The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-03-24

outside as in. In the present instance
the peril of remaining indoors was
doubled if not trebled by a number OF
hanging coal oil lamps that were set
any moment The vibrations lasted about
four minutes, and growing fainter finally
passed away a couple of days later this
time at 11:15 Q. m, a second series or
shocks visited the city. preceded by a
sound as of nuttered thunder. the roll Of
distant artillery-the writer who occupied
stone building, was aroused from deep
slumber and turned or an electric light
at the bedside. but was unable to gain
the exit owing to the, violent swayins
motion given to the walls and floor. Two
or three flying fugitives were killed in
the streets by falling chimneys. shutters
and tiles, many buildings were injured
and a number overthrown.
TerrOrs Increase.
One would think that among the Jap
anese at least. the constant menace would
breed more or less Indifference. This is
not the case, however, and repetition but
intensifies their terror 4 close observer
claims that no familiarity with Them can
make one apathetic; there being this pc
culiar aggravation attending volcanic Cd
erations and their eldest progeny, earth
quakeS that while the solid earth, asso-
ciated in the mind with all faith in the
stability of things terrestrial vibrateS and
heaves under your feet, it is imposSible
how far it will go. or when and how of
ten it will recommence. The state of
doubt and suspense into which one is
thrown is, PERHAPS the most diSquieting
result But the Japs must he resigned to
this also. for they occur with such fire.
quency. the smoking and heeving volca-
noes noe, remaining eyer at T3eir forces
state of the country, physically cOnsid-
ered may be described as one OF chronic
CONFUSION, the quiescent state being an
ion fr,%n IN ha
that takes the four corners of a house
and shakes it as would a terrier that
shakes a rat before he throws it bruised
and mangled to the EARTH
Fire, Sand and Stones.
Thousands of the shocks are of no
great intensity, and yet of sufficient force
TO wake one from the soundest sleep
with an indescribable sense of insecurity:
for the most frightful earthquake and
volcanic eruption on record in Japan
commenced by many preliminary shocks
of no Importance, and seems to have ex-
ceeded in its horrors and wide destruc-
ton the earthquake of Lisbon at the 9TH
er end of the chain On that day an
earthquake, with loud thunderS, shook
most of the houses at Tokyo 0hen called
Yeddo) to their foundations. the intensity
of the shocks momentarily increasing
until the crest of the mountain was torn
open. and fire and fame appeared. fol-
lowed by such an avalanche of sand and
stones. tossed high into the air, and car
ness of night came on, the only light be-
ing from the lurid glare of burning lava
and devastating flames. Vast chasms
opened before the terrified inhabitants IN
their flight into which thousands in their
panic are said to have been precipitated-
The shocks did not entirely cease until
the twelfth day, and were felt over a
space of $50 miles. 1t must be admitted
that there is enough in this account.
drawn from Japanese sources and the
accounts of eye witnesses, to make men
not to the manor born. wonder what
spirit of unrest stalks in the earth be-
meath them feet. The same volcanic cen-
ire has given as late as last June, a. sig
nal of undiminished vigor.
Birth of an Earthquake.
So some evening when the air is sultry
and a sobbing wind sweeps suddenly
through the pine trees, signing as it goes,
with menace of a coming storm, an un-
easy feeling takes possession of residents
here And when the lightning and the
rain follow quick with something alto
gether peculiar in the roll of thunder-a
long, even, monotOnOuS peal neither
seeming to approach nor recede-neither
rising or falling. but ceasing just as it
began, the thought comes into every mind
IAN earthquake. G.. H. SMELL.