Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-08-11
EARTHQUAKE.
The People of the Middle and New Eng.
land States Get a Shaking Up
The Damage Slight.

A distinct shock of earthquake was felt
throughout the cities of New York and
Brooklyn at seven minutes past two o'clock
this afternoon, lasting 10 or l2 seconds and
accompanied by a subterranean rumbling
which were clearly audible. The earth mo-
ton was quick trembling movement with
out any vibration, though some people in va
rious localities seem to think they felt uuda-
lations. In New York the motion was ap-
parently most violent In the northerly dis
tricts. toward Harlem, the people almost
everywhs re differ widely as to the duration
Of the shock, some estimating it at 10 seconds,
others at two minutes. The most reliable
opinions are doubtless those which place it
at 10 or Is seconds. Its effects varied very
greatly, every house in the city trembled.
chinaware setting edgewise of shelves slipped
out of place, chandeliers and pictures trem-
bled, bells were rung, glass pendents were
tangled. People started from the chairs
where they were sitting and run excitedly into
the streets, and in several cases walls and
| ceilings were cracked. At Everett's Hotel,
on Chatham street, where the floor of the
dining room is of marble. the shock was
very distinctly felt. The walters raE from
the hotel under the impression that the great
steam boiler was about to explode.
The watchman at Stevens building, Il
Broadway. said that some ladies who were
on the elevator became greatly frightened,
thinking the steam boiler had burst. The
residents of Harlem were thrown into a state
/ OF intense excitement in consequence of the
shock. 1t was felt mainly between l25th
and bend streets, Third and Eighth Avenues
and in that section it was so great that men,
women and children rushed pell nell and
screaming from their homes coatless. hatess
sbAalpsa
tall in on them. All of the streets were lit
orally swamed with the excited multitude.
East and West 10th streets police stations
were quickly crowded with anxious pcOule.
but they gained no information further than
that the poi iiCtmen were Just a. badly shaken
up. Numerous were the explanations given
by the excited people. Some people ven
tured to say that O'Donovan Rossa was
blowing up ntn-ions of the capitalists. The
west side Of he city near Christopher and
Hudson streets, felt the shock severely. Peo-
pie rushed eXCitcdly from the houses and
sought the most open parts Of the streets.
Many ran all way down 10 the wide unoccu-
pied ground along North River front and
only ventured back to their homes when
hours had passed without any damage being
done.
In the signal service office on the roof of
assistant observer, said the shock was quite
perceptibe. and he heard a rumblng sound
shortly before the earthquake began. In his
opinion, the vibration lasted only seven sec
onds and half he looked immediately at the
clock and It was inst seven minutes after .
He was asked if there was anything unusual
in the condition of the atmosphere during the
earlier portion the day and replied No.
there was nothing At all to indicate such a
disturbance" Rev George A. kimball held
his usual Sunday meeting on the steps of City
Hall, he had an audience of about POO per
sons. All of a sudden. the crowd scattered in
different directions and Kmbsll was left
preaching to solitary park policeman
People who were there, say that the steps
leading to different offices. shook. Probably
the greatest excitement was OCCasioncd at p
and 10 Frankfort street. These buildings are
tenement houses, thickly populated, where
the noise was heard the utmost excitement
prevailed, and the inmates blocked the stair
ways in the mad rush for the street, windows
were broken, croCkery smashed ard policemen
called to preserve order among the affrighted
croSd. \ policeman who was standing at the
corner of Vendewater and Frankfort streets,
said that he felt the pavemeuts shaking under
his feet and he beat hasty retreat. The
tic&et seller at the n. Y. entrance of Brook
lyn Bridge, said he felt a slight oscllating
motion ana could not account for it, he
thought one of the engines had run off the
track above and sent man up to investigate
matters. Immediately after the shock was
felt at the Central Police office, considerable
confusion was Occasioned. the impression at
first prevailed that violent explosion had
occurred in the neighbOrhood, but a little in
vestigation, however, led acting superinten-
dent Saunders to the conclusion that the cause
of the disturbance was a real earthquake
He at once sent ont general dispatch to all
the precincts, asking for information in regard
to the shock in various localities in the city ;
answers soon began to flow in, and the opera
tors were kept busy for two hours writing out
reports from the different captains. 1t appears
that the shock was felt with about the same
intensity all over the city. Although it pro-
duced more alarm in the thickly settled
districts on the east side. telegram from
Yonkers said the shock had been felt also.
The greatest excitement preyailes in the
Bohemian quarters.
The houses, which are mostly lightly con-
structed tenements. were so violently shaken
that the terrified inmates rushed out into the
streets, carving with them whatever of the
household effects they could move. Children,
screaming with fright. were out by their
parents who was not panic stricken and the
whole population massed into the'centre of
the street. In Ludlow street, between Hester
and Canal the panic was at its height. The
streets were smarming with people-men.
women and children were huddled together
like sheep, many of them expecting to see
their dwellings fall on them. Women and
children were either shrieking, swearing or
praying This kept up formerly halt an hour
when the commotion finally subsidized and the
police persuaded the people to return to their
homes. Similar scenes were witnessed in
Mulberry. Jersey and Matt streets, where
the stations have their colonies. The fright
however was not so intense, and after little
while their loud shouts and wild gesticula-
tions ceased. few minutes after the shock
a gray haired man rushed into Madison street
station and shouted that several houses had
tumbed. Ambulsnces were called and re-
serve for sent out. Arriving at the place it
was found that the street in front of a large
tenement was crowded with an excited throng
of people, but there was no indication of any
accident, The panic was caused by an ex-
cited man who rushed into the street shouting
THE house is falling" in loud tones. Nu-
merous other instances of the same kind were
reported the tenement house but as far as can
be learned no damage anywhere was done
The cause of the disturbance was a matter 6f
much speculation, especially among the
more ignorant classes, and 1t was some time