Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-09-03

Alexandria, "a
Entered at the Postotce at Alexandria, Virgna, O.
seCond-ciaSS matter.
Earthquakes Of q Century.
The first earthquake in this country re
ported to have been felt in the Eastern and
Middle States was that of November IS, ,l775
1t was the mos. severe that ever occurred in
the United States, and was believed to have
been promulgated from the same centre ss
that OF the one which destroyed Lisbon
about thirty days before: 1t began in Mas.
sachusetts with q roaring noise like that Of
thunder, which continued for minute
Then followed shock, with long, rolling
swell, like that Of an immense sen. wave, and
men everywhere in the fields ran to trees
and fences to keep from falling. After sew.
era small shocks, there came quick hori
zontal tremor, with sudden Jerks and
wrcnches. 1t died away after two minutes
but numerous shocks followed during The
next month. In Boston chimneys were
thrown down, FISH in the harbor killed, and
new springs opened. Nine hours afterwards
tidal wave twenty feet high, that mad I'm
doubtedly originated at the source of the
earthquake, reached the harbQr CT ST. Mnr.
tins, in the West Indies.
IN ISL, continuing until March, 1912
there was the famous earthquake of New
Madrid, Mo-, along the valley of the Mis-
sissippi river. Along the mouth Of the Ohio
for three hundred miles the ground rose and
sank, forming lakes in various places
and again draining them. Fissures
in the earth, running always northeast and
southwest, were formed and mud and
water spouted out Of them as high as tree
tops. The. Disturbances ceased March
20, 1912, coincidently with the great earth.
quake at Caracas. None are recorded from
that time until 1870. The sourca of this dis.
;urbance has been traced with some prob
ability to the volcanic region from so to 100
miles northeast of Quebec; from this region
the shock spread TO st. John, New Bruins.
wick, and thence was felt westward to Chi
cago and southwark to New York. The We.
locity of the wave Of shock was about Il 900
feet per second. The occurrence of the
shock felt at Quebec was telegrapbed to
Montreal by the telegraph operator in time
to call the attention of those at the latter
city to the phenomenon about thirty seconds
before the shock reached them
In California the earthquake of 1852 de.
ssroyed one of the Southern missions. That
OF March 2G, 1872, was tho most severe that
has occurred there during many years
Special damage was caused in San Francisco
by the cracking Of the walls of fine public
buildings. In Nevada the mining regions
suffered in 1871 by the destruction of Lone
Pine and other settlements.
In Mexico disastrous earthquake occur
red June -, 1858 It extended throughout
the valley of Mexico, deinolshng the auue
duct that supplied the capital city with
water. 1t was felt in most of the surround
ing provinces, where it did great damage,
and was in some places recorded a. being
the most severe that ever occurred there.
The last noticeable earthquake along the
Atlantic coast occurred at ten minutes past
two in the afternoon OF August 10, 1854 That
was one ofthe most severe shocks experienced
on this continent within the present century.
and though its effects were far-reaching. no
fatality was recorded. The greatest s,ruct
ural damage was done in Hartford In
other places chimneys were toppled over
and other slight breakages resulted. In
New ork clocks were stopped, and people
| rushed terror-stricken from buildings in all
parts Of the city, which shook for some mo.
| ments. Of Fire Island q deep, rumbiuy
sound was heard by those on board the
yacht Penguin.
Ihe most recent earthquakes felt in the
United States previous to Monday evening
were those of last week, Friday and Satur-
| day mornings, the former being felt onlv at
| Charleston, S. c., and the immediate neigh
borhood, and the latter, somewhat more Sc
we're, extended into North Carolina. These
occurred within twenty four hours of much
heavier shocks along the shores of the East
ern Mediterranean.
At midnight, on June II, 1856, q strange
tremor was felt at Sandy Hook and Coney
Island, at first believed to be due to ar
earthquake, but afterward vaguely attribu
ted to the firing of guns on shiphoard of
| shore. No shock was felt elsewhere in the
| United States, but in the West Indies pro
| nounced shock was felt on the island of An
tigua, the day before, at which time earth
quakes occurred in Poctiers, France, and
terribly destructive volcanic outbreak wai
| experienced in New Zealand.
On January 26, 1882, severe shock O.
earthquake was experienced at Centrevile
Cal, preceded by heavy shower of rain.
On February Ii, 1882, shock Of five min
| utes' duration was felt at Lake City, Col
The shock was also violently felt at Capita
City. in the same State.
On December 19, 1882, two slight but dis
bluCtlS pOlCcplloIc SHOChS OF elTt0QuaKe G
| lasting ten seconds, were felt in Dover, n
H., accompanied by rumbling noise. The,
were also felt in Rollinsford, Rochester
Contoocook, Concord and other towns in tn
| State. The shocks travelled from east T.
| west.
On January q, 1881, an earthquake last
ing about ten seconds was felt at Bath, Me
and throughout the neighboring country
AT first there was a loud report, followed b,
rumbling sound, as of a heavy team pass
ing, over the frozen ground. Windows rat
tied, and distinct oscillations were felt
On November is, 1878, shocks were fel
in the Mississippi Valley over any area q
fully 10000 square miles. The region G
greatest disturbance was along the Mi:sis
Missouri from Glasgow to Lexington
On September %, 1882, a slight shock wa
felt in St. Louis. A rolling noise was foI
lowed by twelve distinct vibrations at Inter
walls Of second. The first vibration wa
| the rnoat yiolapt The