Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-23
YESTERDAYS SHOCK.
The Time Recorded by the SeismoscOpe
at the Signal Office in this City.

The distinct shock of earthquake which was
felt in various parts of Washington, as an
nounced in yesterdays STAR, was evidently
the result of an extensive earth trenor, which
made itself felt In various parts OF the south,
Judging from the Geographic reports. It il
impossible at present to learn the exact limits
of the earthquake, as full reports have not been
received at the signal office. In fact no inorma-
ton touching the matter has yet been received
from distant stations, as the telegraphic lines
are not used for such purposes nowadays, in
view of the disposition of the second controller
to disaii0w all expenditures OF the signal SER
vice fundS not warranted by the letter of the
law. Such reports will he received, however,
in a few days from all the stations affected by
yesterdays quake. The shock was felt in differ
eut parts OF the city yesterday in unmistak.
able manner, particularly by persons at the
time in the upper stories OF high buildings
posing room OF THE STAR Office. While
workman engaged i'll repairing the steeple of
Ascension church was conscious OF a decided
swaying motion. In the upper stories OF the
State, War and Navy department building the
clerks were conscious, OF the treinor. One Of The
officials oil the Navy department was on The
roof OF the building AZ the time and felt pc
culiar swaying motion, which he recognized
i'm medattiy the result OF an eartnQuake.
No damage TO buildings was reported here.
Fortunately the ignal service sesmOsco
was i'll position, and accurately recorded the
first tremor oI the earth, which was at for:y-six
IN nuteS and fourteen seconds after two O'Clock
This instrument is not Intended to measure the
extent vi time during which the trelnOrs con-
Ilnued, but simply To record the first disturb
ance. the instrument was reset several times,
however, and recorded as many as eight trenorS
in half an hour. This seisnoscope is situated in
the physical laboratory OF the signal service,
in the basement OF one OF the buildings on u
street, and is fixed upon pillar extending into
the ground, SO That nothing Uut movement
OF the earth can affect IL. IL is IN charge OF Mr..
Marvin, OF the signal service, and It's record
yesterday Was sing uiarly exact. The instr ument
IL inclo,.d in a Uox with glass front, and the
h,l IN - m lamar
needle Is swung in such a manner that any
motion OF the earth commu heated TO
the pillar upon the side of wnich the Seismo-
scope Is fixed, will be exaggerated by the ex-
treme p int OF this needle. Wien the instru-
meDL is set the lower emu Of the needle, which
point OF another and smaller needle, which is
fastened below. TIE disturbance vi the earth
throws the suspended needle from its rest on
the y. int OF the other needle, resulting in
closing an electric circuit. THIS instantly stops
large CLOCK In the Office In the adjon.
is not nOLiceu an electric bell simultaneously
announces that an unusual disturbance has al.
fec.ed the SeismoScope. glance AT the clock
shows the exact moment wnen the tremor ar
rived. 1t viii be readily seen, therefore, that
the seismoscope in use simply registers the ar.
Was the case yesterday, is obtained by reset
ting the sei>inoscope and the cUck, and u simi-
lar register is made.
Mr.. Aionzo Ben, 931 F street northwest, In O
note dated yesterday says: about $50 p. m.
to-day Ieit u distinct shaking vi my desk, ON
ne third floor OF 93I street northwest. was
Whiting at the time, and recos uized the vibra-
lions similar To those experienced in August
last. should judge their duration at from
three TO nve seconds"