The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-09-09
EARTHQUAKES.
Probably the Most General Agi-
tntiOn Of Terra Firma that this
Country Has Ever Expe-
rienccd.
Largo Buildings Sway Back and
Forth and Panic SeiZes the
People, But Nothing Sc
riOus Results.

Onthe night OF the 31st OF August, earth
quake shocks were felt in nearly all the
Eastern, Central and Southern cities, VIZ:
New York, Chicago, Washington, Cincinnati,
Detroit, Memphis, Nashville. St. Louis,
Richmond, Raleigh, Louisville, Cleveland,
Columbus, Dubuque, Philadelphia, etc..
etc.
Prof, Seman Ncwcomb, OF tho Nautical
Almanac, furnishes the following figures re-
garGiing the earthquake: First shock occur
red at 9:53 and lasted twenty seconds; the
second about 9:5lh, and lasted until 9:59.
The officials OF the signal service bureau
report that four distinct shocks were felt
In Washington.
The first began at 9:54 and lasted forty
seconds, the second was felt at 1904 and
was followed by another at 1910 and by
n fourth at 1890. Prof. Capen, the wealth
or prophet OF that city predicted that ''aw-
full and terrific" earthquakes would be re-
ported.
There is a marked similarity In accounts
from oil points struck by the earthquake,
though incidents are varied. The follow
ing from Washington will answer for many
other places:
At 9:55 at night the desks in the ass ocia-
ted press office In the Corcoran
building began to vibrate in PEE
culiar but unmistakable fashion that sug-
gested an earthquake. A few minutes
later the janitor reported that the upper
stories of the building were rocked
back and forth, and the night man.
ager OF the Western Union Telegraph
office made similar announcement, with
the additional information that tho clock
on the western wall of the room had
stopped. Telephone messages from
gentleman connected with the as-
sociated press Office, who lives on
Massachusetts avenue, and from
other points in the city reported that the
ornaments on mantelpieces were rattling.
The telegraph operators in Atlanta lew
minutes before this had notified the Wash
ington operators that the shake was
coming and to look for it, but no atten-
ton was paid to the warning, as it was
regarded as joke. Two shocks oc-
Cured, the second of longer duration
and more severe than the first, and a few
seconds later it was felt in all parts OF
the city, crea ting considerable consterna-
ton Several meetings in progress in va
rious parts OF the city were broken up by
the frightened members, thinking the
buildings were falling, rushing from
the halls into the street. At the
opera house the large audi
ence became frightened by the shaking OF
the building and stampede ensued. The
occupants of the galleries, mainly gentle
men, jumped to their feet and rushed pell
nell down the stairs, falling over one
another in their efforts to escape from
the building, and stopped for nothing
till they reached the street. The audienc e
in the lower part OF the house was COM
posed principally OF ladies, but they were
less frightened, and few left their seats.
The performers went on with their pieces,
and quiet was soon restored. No one was
injured. People on the street did not
feel the shock, and the first knowledge they
had of the occurrence was obtained from
the sight OF the frightened inmates OF the
houses rushing from them into the streets.
The Western Union operator at Bowie,
Md, twenty miles from Washington, tele-
grahed that the earthquake cracked the
walls OF his station and stopped the clock.
In the upper stories of the tall Western Un
ion building in New York the waves were
plainly discernable, and persons walking
about experienced the sensation as OF fall
ing. At Columbia, S. c., there were ten dis
| tinct shocks, but none 30 heavy as the
first which lasted three minutes. The
streets were filled with people getting away
| from their shaking houses.
At Atlanta Ga, the city was thrown in
| to a state of the widest excitement. The
shocks were accompanied by q rumbling
noise and followed one another in quick
succession. The scene at negro churches
was one of utmost confusion, negroes going
on their knees, feeling sure that the judg-
ment day was at hand.
| AtLangley, Ia, the earthquake destroyed
q mill dam, and the water washed away
the roadbed. Atrain rushed into the flood,
and the engineer and fireman were drowned.
Two shocks were felt at Bloomington,
Ill. Desks, furniture and chandeliers were
| swayed. The latter oscillated north and
south.
Probably the worst scare at Cincinnati
was in the composing room OF the CONNER
cial. Gazette office. There the swaying ter
rified the printers, and dozen or SO
jumped out OF the windows to the roof OF
the adjoining building, distance OF six
fest.
At Detroit the wave went from west to
east, and was felt in all parts Of the city,
especially in high buildings. Chairs, tables,
pictures and chandeliers were shaken.
At Memphis it's motion was from north
to south, and lasted ten seconds. 1t had
a rapid, oscillating movement. Great con-
sternation was felt.
At Richmond, Va, the shock lasted
about three minutes, and men, women and
children who had retired jumped from their
beds and rushed out of doors.
At Raleigh, N. c., buildings rocked, walls
cracked, floors broke loose from their sup
porters. chimneys fell and lamps were over
turned. The motion OF tho earth was
very decided.
At Wilmington, N. c., they were very &c.
vere and came near wrecking several build
ings. No such excitement was ever known
here before. The shock rang church bells.
1t also threw down plastering and rang
door bells in houses.
At Cleveland, Ohio, people left the
theaters and ran into the streets. AT
the opera house stampede for the
street took place. Nearly everybody
made rush for the doors, but hap
PLY no one was severely injured.
At Dubuque, Iowa, people at the tops
OF high buildings felt the building vibrate
violently. Printers in the fourth story Of
the Herald building ran for their lives I'd
the foot Of a sixty.foot staircase, and the
audience in the opera house was very much
frightened. Many ran from the building
Jamestown, N. Y, was severely shaken
The shocks lasted twenty seconds. The
people rushed into the streets. Chandeliers
fibrated and several persons experienced
nauseau.
People in every part Of Savanna, Ga,
were terrified and rushed into the streets
and sought the open squares and Other
places.
A vnNrnru rvrr opnrYTrn