Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-09-02

mond, Washington, Baltimore and TROY
N. y. Major Powell Of tho geological
survey, Washington, says that there IL
line Of weakness in tho crust of tho cart
marked by displacement, and in In
neighborhood Of this displacement /
found tho principal water falls, whicl
constituted the whter powers of the Atlanti
slope. at will DO interesting, +" he said
''to discover tho relations of the point o
origin of this earthquake 10 this line O
Displacement Of weaknesa.n
The officials Of the signal service burea,
report that four distinct shocks were fel
at Washington. The first began at 9.5i
and lasted 40 seconds; tho second shocl
was felt NJ 1904, and was followed b,
another ut 10, 10, aud by another at 10. so
Dispatches from principal cities relate th,
time ut which the shock was experienced
and the scenes which followed.
IN THIS CITY.
The shock was but slightly folt In vii
mington, and comparatively few peopl,
noticed IL at all From all accounts il
was most perceptibly felt IN the neigh
borhood Of Sixth and Washington streets
where at least one family leaped from
NiA1th btNNf AAA7hhN hAtbbtu Nilu uOWI
into the street. In the same vicinity is 4
house where the shock WINS noticed by
one OF tho occupants an athletic young
telegraph operator, who thought il was
simply breeze shaking the window,
which ratified quite sharply. The Indy Of
the house also felt the shock, but thought
II was caused by the athletic young opera
tor practising with his heavy dumb. bells.
The shock was distinctly felt in the
Telephone Exchange, nj Fourth and
Market streets; in the rooms Of the Young
Mems Republican Club, King street
above Eighth, and at various other places,
but in no place WINS the vibration very
severe. Some of tho policemen on night
duty felt the earth tremble, but others
did not notice il at all II seems, there
fore, that Wilmington escaped with n
very slight shake.
A dwelling on West Seventh street was
considerably ratified by tho shock of the
earthquake. a large parlor lamp WIS no
shaken that the heavy shade threatened to
fall of and probably would have dropped
had not the lamp been removed and
placed on the floor.
1T WAS THE "QuAKE."
EVERY EVENINGS Middletown CORE.
apOndent writes About 10 o'clock last
evening those of our citizens who had
gone TO the upper stories of their homes
were startled by the houses shaking, and
M yet the cause Of the ahock is unknown
here. Some say earthquake, whilst others
believe the dupont powder mills have
blown up. What WINS iii s.....-+-
FRLT AT NEW CASTLE.
Tho correspondent OF EVERY EVENING
Mt Now Castle says; Quite number OF
our people report having felt n slight
shock of earthquake about 10 o'clock lust
night. Parties who went TO Pennsgrove
also say II was felt thore.
.. MILFORD WE'LL SHAKEN.
A special dispatch TO EVERY EVENING
from Milford snys A slight shock of an
earthquake passed over this place last
night at 10 o'clock, shaking the beds and
knocking over humps In many houses in
South Milford. Il lasted about two min.
utes. z.-.
AT REHoDoTu DEAou.
REnoDoTH BEACH. Aug. 3l.--The resi-
dents of this usually quiet town were
thrown into state Of intense excitement
Mt o. 05 this evening by shock of earth.
quake OF about 10 seconds duration. The
hotel was badly shaken; chairs were
moved Sfa ssSassl lights were -extin.
guished.
MIG TIME IN WASHINGTON.
WAsHINdroN, Aug. 31.-The earth.
quake shock was very marked here. The
first tTemor was felt few minutes before
10 o'clock, and was followed by a much
more violent one 10 minutes later. The
quaking was SO alarming that hundreds
of persons in panicky condition made
their way from buildings TO the street.
At Albaugh's Opera House large audi
ence sat enjoying the "Masootte, The
first quake was noticed by many, but
caused no excitement. When the prin-
cipal shock came the effect was instan-
taneous. Most OF the audience sprang to
their feet with blanched faces, ladies
tutoring EXPLANATIONS OF fear. A loose
chair occupied by heavy man in the
gallery was tilted NO much that il broke
and tho man fell 10 the floor. This
added to the alarm and the crowd was on
the verge Of what threatened to be q
serious panic.
Mr.. Stevellon Brown, chief clerk of the
state department, was sitting with some
friends in box. He had the presence Of
mind TO call upon the orchestra to play
at the same time assuring tho frightened
people that there WINS no danger. The
musicians promptly responded, and there
being no repetition of the shaking, quiet
was soon restored. Many had started fol
the exits, but nearly all returned to theil
seats and the play was resumed.
AT the hotels there was much conster
nation for time. A lady ut the llarriI
House went into Mysteries, her loud crieI
contributing 10 the general alarm. Per
SONS who were in the upper part of higl
buildings reported the swaying no yiolen
that they were almost thrown from thei
chairs. Shutters ratified, floors and wall
creaked, and the manifestations were sucl
as TO try the stoutest nerves. The opera
tors in the Western Union telegraph
building left their instruments ant
hurried down three steps ut a jump. Th,
demoralized printers in the offices Of TN
Post and Republican threw down thei
IS icksn and rushed to the street.
A conference of Democratic politician
WAS being held At the rooms Of the Con
gresHiOnal committee. Tho earthquake
broke up the meeting entirely, thos
present seizing their hats and evincinR
desire TO foe the wrath TO come, In tin
residences some who had retired earl.
Hprang from their beds and ran out o
doors to find their neighbors doing I'll
same thing. Washington has not boon 81
excited since Mr.. Cleveland was inangu
rated.
IN OTHER PLACES.
a. phiIa1ala1ltfu tha ultnnlF fNInInI
felt all over the city, and many building
were severely shaken, though no damng
was done
NEw YoRK.-A very perceptible shock
lasting about III seconds, WAS experiences
here at 9.57 this evening. IL WAS felt Il
the operating room of the Western Uniol
Building, where the switch board wa
swayed for second or two, and in tn
Associated Press rooms, in higher stor,
OF the Western Union Building, the I'M
dulations were quite startling. Person
while walking experienced a dizzy feel
ing with sensation of falling.
CmoAGo-The first shock began Mt OK
aotly 9O1 p m, and lasted six or sevel
seconds. Its motion was from west u
east and there were about three or fou
vibrations to tho second. The effects O
the shock were not generally noticed il
Chicago, except in the upper stories O
tall buildings.
ST., LOUIS, Mo.--A very distinct shoe
was experienced in this city at 9 O'Clock
p. m, and lasted for about quarter of
minute. Tho guests occupying the uppe
floor Of the Southern and Lindell hotel
rushed downstairs badly frightened, feai
ing that some catastrophe was about t
occur.
CHARLESTON, W. Wat 0 SIS p. m. &c
night the shock was felt here. IL wa
,,ar., aa,,n,n Inati,,r, E,,llxy flraa fninutaf