The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-01
THE SHOCK IN THIS CITY.
Wheeling slluken up ms Shc Never VT
Shnkeu before,

Wheeling SlInkeh up nS Hhc never was
shaken Before.
Just after half past nine o'clock last
night Wheeling and her vicinity were
shaken quite severely and the people
greatly alarmed by an earthquake shock,
the same one felt elsewhere, asreported in
the dispatches given above, The entire
community was thoroughly alarmed and
thrown iuto state Of intenCe excitement
that lasted for some time.
To speak exactly Of the time the shock
was felt, II was about 1902 o'clock Eastern
Standard timc. The shock, wave, tremor
or whatever 1t might be called, appeared
to move as from north to south Or vice
versa, as indicated by articles hanging on
the walls, and lasted for fourteen seconds
as nearly as 1t could be timed.
About four minutes later there was an
other shock, but 1t was very mild one,
lasting only four or FIVE seconds, and was
felt only by those in upper stories.
The first shock was very severe one,
and carried CONSERVATION to the hearts OF
nearly everybody. In several ingtanCes
the people became actually panic.atrlcken
and rushed into the streets, their fright
showing In their white faces and the look
OF horror on them. II would be hard to
describe the severity Of the shock; there
was rapid heaving 10 and fro, a throbbing,
like the pulsations OF some mighty heart
or II might be said to be rising and fall
ing, something such as Is felt on steamer
when mild breeze Is blowing the water
into white caps, 1t Get chandeliers to
swinging, g,CroCkery in pantries ratified In an
omnous manner, looking glasses swayed
under the mysterious and awful influence,
rocking Chairs were put In motion as il
by some invisible hand, and people In
all positions and In nearly every vocation
felt the awful swayinR.
The shock that was felt about two years
ago was mild and easy compared with the
first one Of last night. Then, too, the
feeling Of horror and fright created by
that shock was greatly lessened by the
fact that II took place In daylight, when
there Is always more ot aieoling OF se-
Curity. Last night people were awakened
out ofsouud sleep aud the darkness added
to the irlghtiulnCss Of the situation. At
the several hotels the guests In the
upper stories were very much alarmed,
and forgetting themselves rushed with
all speed 10 the ground floor. Numerous
clocks were stopped and light articles
were shaken from mantels In a number
OF instances. AT this office the com.
posing room force located Ia the third
story was badly demoraliZsd for the time
being, and number OF them dropped their
sticks and shot down the stairs at a
bteAkneCk speed At tho Public Build.
ing the State Press Association In session
In the Second Branch Council chamber,
nearly stampeded. The huge building
heayed UP anu down In an alarming
manner.
For an hour alter tho occurrence the
streets were filled with people talking II
over, relating thelr individual experiences
and feelings and advancing theories 90 to
the cause, These were Numerous aud
varied--some ridiculous and others
plausible. Tile newspaper telephones
were kept ringing almost constantly
aB people from all paris ot tho city called
up the offices aud either told Of the shock
In their section or asked for Information
concerning the heAvlng, A crowd soon
collected about the telegraph offices and
incurred for Information about the eatlh-
quake In other places.
Everyone was excited and Ayerse to
retiring until more was learned about
the terrifying event, II was O. vlsltallon
BuCh As Wheeling has never hadi and ! 10
to bs hoped che will never have another.
Tho feports from St0ubsnvllle, Brilliant,
Wellsburg, Bridgeport, BellAIte, points
out the neupasld aud from Moundsvllle,
especially the latter place, stated that the
shock Was severely felt, Windows were
reported broken In several oi these place
aud In parts ol this city,