New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-11
TIE FiRrHQUAKE YESTERDAY.

The carthouake shock which amazed ana
startled the people of New-lork shortly aI'er
two o'clock Yesterday afternoon was part OF
widespread disturbance. The area subjected
to seismic influence appears TO have 'N'hu'o
~ far west IA the Alcghanics aud ~ Tar east
rs Portland, Maine. The States of New York
New Jersey, Rhode Island, Cunuectcut
Pennsylvania. Maryland, Delaware Mossa-
chusetts. part of Maine, and The District ol
Columbia are included IN II. II IL not
possible M yet ~ II, the earthquake centre, the
rcpnts being as rule anything but precise,
md the relative severity of the shock IN diii"-
cnt places being consequently matter for con
lecture. II is generally agreed that the shock
was severe. but ns most or those who felt 1t lmd
little experience or earthquake shocks 1T -
nccrssir, tu question the accuracy of this con-
clusinn' The proof of severity ~ IN cAith-
quake is the damage done, where IT occurs ~
popnluus cities aud towns Hnd 81 far no icroid
a. any dnmngc has boon received, The rhlih-
quake ~ England last spring was much moro
serious and severe, That destroyed many
huildnea completely, injured much property
and cauapd somc loss Of lie,
The earthquake 1T iRtS Ia California VIA
again much moro severe than that oI Yesterday
IL destroyed many buildings, chnaod loss at
life, did great deal ut damage 10 interiors
cracked many buildings 1t did not throw down,
threw some of the streets OF San Francisco
into ridges resembling sea waves solidllicu,
and i'm Contra Costa and Alameda Counties,
i'm the latter of which it appeared to centre,
produced effects in many respects strlklnSY
analogous to the work of the electrical storms
or tornadocs which have wrought such havoc
in the West. These effects consisted mainly
in the evidence of a gyratory motion, shown III
the twisting of trees, houses, and chlmnlcs.
This circular motion fortunately was not teit In
San Francisco, OF the damage there would have
been much greater than it was.
The shock yesterday was accompanied every
where by loud rumblng noise. In this city 1t
sounded as if a wagon heavily laden with loose
railroad iron, was being drawn by. The
motion in the upper part of the city seems to
have been sharper than downtown. 1t was
less osciliatory than vertical. In fact we note
but one place waterbury, Connecucut,)
where a lateral motion was observed, and there
it is said 10 have been from East to West.
As regards the duration Of the shock there Is
naturally great variety of opinion The fact Is
that earthquakes always seem to last much
longer than lhcy really do. BIT since o>cilIa-
tons continuing for a minute would probably
tmow.the walls OF the strongest buiIdins or the
highest tower, church steeple or chimney
beyond their centre Of gravity. and SO cause
their downfall. il is clear that when no damage
ut all result, from what is thought to be q SEE
we're shock. it cannot have lasted many seconds.
As compared with really serious earthquakes,
even that of SAN Francisco in l~Go was light.
Il g. Il, eli, nf i-eo
in 1SGs the shock of Yesterday was insignii-
can't no doubt frightened many people hut
il did no han. Some excited persons predicted
a heavier shock to COME The fact i, that the
first shock is generally the heaviest, and the
second. if there De second, much mllder |
After the great shock Of 1868 in San Francisco |
there were many slichtcr shocks, and these
continued for several days. bat none of them |
did the least damage. I'm cities the impulse Of
tlr ppaple is to rush into the streets ON such |
occasions This ~ natural, but rs perhaps !
worth knowing that tine only deaths occasonod |
b., earthquake IN California have been those OF !
r.,4out who rushed into the street Just IN time !
to catch falling Ere walls ON their heads. As |
rule thc inside of amy reasonably strong build |
ng M such moment is "a safe rs any place |
that can bc found.
The public of the states affected 10y the late |
shock. however may console themselves with |
the reflection that no really severe earthquake |
has occurred in this part of the world during the |
historical period. and that such shocks "a that |
of yesterday are incapable of doing any dam
aRc, however alarming thcy may seem to nervous
persons. one western tornado is indeed more
to be- feared than very many such rumblngs |
and trcmblings of the earth