New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-01
WASHINGTON WARNED BY ATLANTA.
THE OPERATORS THOUGHT 1T WAS A coon JOKE


DEMOCRATIC CLUB ADJoURNs.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 31.-At 9:55 o'clock to-
night tho desks in the Associated Press Office in the
Corcoran Building began TO vbrato in peculiar but
mstakabe fashion that suggested an earthquake.
few minutes later tho janor reported that the upper
stories OF the building rocking back and FORTH and
the night manager Of the Western Union Telegraph
Office made similar announcement, with the addi-
tional information that the clock on the west
wall OF the room had stopped. Tel
ephone messages from gentleman connected
with the Associated Press Office, who lives Massa-
chuseave and from other points in the city reported
that the maptelpeces were rattling. The
telegraph operators in Atlanta few minutes before this
had notified to the Washington operators that the
shake" was coming and to look out for IL, but at
tenton was paid the warning, 1t was regarded
O Joke.
"Did you feol itr asked ex-supervising Architect
Hill he entered hotel loDy shortly after 10 o'clock
tonight to a TRIBUNE correspondent. Mr. Hill ex-
planned that he engaged drawing plan
for building when the shock shook the
one he in severely that he concluded to take
walk In the open air.
hotel and found Assistant Secretary OF state Porter full Of
earthquake news. lie said that the pictures on his
walls and the the chandeliers ybrated with
some violence and articles OF furniture even seemed
to be neasy Tee shock was fes n at sOaHc the
but busy watching the stars that he paid little
A Democratic club precipitated their adjournment
account OF tho shock and good many people left the
theatre than they would have done except for
the unexpected disturbance.
Two shocks occurred tho second shock OF ongerdura
tion and more than the first. and few seconds
later. II was felt In all parts OF tho city and created
considerable conformation Several meetings In pro.
in various OF the city broken up by tho
frightened members thinking that the buildings
falling apd rushing from the halls into tho street.
At Albaughs Opera House the large audience became
frightened by the shaking OF the building, and STAN
pede ensued The occupants OF tho galleries. mainly
gentlemen. jumped TO their feet as the shaking
pegan and rushed pell nell down the stairs, falling over
one another in their efforts to escape from the
building, and stopped for nothing until they
reached the street. The audience in the lower
part OF tho house composed principally
OF but they less frightened than the gal
ercs and few left their The pei formers went
with the piece and quiet restored. No one
injured People did feel the shock
and the first kno wedge they had OF the
obtained from the sight Of the frightened inmates OF
houses rushing from them into the streets.
The Western Union operator at Bowie, Nd, about
twenty miles from Washington, telegraphs that the
earthquake cracked tho walls OF his and stopped
the clock.
Professor Simon Newcomb OF the "Nautcal Al
msnac," furnishes the following figures regarding tho
earthquake: First shock occurred at 953 20 second
shock about 9:54:30 lasted until $50.
No reports OF any serious damage have yet been
ceivod.