The Portland daily press., 1884-08-11
CORTLAND, MONDAY MORNING, AUGUST IL, 1884.

mates blocked the stairways in their mad rush
Ior the street. Windows were broken, crock
cry smashed and policemen called to preserve
order among the affrighted crowd. A police
man who was standing at the corner of Vande-
water and Frankfort streets said that he felt
the pavement shaking under his feet and he
beat hasty retreat.
The ticket seller at the New York entrance
to Brooklyn bridge said he felt slight oscil-
iatlng motion and could not account for 1t. He
thought one of the engines had run off the
track overhead, and sent a man up ito investl-
gaze matters Immediately after the shock
mad been felt at the police central Office con-
siderable confusion was occasioned and the
impression at hrst prevailed that violent ex-
plosion had occurred in the neighborhood. A
little investigation however led acting
superintendent Saunders to the conclusion that
the cause OF disturbance was real earthquake
he at once sent out a 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 in writing
out reports from the different captains. 1t ap.
pears that the shock was of about the same in
tensity all over the city, although it produced
more alarm in the thickly settled tenement
districts on the east side.
telegram from Yonkers said the shock
had been felt there also. The greatest excite
ment prevailed in the Jewish and Bohemian
quarter on the east side. The houses, which
are mostly high and lightly constructed tene-
ments, were violently shaken, and the terrified
inmates rushed out into the streets, carrying
with them whatever of their household effects
they could move. Children, screaming with
fright, were borne out by their parents, who
were no less panic-stricken, and the whole
population massed itself in the centre of the
streets. In Ludlow street, between Hester
and Canal, the panic was at it's height The
streets we're swarming with people, men, wom-
en- aud children huddled together like sheep,
many of them expecting every moment 10
10 mol 0f THAR dxva1 fo1l mn
Women and children were shrieking and men
either swearing or praying. This was kept up
for nearly half an hour when the commotion
finally subsidized aud the police persuaded the
people to return to their houses. Similar
scenes were witnessed in Mulberry, Jersey and
Mott streets where Italians have their colonies.
The fright however was not SO intense and af-
ter little while their loud shouts and wild
gesticulations ceased.
A few minutes after the shock gray haired
man rushed into Madison street police station
and shouted that several houses in Monroe
street had tumbled down. Ambulances were
called and reserve force sent out. Arriving
at the place indicated it was found that the
street in front of large tenement house was
crowded with an excited throng of people, but
there was no indication of any accident. The
panic was caused by an excited man who rush
ed into the street shouting 1.-THE house is fall.
ing" in loud tones. Numerous other instan-
ces OF similar character were reported in the
tenement house district, but as far as can be
ascerta1ned no damage anywhere was done.
The cause of the disturbance was a matter of
much speculation especially among the more
ignorant classes, and it was long time before
many of them understood the cause,
In Central Park, the shock was more severe
IT Is said, than in the surrounding region.
Large crowds were in the mall, who were at
once thrown into a state of violent excitement
by a shaking and strange rumbling in the
ground, which was distinctly heard. The ami
mails IN the menagerie were greatly frightened
BY the shock, and many trembledas If in fear
ehile they remained perfectly still for some
time after it occurred Operator Hoffman, of
the arsenal was thrown from his chair, and the
globes OF the lamps IN his office were cracked
The ceilings of the tenth precinct station
house on Lewis street, was cracked in several
places, and one OF the women who lived in the
house became unconscious from fright
A street car 10 Avenue B was lifted from the
track several times, and several horses were
reported thrown down. At a drug store on
99th street and Tenth Avenue, several bottles
were thrown from the shelves and broken.
The great towers at either end of Brooklyn
bridge oscillated yisibly, while the bridge
rocked as if struck with a hurricane. The
shock of the earthquake was felt generally
along the river front, and piers were shaken
as If by heavily loaded truck passing over
them. At the iron steamboat pier, which is
built OF solid masonry, the motion was SO vio-
lent that the ticket takers rushed from their
offices to ascertain the cause of the commotion.
