Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-11
AN EARTNQUAKE SHOCK.
The New England and Middle States
Shaken Up.
TIE RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK AND VICINITY FRIGHT
RNED-RRPoRTs FROM VARIOUS LOCALITIES wHERE
THE TR1NoR OF THE EARTH WAS PRRcEPTIBLE

Idh nhSIDBNIS VI NEW YORK AND VICINITY FRIGHT
ESED-REPoRTs FROM VARIOUS LOCALITIES wHERE
THE TRHxoR OF THE EARTH WAS PRRcEPTIBLk
Yesterday afternoon an earthQu Ike shock was
felt in many places In the New England and mid
die states the most violent agitation appearing to
have bsen in the neighborhood Of New York.
Washington appears to have been on the southern
most limit OF the region affected by the disturb
ance. while Portland, Me-, was on the northern
border. Some persons In this city report having
observed slight shock, but the vast majority OF
people were ignorant OF the earthquake until they
got the newspapers this morning. Telegraphic re-
ports from New York. New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, Connecticut,
vermont ana Maine, last night, gave accounts OF
shocks felt In different towns In those states The
shock was felt few minutes after two o'clock. The
duration OF the shock seems to have varied in diff
Ing which the shock or tremOr was felt does not
appear TO have exceeded ten seconds
NEW YORK AND VICINITY.
In New York and vicinity considerable excite
ment was caused among the people, who were
startled by sudden subterrauean treror accom-
tion. People in New York into the streets ter
ror stricken only to discover that all their neigh
,s nors were rushing out amazed and panic stricken
the tenement districts, and there great terror
Tor while among the Polish Jews on Division. Or
chard, Essex and Hester streets, and the Italian
colony on Mott and Crosby streets The people in
some cases remained In the streets for several min
utes before they recovered from their fears At the
observatory OF the United States Signal Service in
the Equitable building the time OF the earthquake
and It's duration were noted by the observers The
nrst i lntlmation OF the earthquake was low rum
ping SOUND ike the mutter1lgs OF distant thunler.
1t was Immediately followed by a shock as that OF
q violent explosion which caused the building to
quver, although IT did not shake perceptibly. The
rattling continued for about eight seconds and was
s, accompanies oy The rumoiing sound, which grad
Asa sinonia fort cor nootaa NTH ~. .,o,... :.
stared that persons on the elevated railroads did
not feel the shock and 1t was entirely mpercepti-
Ole IN the water about New York. there being no
earthquake wave such as Is usually observed. In
Central park the animals In the menagerie were
evidently frightened by the shock, and many OF
them were seen to trrmble II In fear while they
remained perfectly still for some time after it oc-
Cured.
street car in Avenue B was lifted from the
thrown down.
The policemen on the Brooklyn bridge report
that the shock was distinctly felt there, and the
great towers at either end oscillated Wis bly, while
tae bridge Itself rocked as II struck with hurrI-
cane Along the river fronts the piers were shaken
as II by heavily loaded truck passing over them
La Brooklyn the earthquake was felt very gen.
er,iy throughout the city. Along the river front.
and in the eastern district the shock appears to
At various points about New York and Brooklyn
doors were slammed, dishes and bottles were shaken
from shelves door bells were tangled, clocks were
stopped. and other Ike evidence WAS given OF the
violence OF the shock. The shock at COney Island
appears TO have been more severe than IN the city,
md there was much excitement among the pleas
ure seekers there
Along the Atlantic coast on Long Island the
shock was very violent, and the vibrations seem ID
Reports from Nyack. Port Jervis, Peekskill, and
other points show that the eastern part OF the st tie
was affected. Two distinct shocks were felt at
jersey City experienced shock similar to that
felt In New York CITY,
The severest shock was reported from Seabright,
N. j., where the depot was shifted TO one side,
shaking up the contents and alarming the sole In
The shock in Camden N. j., lasted about 10 Sec
onds and crested considerable alarm. Every lar re
oulldlng IN the city was rocked and bells were rung
ID every section. Reports from Bordentown, At
lantic City, and other points show that the shock
was generally felt throughout the state.
