, 1892-09-14
AN EARTHQUAKE EXPERIENCE.
From the Germantown Telegraph

OF St. 1nOmaS, DANISH W0bL 1nuleb. AZ WIGS
atycical tropical day, very bright and warm;
and after quarters and inspection" all
hands sought to make themselves comforta-
bic by finding a shady spot and keeping
absolutely quiet and still. The flagship
having hoisted the unexpected signal for
The Monomgahela to prepare for sea, and for
her commanding officer to repair on board, 1t
created quite q cOmmotion on board said
Mononqahela, and i'll an instant the complete
peacefulness and lassitude was broken up,
aud all hands were busy furling awnings,
hosting boats, bending gear, getting up
steam, and making all the thousand-and-o one
preparations necessary before u ship can put
to sea.
The officers of the ship were all wondering
what was the occasion of her departure, anG
when the commanding officer returned he in
formed them that the ship was detailed to take
the Commissioners, who were appointed by
the President Of the United States ito negoti-
ate for the sale to our country of the islands
of St. Johns and st. Thomas, over to st.
Croix whore the Governor of the Danish West
Indies resided.
At about s P. NJ. the MonOngahsl@ anchored
in the roadstead Of St. Croix and landed her
distinguished passengers. The next day,
Monday, November Is, was very warm, but
there was nothing particular to distinguish 1T
from the general run of tropical days. The
old ocean was about as quiet as it ever be-
comes, there being hardly a ripple on the
surface Of the water. At about 8 p. NJ, just
AZ the ward-roOm officers had finished dinner,
the ship commenced to shake and tremble
all over The sensation was very much like
that produced by blowing down tbs boilers
though the bottom valve-so much so that
enc of The officers exclaimed, "Why, / thought
Aln., 49,, -. &on,,, ~ tho uhINP Tho ava
cutive officer answered that the fires were
hauled the night before and that there must
be something wrong, whereupon a break was
made for the deck. When that was reached
and a look taken at the shore, every one
realized that the trembling of the ship was
caused by All earthquake shock, for the IN
hobltants Of Frederiksted (the name of the
town at the western end of st Croix) could
be seen running towards the hills back of the
t wn. while their cries Of fright could be dis
tinctly heard OH board,
What further confirmed the officers in this
opinion was, that on top of the Episcopal
Church steeple there were, on rather had been,
four small minarets. three of which had been
twisted arc nd by the shock, while the fourth
had been completely overthrow. One Of the
officers remarked, well. this is a wonderful
country, where small pox, cholera and yellow
fever abound, and now here is an earthquake
in addition, but thank God, we are all right,
Let us 90 ashore and see what we can do for the
people" They started for the ward-room to
get ready, hut no sooner had the leading one
placed his foot on the ward-room ladder than
the ship commenced trembling all over, and
in a much more violent way than before.
1t was then realized That the ship was not
through with it, and was not quite so safe as
Lad been imagined.
The commanding officer being on deck, and
the order having been given TO slip the cable,
hoist the lib, and make sail SO as to try and
get the ships head ont TO sea, the executive
officer and navigator started forward, and as
they passed the pivot port. where they
obtained their first glimpse Of the sea, they
saw q sight which was enough to territy the
bravest man, for it seemed as if the bottom
Of the sea was being forced up through the
water with such terrific force that if it hit
the ship she would be knocked into pieces.
A brig was anchored off the port beam, and it
looked as if she were going down bows fore
most fortunately her chains parted or she
would have done SO.
Now, in order that those who have the
happiness of passing their lives on shore
may have some idea of the terrific force with
which the water was running of the lend,
il will be necessary TO describe how a maD-of-
wars chains is secured. The chain, after