New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-03
outweigh in a iudicious sovercign's mind the
prcscnt demonstrations Of loyalty and respect.
EARTHQUAKES AND THEIR CAUSES

EARTHQUAKES AND IHElh ehOoH"'
Examination of the explanations offered by
men of science who have spoken in regard To
the recent disastrous earthquake, and OF their
comments upon that and other phenomena CO.
incident in time, imprcsses upon the mind one
conclusion, that in spite of the splendid ad-
vanccs of science in these later years, we know
hut little yet Of the world on which we i've
1t is natural and scientific to seek for contcm-
poraneous phenomena cause which eNpia''S
their simultaneous occurrence though when
the correspondence in time has been observed
but once or twice. the connection OF cause ior
which the mind naturally looks may not cxis''
The observed magnetic storm when quickly
followed the earthquake OF last tuesday may
have no scientific connection with that 1ls'''o
ance of the earth, though it is not dillicult 10
suggest theories which would account Tor IL as
result of the seismic change. Records OIL
magnetic disturbance in the past are so
;mperfect. especially in lands which have pech
visited by earthquakes, that the lack y W
served condolences could hardly DC CONSUL
cred as proving anything. But other phe,
nomcna, which have repeatedly been observer
in connection with earthquakes. seem to point
10
been sufficiently taken into account Ill so'o"'''0
explanations usually accepted.
For instance, the peculiar conditioh OIL ui'c
atmosphcre. the unnatural stiffness anu 'hc
yellowish mist hanging over the Ciy vi
Charleston. will remind readers Oh siiiiiiai
nhenomena observed in connection Win edr'h-
npaI,cs elsewhere But what relation OF cause
and effect is there between these meteorological
,benomena and the cooling or unequal con-
,roct;on Of the eartlis crust If the earth
opole is entirely due to the causes usually
assigned. it is difficult to see how the c0noi-
t,on of the atmosphere previous 10 ec'o>%
sbocl, should he in any way affected by lhc
forccs at work. But if the forces which pro-
drccd the shock also tend to produce at lep
near the central point Of great intensity OF
disturbance, atmospheric conditions hoV ul-
like those which prccede a violent hurricane
or even severe Thunderstorm must noV SUM
no,vcr anart from the contraction OF the earth
surface be at work -,
The direction and character of the tremulous
motion correspond but impcrfectly, to say inc
l,ost with the results which might he OK
,,otod from q contraction or cracking OF inc
oor,h,s surface. or a change in the level Of
its crust along a particular line. "A sMaS,ne
a.;or from cast to west was observed in this
instance. continuing barely minute. ouch d
motion. whether accompanledby a deep rumuHng
ro;ec or not. is not easily accounted Tor py
g, contraction Of the earth's crust which must
have extended over a great area. ii IL "erc
nossblc 70 obtain more precise and trustworthy
records Of the direction Of vibration at various
no;rts over that area. it is probable that con"
clusions of philosophical value respecting the
rorsos of the phenomena might be suggested.
Bat il does not appear unrcasohaole W suppose
that the movement in the carths crust, eA'chu-
ing from a point as far south as Charleston aS
\ centre, and as far as New-l ork or Detroit ID
one direction, whatever its cause may nave
been. NAV easily have affected imprisoned
bodies of water within the carth's crust even
rs far away as Montana, so that spoutine
cevsers in the Yellowstone Park or IN Iowa
and appearances seml-voicanic in character IN
Southern Ohio and Indiana might not he Gu
tirely disconnected phenomena.
Great as the progress Of science has Dcen,
il has only opened TO human thought wider
and stranger fields Of inquiry. The more we
discover and know, the more we perceive how
little is known Of the forces and phenomena OF
nature But the magnetic power, which has
appcared In later years to have such close con-
ncction with the movements Of storms and
Of waves of heat or cold, which is traced In
Inc destructive tornado and in scarcely defined
Influences upon vegetation and consequently
upon human industry, would appear from ac-
counts Of the recent earthquake TO have some
possible connection also with those changes
in the carth's surface which have brought
terrible disaster TO so many cities.