Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-09-01
AN EARTHQUAKE.
THE CITY SHAKEN Up RIGHT LIVELY LAST
EVENING.
The Phenomenon No! Generally Noticed, Al
though Quite Panic Prevailed IN
Some Localities.

a considerable proportion VI lne PVP"A"
ton. The earth-wayes were nom
north to south, as was plainly
indicated by the swaying of chan
daliers, and the shocks, two in number,
lasted probably fifteen minutes. The hrst
shock was decidedly the most severe, the
earth trembling for several seconds IN
most violent manner. Before people could
0rasp the situation, so to speak, another,
but less violent, shock occurred, It's dura-
ton being but about three or 1--WE SECONDS,
Probably not one person out OF lour
throughout the city noticed the vibrations,
and many who felt the jar at their resi-
deuces attributed it TO every known cause
imaginable except the true one. The shock
was felt most distinctly by those who had
retired in the second or third stories OF
their residences or who were III work In
the top stories Of newspaper offices ana
warehouses, citizens who We're upon the
streets. or in the lower floors OF buildings
generally failing to notice any disturbance
whatever. In the hotels there were scenes
of commoti,n and wild confusion for
time. the nearest approach 10 n panic beng
nj the ST. James, on Water street, where
some of the guests appear to have become
thoroughly imbued with n sense OF lmml-
uent danger. The result WAS good deal OF
rushing to and fro and tremblings of dis
tress. which gave rise, later in the evening,
to a series of interesting but rather suS-
picious stories OF hair breadth escapes, as
tonishing bursts OF speed, &c. In the
REGISTER composing room the Intelligent
comDoSitor early took the alarm, and there
WAS a wild rush Of cOatleSs printers for the
safety which it was suspected the adJoln-
ing allepway afforded. As this Is the
second or third time some OF the
men have been ''ShOOk up they are talk
ing of putting in a sliding pole.
In some of the private residences ABOUT
town very ludicrOus incidents occurred,
the enumeration OF which would NIL Il
volume. One stout citizen, not unknown
to the political arena, rushed wildly OUT
of the hallway of his residence, but hall
dressed, across the street and into the arms
of a bosom friend. "Mein Colt" he eX-
claimed. what is dot?" What WHAT
said the aStOnished friend. IVY, l vas
living on mein bedt, und vas ShuSt ashleep'
when the bedt he 20 so, und so, una So
und grlbbedt my trousers und run.
Another well-knOwn gentleman who mad
been on a bit Of batter for day or
two. felt the shock, and made Wild rush
for the bar-rOOm Of Il friend. Bursting
into the place, where II group OF gentle
men were quietly drinking, he looked
around upon the tranquil company with
.unazement and then, with widc-Open
ewes. he staggered to a chair and fell all III
a heap, saving with shudder, I've got
'em, by"
Another gentleman telephOned news,
paper office a moment after the shock and
said: MY gracious. What has happened:'
"Why?" was the reply. why? Just
hung my coat up in the closet, ana II New
out again and fell on the floor; that
WHY" The situation was explained, ana
the gentleman rang off with the parting
words: II thought something must he
wrong"
No damage whatever was done IN the
city. or at least none could he learned last
evening.
\ commercial tourist, who was almost
thrown out of bed at the Mcclure House,
dressed and come over to the REGISTER
Office to find out what was wrong. When
informed that an earthquake had occurred
ne lett, saving he intended to tie himself
down TO the bed, then let her quake
At DIR. Gasmires rooms on Market
street. doors were swung to and fro, dishes
were almost thrown from the shelves and
the building was shaken badly.
Mr.. ID. w Custer, of the SlSterSYllle IN
dependent, who is stopping ut the Mcclure,
was almost thrown from his chair, ana was
thinking seriously OF jumping out OF the
fourth story window 10 save his life.
United States District Attorney Watts
said he thought il was caused by the brains
of the State all getting into bunch,
The shock was probably felt more Sc
verely in the Council Chamber of the City
Building than any place else. Tuker OF
the Brooke County LOcaI was out IN the
street before the other members felt the
shock
Capt. J. NJ. Sweeney and wife and Capt.
Pennyworth were engaged i'll conversation
in q room on the fifth floor of the Mcclure
when the shock was first felt. WardrobeS
began to knock against TIE wall, chande-
liers to shake and windows to rattle at
terrific rate. He expressed himself Is pos
tive that the limit Of the vibration was
not less than four and half inches ut the
point where he observed 1t.
At LOgan's drug store the quake was very
perceptible and the liquids i'll the bottles
were very much disturbed.
Miss Kate Garver's sewing machine was
tumbled over against the wall.
The suspension bridge towers We're ShIk-
en- very perceptibly.
Many people on the Island felt the
shock.
The quake in Martins Ferry possessed
the very peculiar feature that IT did not
extend west of Fourth street, while all the
residents east of that street felt it plainly.
The X. of p. were holding meeting IN
Commercial Hall and felt the shock very
plainly, and the hanging lamp WAS swung
to and fro eight OF ten inches. \ number
of cellars and several sets of harness ut
Heslop's shop were almost shaken OIL the
PEGS, while lamp was upset at another
place. People who had gone to bed dressed
and turned out to see what was wrong,
while the people west of Fourth street
slept on in peaceful Ignorance that the
earth WAS shaking.