The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-01
-Four shocks al WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3L-At 9:55 o'clock, to-
night, the desks in the Associated Press Office in
the Corcoran Building, began to vibrate in a
peculiar but unmistakable fashion, suggesting
an earthquake A few minutes later the janitor
reported that the upper stories of the building
were rocking back and forth, and the night
manager of the Western Union telegraph Office
made a similar announcement, with the addi-
tional information that the clock on the western
wall of the room had stopped. Telephone mes
sages from gentleman connected with the AS
socisted Press office, who lives on Massachusetts
avenue, and from other points in the city, re-
ported that the ornaments on mantel pieces were
rafting. The telegraph operators in Atlanta, a
few minutes before this, had notified the Wash
ington operators that the Shake was coming,
and to look out for it, but no attention was paid
to the warning, as it was regarded as a joke.
Two shocks occurred, the second being Of longer
duration and more severe than the first, and a
few second later 1t was felt in all parts of the
city, and created considerable CONSERVATION
Several meetings in progress in various parts of
the city were broken up by the frightened mem
oers thinking the buildings were falling
and rushing from the halls into the
streets AT Albaugh's Opera house the large
audience became frightened by the shaking of
the building, and stampede ensued. The oc-
cupants of the galleries, mainly gentlemen,
jumped 80 their feet as soon as the shaking be-
gan. and rushed pell-mel down the stairs, fall
ing over one another in their efforts to escape
from the building, and stopped for moth
ing until they reached the street
The audience in the lower part of
the house was composed principally of
ladies, but they were less frightened than those
IN the galleries. and very few left their seats
The performers went on with their parts, and
quiet was soon restored. No one was injured
People on the streets did not feel the shock, and
the first knowledge they had of the occurrence
was obtained from the sight of the frightened
inmates of houses rushing from them into the
streets
The officials of the Signal Service Bureau re-
port that four distinct shocks were felt here
The first began at 954 and lasted forty sec
onds; the second shock was felt at 1904.
and was followed By another at
1910 and by fourth at 1890
predicted in the Republican, several days ago,
that lawful and terrific" earthquake shocks
would be reported about this date He says it
is possible that there will be another about
o'clock tomorrow morning. When the
shock came to night Mr. Capen was in the
Republican Office, writing his predictions for to-
morrow. AS soon the building began to shake
the editors, reporters and compositors on the Re-
publican and the Post, which are in the same
building, all ont but Mr. Capen remained
at his desk in blissful ignorance of the fact that
his predictions had been fulfilled.
Mr.. Sevellon Brown chief clerk of the State
Department, was in Albaughs Opera-house when
the stampede occurred, and it is probably due to
his presence of mind that no lives were lost
When the panic took possession of the galleries
Mr.. Brown stood up in his box and shouted to
the people to keep their seats, and by his cool
ness prevented the occupants of the lower part
sOf the house from following the people of the
gallery