The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-17
SHAKEN UP.
Seismic Shocks in
Britain.
The Disturbance Occurred
Early Today.
Buildings Rocked and Furni-
ture Was Upset.
People Ran Panic-Stricken From
Vibrating Dwellings.
People Ran Panic-Stricken From
Vibrating Dwellings.
Shires From Durham to Surrey, From
London to Welch Coast Shaken.

| LONDON, Dec. 17.-Great Britain is In
the throes OF genuine and unprecedent-
cd sensation. An thquake, the most
violent ever experienced in this country,
has shaken every shire from Durham to
Surrey and from London to the Welch
coast. The subterranean disturbance was
first noticed at about 8 80 this morning.
1t lasted from four to so seconds and at
many points two distinct shocks were ex-
perienced.
The most severe shocks were felt at
CheltenbaIy Ledury and Deanforest.
The earth shaking was accompanied by
loud rushing sound. Buildings were
violently shaken, furniture was shifted,
doors were thrown open and pictures and
other ornaments were upset. The inhsb-
itants were panic stricken and fed from
their houses. The earthquake was also
Shropshire ana was violent in Worcester
and the country surrounding that city.
Houses were rocked and furniture was
turned over.
The shocks were followed by a treu. or
of tue earth and were accompanies by
rumbiing sound. At some points persons
on country roads who were going to
work, were thrown down and q number
OF people were thrown out OF their beds.
Hereford cathedral was in jured by the
severe shock felt at that place. There
the Gull rumbling beneath the earth's
surface was followed by two terrific
crashes and terrible lifting and rock
ing. The panic at Hereford was so great
that one woman died of fright.
People rushed wildly into the streets.
Many chimneys fell crashing into the
thoroughfares and all the pinnacles of st.
Nicholas church toppled over and part of
the pinnacle OF the cathedral fell to the
ground.
At Liverpool the earthquake was pre-
ceded by heavy thunder and a fearful
hailstorm. In London the earthquake
was only slightly felt. singular phe-
nomenon occurred at Bridgenorth, near
Shrewsbury previous to the distur bancc.
The streets suddenly seemed to bs on fire
and there was q violent report sccom-
panied by earth shaking. People who
were going TO their work In that vicinity
say they we're for q time unable to walk
owing to the vibration.
There was very great excitement among
the rustics about Poole, who thought that
the end of the world had come.
Houses shook for nearly minute at
Bristol and Clifton causing much alarm
In those districts. The railroad en-
ployes at Crewe report that they felt the
rails oscillate, and at Eversham the earth
quake shock was followed by brilliant
light In the sky. Up to tuesday the
weather In England was unusually mild
but on Tuesday there was q sudden
change to severe frost, which was followed
by dense fogs and snow on Wednesday. |
In the mining districts it was ct frat
thought that the shocks were the result |
OF colliery explosions and this belief |
prevailed for some time afterwards. The
was experienced with eroat |
violence at Warwick Castle The Ear
OF Warwick was awakened and felt his |
bed lifted as though by some force be- |
meath 1t and the furniture IN his room |
was shifted.