Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-08-14

holding in his hand newspaper whicl
be had been reading. He said he hat
been rocked violently, aud that tbl
plastering on the ceiling above him haG
been cracked, and in soms places hat
dropped to the floor.
A cool headed scientist in Brooklyn
upon the first perceptible motion, tool
out his stop-watch and timed the vibra
ions. He reported that the shook began
as nearly as could be determined al
2.O6.50; that the first shock lasted Just
10 seconds, and that the "quieting
down." Rs he described 1t, took nearly 5(
SECONDS more. of. hand guesses as to the
duration varied from g seconds 10 z
minutes, according to the amount Of the
observers fright and his Judgment Of the
fight Of time.
OVER In JERSEY.
at Atlantic City water pitchers were
overturned In the hctels, and In several
instances furniture was thrown down and
globes shaken from chandeliers. Dishes
were ratified on tables and much con-
sternation was occssioned In q few Of the
hotels where the guests were assembled at
their meals. Some Of the people were
30 alarmed that they left their houses and
ran into the streets.
At Cape May Point there was shaking
Of furniture and rattling Of window
sashes.
Dispatches from Jersey City. Borden
town, Elizabeth, Atoo and other New
Jersey towns report general shaking up.
THE sRvEREsT SHOCK.
The severest shock was reported from
Seabright, N. j., where the depot was
shifted to one side, shaking up the oon-
tents and alarming the sole inmate.
OTHER POINTS.
Commander Sampson, assistant super
intendent of the Naval Observatory,
Washington, reports that he observed
slight vibrations Of the earth about 2
O'Clock, lasting about 16 seconds. He was
in the second story Of his house, adjoin-
ing the observatory. The windows Of the
room ratified ,and the articles MARBLE
top table moved. No phenomena were
observed on the lower floors OF the house.
A,few persons reported in the evening that
they observed come unusual motion Of
the earth, but very few such reports
were made.
Residents on the hills and highlands
ICpUIb tuht =
slight shook of earthquake was felt
shortly after 2 O'Clock. In the city it
was not perceptible. Telegrams from
Rockville, in Montgomery county, and
Mecbanicstown, in Frederick, report that
q slight shook was felt.
No less than six distinct shocks OF
earthquake were felt in Boston and vici-
nifty. Professor Pickering Of Harvard
Observatory, Cambridge, Mass, says he
first noticed tremulous movement of the
earth, followed by the swaying Of the
building and breaking OF the timbers.
The shock was first noticed at about
2.07.15 p. m, continuing about 10
seconds. He has no record Of previous
shocks, their duration being 80 short as
to make il impossible to compute
accurately their extent or duration.
The shocks were plainly felt throughout
the city, the jar being very clearly
defined in the outlying districts, and the
occupants Of second story tenements felt
the shock more plainly than those on
the ground floor.
At the West End, Boston, considerable
excitement was ocossioned among the
oolored people, who are naturally super
stitious, and as the windows and bells
began to rattle they ran into the streets,
and for a long time could not be per.
suaded to return indoors.
PRISONER SCARED TO DEATH.
A special fran Hartford, Conn.,, to the
New York Morning Journal says "James
Doyle, a prisoner at the county jail, who
has been i'll for several days, expired
from the effects Of the shook. The build
ing shook so badly that numbers of
prisoners cried piteously to be let ont Of
their cells. Quite orevioe was caused
in the stonework in the jail.