PENNSYLVANIA.
The shock felt In Philadelphia was the nrst noted
there since January Sth 1877. 1t was OF about ten
seconds duration, and the undulatlon apparently
extended from northeast to southwest, increasing
In intensity with each succeeding second and sub
sided gradually. The strongest buildings in the
the roofs and bricks tumbled down upon the pave
ments In all parts OF the city. Frightened people
rushed into the streets aud there was much
excitement, especially in the thckly populated
districts The shipping was likewise affected by
Inc me saocK. Inc large ships l.ading petroleum In
me me ScnuylsuI river snapped !heir hawsers. and
were only prevented from going ashore by the
united efforts OF their crews Several large steam
erS were thrown strongly against the wlarves in
out OF their bunks- Huge waves backed up by the
rising tide, overnowed many OF the wharves and
considerable property was flooded thereby. At
MacuDYe, Pa, panic was created In the German
Reformed church building, In which services were
going on. and the congregation ned precipitately
from the building. After the shock services were
resumed, although the congregation was much
frightened At Allentown and Reading, two dis
tnct shocks were felt. Reports from Chester, Har-
ter and all through the Lehlgh valley are OF slm-
liar character.
rHE NEW ENGLAND STATES.
A violent shock was felt at STANFORD, Conn. AT
Bridgeport windows were broken and movable
household effects were knocked around in a lively
manner.
The reports from Waterbury state that violent
vibrations were psrceptible tor about thirty Sec
Onds
A dispatch from Boston says no less than six dis
tnct shocks OF earthquake were felt In this t1on
this afternoon Prof. Pickering OF Harvard ObServ-
atory, says he f1rst noticed tremulous movement
OF the earth, followed BY the swaying OF the build
Ing and creaking OF the timbers. The shock was
nrst noticed about 2O715 p. m. continuing about
three shocEs were noticed the rst OF which rattled
dishes and Swayed window curtains This was fol-
lowed by ne tvier shock thirty seconds later and
this by third one lighter than either OF the others.
The whole movement Of the earthquake lasted per-
haps minute.
In Salem houses were shaken, door bells rung and
"
duration. In Chelsea the movement was nrSJ
noticed at 2:l5 o'clock and appeared extend from
northeast to southwest Two slight but very dis
tinct shocks were felt at Burlington, VT, the first
at 2.3O and the second at $40.
DELAWARE.
The shock OF earthquake was distinctly felt at
Wilmington Del, about POS p. m, and lasted about
ten seconds. At the Delaware breakwater the
station building, which Is located on the break
water some distance from the shore, was shaken
for about i've seconds.
Residents on the hills and highlands surrounding
Baltimore report that slight shock Of earthquake
was felt shortly after o'clock In the city 1t was
less perceptible Reports from Rockville, Me-
chan1cStown, Westminster and other towns show
that the shock was felt in some portions Of the
state. AT Westminster the motion was from east
TO west The shock was preceded by rumbling
experienced severe shock. Persons who were
gathered In the fair grounds heard a rumbling
sound and distinctly felt the trembling OF the earth
One lady VINO was In bed asleep was aroused by the
dishes and windows were ratified, and similar dis
turoanceS were noted In other houses In the village
Tho Shock in Thi. City.
SLIGHT TREMoR REPoRrED AS HAVING BEEN OBJ
SERVED HERE.
Very few persons In this city were aware until
this morning that the city had trembled on the
verge Of an earthquake Commander Sampson, who
was in the second story Of his house adjoining the
Naval observatory, reports that he observed slight
vibrations OF the earth about O'Clock, lasting
about sixteen seconds. The windows OF the room
ratified and articles on a marble topped table
moved. No phenomena were observed on the lower
nOor OF the house Other persons in different parts
os the city report that they felt tremor or tremb