The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-18
JOHN BULL JARRED
''TIGHT LITTLE ISLAND" SHAKEN
BY A SERIES OF EARTH
QUAKE SHOCKS.
BIG BUILDINGS RACKEE

LONDON, Dec. 17-Great Britain is in
the thrOes of genuine and unpFe-
cedented sensation. An earthquake,
the most violent ever experienced in
this country, has shaken every shire
from Durham to Surrey and from Lon
don to the Welsh coast. The subter-
ranean disturbance was first noticed
at about $50 o'clock this morning, and
lasted from four to thirty seconds. At
many points two distinct shocks were
experienced.
The most severe shocks were felt at
Cheltenham Lane, Ledbury and Dean
Forest. The earth-shaking was ac-
companied by a loud, rushing sound
Buildings were violently shaken. furni-
ture was shifted, doors were thrown
open and pictures and other ornaments
were upset. The inhabitants were
panic-stricl1en and fled from their
houses.
The earthquake also visited Birming-
ham and other various points in Shrop-
shire and was SO violent in Worcester
and the county surrounding that city.
Houses rocked and furniture was over
turned.
The shocks were followed by a trem-
or or the earth, and were accompanied
by rumbling sound The greatest
alarm prevailed everywhere. Chimneys
were overthrown, and windows. etc.
were smashed.
At some points, persons on the coun-
try roads were thrown down and a
number of people were thrown out Of
their beds.
Hereford cathedral was injured.
There the dull rumloling beneath the
earth's surface was followed by two
loud crashes and a terrible lifting and
rocking. The panic at Hereford was
so great that one woman died of fright.
The people rushed wildly into the
streets. Many chimneys Tell crashing
into the thorouhgfares, and all the
pinacles of st. Nicholas church toppled
over and part of the pinnacle OF the
cathedral fell to the ground
At Liverpool, the earthquake was
preceded by heavy thunder and fear
full hail storm.
In London, the earthquake was only
slightly felt. A singular phenomenon
occurred at Bridgenorth, near Shrews-
bury, previous to the disturbance The
streets seemed to be on fire, and there
was violent report, accompanied by
shaking of the earth.
People who were going abroad in that
vicinity say that they were for time
unable to walk, owing to the vibra-
tions.
There was very great excitement
among the rustics about Poole, who
thought that the end of the world had
come.
Houses shook for nearly a minute
at Bristol and Clifton, causing much
alarm in those districts.
The railroads employees at Crewer re-
port that they felt the rails oscilIata
At Evesham, the shock was followed
by brilliant light in the Sky.
Up to Tuesday. the weather in Eng
land was unusually mild; but on Tues
! day, there was a sudden change to
severe frost, which was followed by
dense fogs and snow on Wednesday.
In the mining districts it was at first
thought that the shocks were the re-
suit Of colliery explosions
The disturbance was experienced
with great violence at Warwick Castle
The earl of Warwick was awakened
| and felt his bed lifted as though by
some force beneath it, and the furni-
ture Of his room was shifted
The inhabitants of Slough were
awakened by a shock so severe that
they thought the Aiddlesec powder
factory had exploded. A large area Of
ground sank near Stockport, and at
Melton-MoWbray the noise which ac-
companied the earthquake shock re-
| senlbled a discharge Of gun cotton un-
Ger water Many curious experiences
We're reported in connection with the
earthquake.