1n6 lHL6 AFTERNOON DOatS brought DAck crowds
from Coney Island, where it is said the shock
was much more violent than in the city. The
piaZZas and dining rooms at the Manhattan
and Brighton Beach hotels were we'll filled
with people when rumbling noise was heard,
followed by a rocking of the ground, which
made the window panes rattle and shook the
dishes and wine glasses from the tables. There
was general rush for the open air, and for
some time great excitement prevailed all
along the beach.
WILMINGTON, n. O., Aug. 1O.-The shock
was generally felt here and buildings were
shaken over the city. The direction of the
movement was about ten degrees north of east.
READING, Pa, Aug. 10.-There were two
distinct shocks of earthquage here today,
shaking houses, moving furniture and drop
ping blinds. Considerable excitement pre-
vailed among people running into the street,
Reports from Allentown, Lebanon, Pottstown,
and Phoenixville say the shock was felt there,
At Lancaster, Pa, buildings were slightly |
shaken but there was no particular alarm. The |
shock was felt through the Lehigh valley At |
Easton houses were shaken and three Chin |
neys were overturned. Many people were
frightened and ran screaming into the street.
The signal office reports that no earthquake |
disturbance was felt here nor at Baltimore to- |
day. The following reports have been receiv- |
ed from signal service stations north of Bati- |
more. Atlantic City. N. j. At 207 D. m.
three light shocks of earthquake were felt in
this city which were about TWO seconds in du- |
ration, and appeared to be from north to south. |
TimberS of buildings creaked and ornaments |
were displaced. Mayor Wolf principal keeper |
OF Absecom light states that his secretary at |
which he was writing was nearly upset.
PROVIDENCE, r. l., Aug. 10.-There was an |
earthquake shock here at 2.10 o'clock this at |
ternoon which lasted nearly minute and the |
general direction was thought to be southeast |
and northwest.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Aug. ia shock
thOuQht t0 LA aartbOuak atWQc falt haro
of about i've seconds duration, vibrating
from north to south and shaking entire build
ings, shook down chimneys and piles of bricks |
on Market street, land displaced store signs. AT |
Delaware Breakwater about 21O D. m. the |
station building was suddenly shaken for |
about five seconds The station is built on the |
breakwater some distance from the shore.
PRoyNcETowN, Mass, Aug. 1o-Seyeral |
slight shocks of earthquake were felt here |
shortly after two O'Clock this afternoon.
BRATTLEBoRo, VT, Aug. 10-Two distinct |
shocks of earthquake were felt here ten min
utes past two o'clock to-day. The motion |
seemed to be from south to north.
HARTFORD, Conn, Aug. 10-An earthquake |
was noticed here and at Norwich at 210 |
o'clock p. M, two shocks in quick succession |
which shook buildings Reports state that a |
low rumbling noise was heard.
BRDGEPoRT, Conn.,, Aug. 10--A severe
shock of earthquake was felt here at 2.10
Houses were violently shaken and slight dam
age done. The waters of the Housatonic
river were greatly agitated during the shock |
causing large waves to recede from each shore,
meeting in the centre of the river and FORM
ing curious spectacle.
BOSTON, Aug. 10.-No less than six distinct |
shocks of earthquake were felt in this section |
this afternoon, Prof. Pickering, of Harvard |
Observatory, says he first noticed tremulous
movement Of the earth. followed by the sway
ing of the building and the creaking of the |
timbers. The shock was first noticed about
2.07 .. M, continuing about 10 seconds
In Newton, WATERFOWL, Lynn, Lowell, Cam.
bridgeport, Waltham and other places three
slight shocks were noticed. The whole move
ment Of the earthquake lasted perhaps min
ute
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10.-Commander Samp-
son, of the Naval Observatory, reports that he
observed slight vibration about 2 o'clock
lasting about 16 seconds.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug 10.-Large ships load.
ing petroleum in the Schuylkill river, snapped
their hawsers, and were only prevented from
going ashore by the united efforts of their
crews. Several large steamers were thrown
oil ain fho TO- A.