider how in
significant are these small manifestations
of human power as compared with the
mighty workings of nature, and you will
not wonder at the terrible commissions
which at times have shaken portions of
the earth's surface, overthrowing cities
and even mountains in moment.
The most wonderful destruction of a
mountain was that which took place on
the 26th of August, 1888. when the island
and volcano of Krakatoa, in the Strait of
Sunda. vanished beneath the sea. In the
afternoon of that day, there came sudden
~ n tremendous burst of subteranean
thunder, and Immediately the volcano of
Krakatoa threw forth an ink black cloud
which overspread the sky. In few
moments a large fertile section of the
island of Java was turned into a barren
waste by violent earthquake. and many
persons were killed. Terrible explosions
took place in the mountain. It's great
sloping sides were blown out into the
water, and the volcano. together with tie
island on which it bad stood for unknown
ages, crumbled away and disappeared.
When the morning sun arose, the ocean
flowed over the spot where the mountain
had stood, and the surface of the sea tor
three hundred miles around was covered
with floating ashes and pumice stone.
while a choking smell of sulphur pervad-
ed the air.
\ There is no portion of the earth's sur
face where shocks of earthquakes are not
occasionally felt, but. except in volcanic
countries, the ground trembles so slightly
that no damage is done.
The inhabitants of those lands where
great earthquakes occur never know at
what moment their homes may become a
heap of ruins. The shock comes sudden
", and it often happens that after hearing
the rumbling noise the people have no
time to rush into the street before they
are caught and crushed by falling walls.
Some terrible earthquakes have taken
place on the western coast of South Amer
, lea. In 1746. Lima, beautiful city in
, Peru, was entirely destroyed. In less
than four minutes about 5000 houses and
many large. magnificent churches became
heap of shapeless rubbish. At the same
time a great tidal wave swept in from the
Pacific Ocean and completely carried away
the seaport of Callao. In the morning
there was only barren sandbank where
, the night before had stood populous
, town.
Lima and Callao were both rebuilt
and for more than 100 years Peru was dis.
turbed only by slight shocks. But in Au.
gust, 1868. a terrific earthquake destroyed
nearly every building in the large city OF
E Arequipa. which stood at the foot of MIST
a volcanic mountain which for ages had
been cold and silent. Immediately after
the shock the summit of MIST broke Out
in smoke and cinders, and huge pieces OF
rock were hurled down its sides.
1t was at this time that great tidal
wave swept on to the Peruvian coast 20C
miles south OF Are1uipa, destroying the
seaport of africa, and carrying inland sew.
eral great vessels. among which was the
United States steamer Wateree. So great
= was the force of this terrible rush of wa
tiers that the huge vessel of war, with its
heavy guns and equipments, was thrown
i half mile into the interior of the town
In March. 1912, the inhabitants of the
2 city of Caracas, in Venezuela. were startl.
: ed by = loud report like the sound of a
thousand cannon, and Immediately the
. ground arose in great waves. Buildings
rocked and fell. and in a few moments
nearly ten thousand people were killed
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