Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-01-14
AN EARTHQUAKE SHOCK


over nine hundred pounds. which had been
left on 4 email island IL the hafoOr, was
picked up by the wind. or some power la the
air, and carried bodily several hundred yards
across the water 10 the mainland. Stone
houses, IN some Instances, were blown down
and scattered, stO1e by stone, until nothing
remained 10 mark their sights bat the fOon-
dati0n wall., and yet within a few feet Of
them light frame structures were left stand
ing entire. On the island Of 81 John, few
miles % the southwark, noticed ~ The roof
OF house holes made b r0u4ld aud Oblong
stones, weighing thirty or fOrly pounds, which
bad been picked up by the wind aud harled
through the AR, anu 10 cOiiyiuess - skcp-
tical, there were tue rocks lyll Ythe attic
floor Shingles and tIles frOsKe roof OF
houses were driven INTO the trees a. II shot
from guns. During the gale the alr aas tiied
with a salt spray tnat penetrated tue utmost
recesses OF houses Tar up Oh the hills.
After finishing our mission We returned 10
Santa Cruz only 10 be ordered back III q
couple of weeks. AT this time the govern
ment was nedItatlng the purchase or these
Danish Islands, and the commissioners who
had been viewing the landscape o'er,"
about 81. Thomas, were deslrOus or leaving
that pestilentlal hole IA the wall, TO sur
yey the faIrer one, OF which they had many
good reports. Consequently We were detailed
10 carry them over 10 frcderlckstadt, winch
We accomplished on the lith or November.
We anchored III the open rOadstead which
serves a. "A harbor 10 tins town, about half q
mile from the wharf. The weather vas warm,
but not remarkably 50 for the tropics, the
thermometer ranging during the uay III
the eighties, touching the nlnetles III
the middle OF the day perhaps. The sky, We
remembered by the light OF after events,
wore a cOppery hue.
Nothing unusual attracted our attention
until three o'clock IN the afternoon OF the
10th OF November, when our vessel began TO
quIver and rock as II a mighty giant mad
land hold of her and was trying 10 loosen
every timber IN her frame. Officers and
men ran pell-mel on deck to ascertain the
cause of such phenomenon. The Vibra-
uous continued the space OF perhaps a
minute, accompanied by a buzzlng noise
somewhat like the draft of smelling fur
mace, or the hum OF innumerable swarns of
bees. 80 certain were we that the cause was
connected some way with the ship that no
one cast an eye ON shore. Various sugges-
tions were made by old and young.
blowing down the boilers =. said one.
There being no Ires under tho boilers, such
a solution was impossible.
"A drum-tsh fastened TO the vessels bot
tom, suggested another.
Its an earthquake, sir; look ashore ~
shouted from the bow an old blue jacket,
who had felt the peculiar sensation before.
| looked toward trederIckstadt and saw a
dusty hazy atmosphere over the town.
could see men, women and children running
hither and thither, and could catch FAINT
cries of distress. Noticing that a part of the
stone tower of the English Church had fallen
| surmlsed great damage had been done to
the dwellings,, and was expecting 10 hear our
boats called away to render assistance TO the
inhabitants. Full Ive minutes had elapsed
since the shock, when l heard peculiar
grating noise, and looking over the bow
found the chain saving on the cut-water,
and as taut as a harp-Strlng, full ten fathOms
of IL being out of water. On reporting the
fact aft, the warp from the quarter which
was used To swing the ship broadside to the
land-breeZe, WAS let go, when We found We
were dragging anchor very rapidly, because
of the powerful currents, the first effect of
the shock. Orders were Immediately given
To ''yeer" chain; the executive officer ordered
the shoppers to be cut sailor sieZed an
ak and delivered but stroke or two, when
the tremendous strain broke them. and
with the leap of huge serpent the iron cable
ran out the hawse-plpe with continually IN
creasIng velocity, Swaylng and leapIng III its
mad career, detyIng the power of the men at
the compressor with their powerful lever to
stop ii; on and on 1t dashed, making the
vessels bow rise and fall as 1t increased IN
momentum, marking its erratic course with
a streak of fire, until coming 10 the end there
was perceptlbie rising Of the deck, tre-
mendIOus Jerk and the heavy tOurteen-lnch
bolt rlyeted III a SOllu oak beam was torn out
and the last INK, connecting the vessel to
the anchor went nOurish4Dg and vrIgglIng
overheard with the rest. Inc last couple OF
colum swept the decks thoroughly under
tue top-gailant fOfectStle, up7ettIng and
smashing Ine carpenters bench and grind
stone, and Whipping up the ladder, making
II execute a Dlck sOInersauIt III The air. We
were now adrift at the mercy Ot the currents.
An effort was made ID man the starbOard
compressor So a. 10 check the other anchor
when let 20; bGt the men hId come on deck
and We're standing paulc-~lrlcken, gazing az
tue terrible appearance OF the SEA. reef
had risen oil the northern point OF the island
where but few minutes before was several
tathOms of water. Our vessel advanced to-
ward and receded from the shore with the
waters unIIi as If sOuIe grta power had
raised up the bottom OF the bay. the sea
rapidly closed III on the town, filling the
houses and covering the street running along
the beach To the depth OF twenty-fOur feet.
Our ship, following the current. took course
toward the southern end OF tine town, until
over the edge OF the street lt swung her bow
toward the north and Was CaIrTIeu along
smashing frame StOre-hOuse, anu breaking
down row of Shade-trees. during this
maneuver an effort was made To hoist the
JIb III The nope Oh catchIng a breezd o ke y US
when II was found thai the cover Ca strong
piece OF canvass was holding 40 fast. Several
men rushed out 10 remove tne InpedIment,
but tneIr nervous fingers tugged IN vaIn at
the stubborn knOls, wien an officer Oruered
them 10 cut It lOOse: only one knife was
convenient. and the man using 1t had ripped
but couple of feet Oi the cover, when his
trembling hand dropped 40 overheard. Men
We're then ordered aiOtt 20 loose the fore top
sail dozen or more brave ones rushed up
the rigging nearly TO the TOY, when catching
a view OF tne angry anu tufuUl nt sea they
stopped, trembling IN the presence OF the
mIAuty power that was abroad. anu retreated
TO tne deck. Again were the Jl0 uailards
manned, an tno hope OF tearing the sale
from Its cover. The men would tu.. al the
rope witn frantic efforts for "a moment, then
turn for a glance at tne threatening sea and
the rope would drop from their hands. By
tins time the rush of waters was tow ii tie
ocean. We We're carried 0al perhaps i've
hundred yards from tile shore, when our
vessel ground q aud e water continuing ITS
retreat. she careeued over ON her pOrt beam
ends. he bottom OF tNe r0805ttad was now