New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-13
SANDY HOOK SHAKEN UP.
INDUCING IN A SMALL EARTHQUAKE. :
FELT ONLY WITHIN NARROW LIMITs-A SCARE FOR

FELT ONLY WITHIN NARROW LIMTTs-A SCARE FOR
WATCHERS AT TELEGRAPH STATIONS
The three shocks of earthquake which the
telegraph OPERATOR at Sandy Hook experienced i've
minutes after midnight Friday night seem to have
been confined within an unusually limited area. They
were fet as far eastward Manhattan Beach, Coney
Island, as FAR souh Asbury Park and far west IS
the signal station the Naresink Highlands outside
OF these limits far has recorded observa-
tion OF earthquake vibrations. The two operators at
Sandy Hook and Navesnk Telegram he'd 10 each other
ana found that their sensations and experiences were
identical They both thought the wave OF vibration was
from the south southeast At the same time WIN
dow panes were rafting and walls shaking, and chande-
ers moving ike penduums in the Blk hotels Of Brighton
and Manhattan beaches. But Long Island there
was no rumbling sound, and this was marked feature
OF the phenomenon along the Jersey Shore
The shocks that appear to have been the most forcbe
were those felt by E. r. McCann, the night operator in
heower Sandy Hook the abandoned fort and the
Ordnance Proving Ground. He told TRIBUNE reporter
that at the instant when the vibration made itself
felt he was pointing his glass tho incoming steamer
richmond, OF the Old Dominion line. The first shock
lasted more than second apparently and was accom-
panied By rumbliDg sound like distant thdnder His
first thought tha United States steamship. which
he had OF served minutes before, firing for
pilot but he knew this could not be the because
United states vessels not allowed to engage pilots
st tho shaking OF the tmbers OF the tower, and the
rafting OF the windows, and the dull rumbling, all re
minded him forciby OF the effects produced upon the
tower by the firing of heavy guns at the neighboring
ordnance ground. The night clear and reasonably
light from the Tho vibraory motion seemed to
come from the southwark perhaps from the south
east. About minute and half aiterward there came
two other shocks In quick succession but neither Of hcm
so formidable tho first ana the rum bling sound was
much fainter The direction appeared to be the same
Mr.. McCann asked by THE TRIBUNE reporter II he
remembered the earthquake whc happened at the end
OF the OF 1851 He said that he ild and that
that occasion the vibrations violent and 80 long
continued that the acid tilted out OF the batteries
This time there nothing OF that sort.
Mr DAWSON tie assistant Keel er O the principa lgnt
house OF sandy UOOS, watch Oh Friday night,
and his exI erences precisely those OF Mr.. Nc
Cam. He the time sitting in the west room OF
certain that the OF vibration came from the
Eastward. He could not possibly make any mistake
about IT, for the vibra II began in the eastward walls
and passed through the house rafting the Windows
toward the west as it disappeared He also Thought IL
artillery supposed that secret trlals
being made NJ the Ordnance Ground.
All the agree that there was no wave In the
caused by the vibration. The ocean slept calmly IN
the moonlight and the surf beat placdy upon the shore
Sandy Hook, there time elthcr Vlrplo
turn oil the waters plain yelling OF the rollers
that I'm and broke upon the sand. There was
"A series ~ three shakes with attendant rumblng and
that all. II The by potness which was universally
ted two be Utilized for the present
OCCASION then earthquake OF Friday night purely
local. and caused by the slipping OF sratned rOcks
upOn other rocks. This occurs nearly every year. ana
is primarily caused by expansion contta3toE lt
To he supposed therefore, that the stratet rocks upon
which rest the sands OF Long Islands beaches
slir ped inch and the grinding OK one layer
upon the other produced the rumbling sounds