The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-09-10
EARTHQUAKES.
Probably the Most General Agi-
tation of Terra Firma that this
Country Has Ever EXpe-
rienced.
Large Buildings Sway Back and
Forth and Panic Seizes the
People, But Nothing Sc
riOus Results.

0 n the night OF the 31st OF August, earth
quake shocks were felt in nearly all the
Eastern, Central and Southern cities, viz:
New York, Chicago, Washington, Cincinnati,
Detroit, Memphis, Nashville, st. Louis,
Richmond, Raleigh, Louisville, Cleveland,
Columbus, Dubuque, Philadelphia, etc.,
etc.
Prof. Seman Newcomb, Of the Nautical
Almanac, furnishes the following figures re-
garding the earthquake: First shock occur
red at 9:6& and lasted twenty seconds the
second about 9:54B, and lasted until 800.
The officials OF the signal service bureau
report that four distinct shocks were felt
in Washington.
The first began at 9:54 and lasted forty
seconds, the second was felt at 900 and
was followed by another at 1910 and by
a fourth at 1890. Prof apen, the wealth.
err prophet of that city predicted that Jaw
iul and terrific" earthquakes would be re-
ported.
There is a marked similarity in accounts
from all points struck by the earthquake,
though Incidents are varied. The follow
ing from Washington will answer for many
other places:
At 9:55 at night the desks in the ass ocia-
ted press office in the Corcoran
building began to vibrate in a Pc
culiar but unmistakable fashion that sug-
gested an earthquake. A few minutes
later the |janitor reported that the upper
stories OF the building were rocked
back and forth, and the night man
ager Of the Western Union Telegraph
Office made a similar announcement, with
the additional information that the clock
on the western wall OF the room had
stopped. Telephone messages from
q gentleman connected with the as
ISOLATED press office, WAC lives on
Massachusetts, avenue, and from
other points in the city reported that the
ornaments on mantelpieces were rafting.
The telegraph operators in Atlanta a few
minutes before this had notified the Wash
ington operators that the shake" was
coming and to look for it, but nc atten-
ton was paid to the warning, as it was
regarded as a joke. Two shocks oc-
Cured, the second OF longer duration
and more severe than the first, and a few
seconds later it was felt in all parts OF
the city, creating considerable consterna-
ton. Several meetings in progress in va
rious parts of the city were broken up by
the frightened members, thinking the
buildings were falling, rushing from
the halls into the street. At the
opera house the large audi
ence became frightened by the shaking OF
the building, and a stampede ensued. The
occupants of the galleries, mainly gentle
men, jumped to their feet and rushed pell
nell down the stairs. falling over one
another in their efforts to escape from
the building, and stopped for nothing
till they reached the street. The audience
in the lower part of the house was com
posed principally OF ladies, but they were
less frightened, and few left their seats.
The performers went on with their pieces,
and quiet was soon restored. No one vas
injured. People on the street did not
feel the shock, and the first knowledge they
had Of the occurrence was obtained from
the sight OF the frightened inmates OF the
houses rushing from them into the streets.
The Western Union operator at Bowie,
Nd, twenty miles from Washington, tele-
grained hat the earthquake cracked the
walls of his station and stopped the clock.
In the upper stories Of the tall Western Tn.
ion building in New York the waves were
plainly observable, and persons walking
about experienced the sensation as OF fall
ing. At Columbia, S. c., there were ten dis
tinct shocks, but none SO heavy as the
first which lasted three minutes. The
streets were filed with people getting away
from their shaking houses.
At Atlanta, Ca, the city was thrown in
to q state of the widest excitement. The
shocks were accompanied by a rumbling
noise and followed one another in quick
succession. The scene at negro churches
was one OF utmost confusion, negroes going
ON their knees, feeling sure hat the judg-
meut day was at hand.
AtLangley, Ca, the earthquake destroyed
a mill dam, and the water washed away
the roadbed. Atrainr rushed into the food,
and the engineer and fireman we're drowned.
Two shocks were felt at Bloomington.
III. Desks, furniture and chandeliers were
swayed. The latter oscillated north and
south.
Probably the worst scare at Cincinnati
was in the composing room OF the CONNER
ciGl. Gazette Office. There the swaying ter
jumped out Of the windows TO the roof OF
the adjoining building, q distance OF six
feet.
At Detroit the wave went from west to
east, and vas felt in all parts of the city,
especially in high buildings. Chairs, tables,
pictures and chandeliers were shaken.
At Memphis it's motion was from north
to south, and lasted ten seconds. 1t had
a rapid, oscillating movement. Great con.
sternation was felt.
At Richmond, Va. the shock lasted
about three minutes, and men, women and
children who had retired jumped from their
beds and rushed out OF doors.
At Raleigh, N. O., buildings rocked, walls
cracked, doors broke loose from their sup
porters, ~chimneys fell and lamps were over
burned. The motion Of the earth was
very decided.
At Wilmington. N. G., they were very Sc
we're, and came near wrecking several build
ings. No such excitement was ever known
here before. The shock rang church bells
II also threw down plastering and rani
door bells in houses.
AT Cleveland, Ohio, people left tn,
theaters and al into the streets. Al
the opera house q stampede for TIL
street took place. Nearly everybody
made a rush for the doors, but hap
PLY no one was severely injured
At Dubuque, Iowa, people at the top
OF high buildings felt the building yibrat'
violently. Printers In the fourth story o
the Herald buildino ran for their livae n