Huntsville gazette., 1884-08-16

/ CONSERVATION and Terror the Prevailing
| -ntiment-No Serious Damage Resulting
| Except to Windows and Crockery-The
| Duration of the Shock About Ten Sec
| oDds.
NEW YORK August IL.
| Shortly after two O'Clock yesterday
| afternoon there was sudden shak-
| ing of build ngs throughout the city.
| The windows ratified, buildings trembled
| and in some quarters people were thrown
from lounges and beds on to the floor,
! and persons standing were made to dance
| as if under the influence of Miss Lulu
| Hurst. The sun had been obscured by
| clouds during the greater part of the
| afternoon, and violent thunder
storm seemed ready to break, but
| it did not come, and soon after the
| earthquake the lowering clouds floated
| away. Opinions vary as to the length
| of the shock some say ten seconds, 9TH
| ers four. The widest excitement pre-
vailed on the East side, where the
Hebrew population mostly dwell,
they supposing that the end of the
| world had arrived. Ludlow street and
the streets round about were filed
| with household effects, and it looked
as if there was to be general exodus.
The services of squad of policemen
| were needed to restore order, and even
| after the real cause of the disturbance
! had been ascer tanned, it was dill
| cult to compel the people, who
were badly frightened to return to their
homes. Although there was great ex-
| citement no one was seriously hurt, and
the bulance returned to the hospital
empty. In the Jewish synagogue, 13
| and l5 Pike street, several hundred per-
| sons
| RUSHED OUT PELL-MELL
in the middle of the service. In Market
| street, East Broadway, Catherine and
| Henry, there was much commotion. The
| police thought there had been an explo-
| sion, but being unable to find any they
| returned to their stations. People who
! were arrested by the shock i'll the differ
/ ert buildings Of the city experienced ter
ror, intensified by the sensation that the
! walls were about to fall. Massive struc-
| lures like the PostofIice and the EquIta-
! BILE building seemed to sway gently
| back and forth, while a ter
rible rumbiing sound gave an impress
| sion OF thunder trying to burst
through the roof of the building or
through the solid ground below. The
| duration of the shock was not above
| twenty seconds, and good judges say
| seven seconds, but it seemed long time
before the earth became solid, and men
found their legs and their voices at the
same time. That it was very severe
shock was admitted by people who have
passed through earthquakes in California
and South America, and had it been but a
trie more intense, great damage to
property and loss of life might have en-
sued The shock was most severely felt
IN BROOKLYN
and the lower part of Manhattan IsIand,
which confirms the theory of General
Jackson, the commanding officer of Gov
ernor's Island, that the earthquake came
from the direction of the NarrowS and
passed in northeasteriy course. In the
Post-ofiice, probably the most massive
building down town, the shock was per-
ceptibly felt. The great building trem-
bled spasmodically and swayed very per-
ceptbly. At the Western Union build
ing, another very solid structure, there
was a sudden shock which shook
the building to its foundation, and
the operators stared at each
other in fear and trembling. Five
minutes later the news came flashing
over the Wire of the earthquake shock in
Philadelphia, and then the inmates real
lied the nature OF the sensations they
had experienced Horses felt the shock
| and raised their heads in terror. Dogs
stood transfixed while the noise rumblcd,
| and barked dismally when it ceased.
Every tail steeple swayed gently under
the unusual shock, but fortunately stood
the test well. In some houses panes of
g.ass We're broken, and in several in
stances crockery and lamps, but nothing
more serious than genuine fright can
be said to have resulted.
KNEW THE FEELING.
Senator Gin of California, who was in
the New YORK Hotel, said to a reporter:
81 knew the feeling at once. l have been
through good many earthquakes and it
il something one never forgets."
"Did you consider this severe
shock?"
"Yes, quite severe, anG the peculiar
thing about it was that no second shock
followed. | never before knew a shock
which was not followed by a second at
| intervals Of few seconds. The second
is always the most destructive. In Cali
fornia I've been through all the earth
quakes since 1S49."
HIS OPPORTUNITY.
At the City Hall Mr.. Henry Kimball
made the earthquake the subject of his
preaching, and drew a large crowd.
Selling a Bible, he read for his text:
sImmediately after the tribulation of
these days shall the sun be darkened and
the moon shall not give her light. The
heavens shall be shaken, and then shall
appear the signs Of the son of man."
The shock was felt quite severely at
Governors Island. The officers and their
families rushed out on the porticos of
their houses, under the impression that
heavy artillery wagons were being drawn
over the brick walls. A few of the older
army officers, who had experienced earth
quakes before on the Pacific slope, recog-
niZed the cause at once. A general feel
ing of fear seemed to take possession of
the garrison, and for few seconds there
was a scene Of indescribable terror.
LONG ISLAND.
All of the northwestern part of Long
Island, embracing an area of ffty uIIart.