The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-01
Scenes of Wild Excitement and Confu-
sion in Several Southern Cities.
Panic at Richmond, Va, Necessitates the
Sudden Calling Out of the Local Militia
Shocks in Other Parts of the Country.
THE SHOCK IN INDIANAPOLIS.
A Distinct Culver Which Was Generally No.
ticed and Caused Some Excitement.

Distinct Culver Which Was Generally No
ticed and Caused Some Excitement.
At S:56, last night, distinct quiver, recog-
nized as an earthquake shock, was felt in this
city. Unlike the shock of nearly two years ago.
it did not exhibit rhythmic motion from west
to east and, returning, from east to west, but
was simply a shiver, with markings as to
direction, either in it's coming or going. 1t
lasted, with brief iptermissions, fully ten Sec
onds. In the night editors room at the Journal
Office the telegraph operator of the Associated
Press left his instrument moment to impart
the news that Louisville had just received an
earthquake shock. The night editor was not at
all surprised, and responded that shock had
paid indianapolis passing visit and the last
departing tremor was even then just leaving his
finger tips.
In the composing-room of the Journal the os-
cillations were quite marked, the iron stands
which hold the cases swaying back and forth
several fractions of an inch. One of the COM
positors, on seeing his case dancing in front of
him. gazed at it in astonishment for second,
and then grabbed quad with which to punish
the galley-man, thinking ne was playing trick
on him by shaking his stand One of the proof
readers, usually the most collected person
in the building, held down his desk for couple
of seconds, and then sought roomier quarters.
There was no little excitement at the Denison
House. In the upper stories the guests in
alarm, ran out into the corridors, and some
found their way down to the Office. One Of
these, A. L. Mason, informed number of gen
tlemen of the shock, which had not been felt on
the ground foor and Pool Commissioner Do
herty stepped outside to look about AS he did
go, the tremor continuing the keystone of one
of the second-story windows fell, coming within
FIVE or six feet of striking him. The stone
weighed about twenty-five pounds, and Mr..
Doherty's escape may be considered lucky one.
At the Opera house Block, as at the Denison
House. the shock was distinctly felt in the upper
stories. and every one at once noted it as an
earthquake
At Knights of Pythias Hall Star Lodge, No.
7. was in session. The rocking was so strong as
to be at once known as an Interpolation, and not
part Of the ritual.
In the Exchange Block, on Pennsylvania
street, coal-oil lamp was shaken off mantel,
but, fortunately extineuished itself in the fall.
The seismic shock was felt in the Hutchings
into the street
The quivering was probably more pronounced
in the courthouse tower than anywhere in the
city Mr.. CASTOR, the tower watchman, thought
the shakes must have continued fully ten sec
onds, and said that they were so strong that ne
started down the ladder to get nearer the earth.
On finding that the shake was not repeated he
returned to his post. The clock in the court
house tower was stopped by the shock
telephone message from Noblesvii!e said that
the shock at 8 o'clock was noticed by nearly
every one, and there was a repetition at 10 o'clock
that moved lamps and other loose objects about
on tables and shelves.
During the summer of 1874 Indianapolis was
visited by an earthquake. 1t occurred about
quarter to o'clock in the morning, and was
quite perceptible especially to residents and
workmen in the upper stories of tall buildings.
On Sept. 10. 1884, at 215 p NJ, two distinct
Shocks lasting about FIVE seconds, were felt
throughout the city, causing pictures to dance
on the walls and fragile china to break to pieces.
A noise similar to that produced by distant
tenants of upper stories complained OF feeling a
sensation of dizziness. This earthquake was
more local. and was felt principally in Indiana
Ohio and Michigan.
At the Signal Service Office the shock swas
noted in the following language: ''At 855 p NJ
slight earthquake occurred and the trem mbling
continued nearly eight seconds during the first
shock; after an interval of one second second
shock occurred, lasting six seconds nearly