The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-17

in the alluvlum OF the valleys These fis-
sures occur near river banks and such like
places. and are due TO the forward move
ment Of the soil where no mass exists In
front Of the wave 10 carry on its motion.
somewhat analogous TO the forward move
ment OF waves OF water when they reach
the shore.
The assures in cases ike this are quite
superficial and the sand and water is
merely jerked out OF them. of course dur
ing the actual progress OF the shock only.
IL often happens that persons in describ-
ing earthquakes state that sand and mud
are constantly spurted out OF the assures.
but IL Is my experience that statements OF
this sort are quite misleading. There is a
tremendous agitation of everything. Ev-
cry particle OF the earth seems about TO
open. One does not know whether he is
stepping-if he be outside OF a dwelling
upon ground that viii not separate be-
meath his feet or whether the next step
will not precipitate him into assure or
unknown depth.
In this latest earthquake which the En-
glshman and his clever instrument cap
tured, the loss OF life was very small.
Only one child at Dhubri and few per-
sons al Goalpara lost their lives. In this
latter place, one of the assures 10 which
reference has been made opened directly
beneath one side OF the bazaar. resulting
also IN filing the street and the adjacent
houses with sand. The most frightful fea-
ture OF this affair was the rise OF the river,
which in an instant seemed TO increase
eight feet in height, although fortunately
the waters thereof did not reach the
bazaar Had they done so the loss OF life
would have been dreadful. AS Il was, peo-
pie ran about in all directions shouting
and crying and appealing for aid, calling
on what particular gods they worshped
for help. and suffering all the agony that
precedes dissolution under such frightful
circumstances.
The English savant who captured the
earthquake" seemed to have an intuitive
idea that some seismic disturbance was TO
occur so he put up A roughly constructed
seismoCraph for observing the shocks.
The instrument was H. principle that
which Is dut 10 Prof. Ewing. q Tokyo
and gave a trace OF the horizontal move
raent OF point on the surface OF the earth
on piece Of glass. If one cares 10 follow
this idea out, Il IS not 2 difficult task 70
see how readily the course OF the earth
quake Itself was indicated upon II. the
subsequent shocks being marked by little
lines ike the hairs on 4 caterpillar.
The way 10 show exactly how this curl
Gus quake curved and twisted IS 20 take
prints on a piece Of sensitive paper from
the glass and then trace them. In the
print which / send you herewith the
times. which renders It possible to observe
how exceedingly minute the actual move
ment Of the surface IS Yet the queer naes
On the seismogrsph glass were actual de-
Hneations OF severe earthquake shock.
BY this very shock which you can OBJ
serve, a small portion OF our crops were
DESTROYED by mud and sand Every house
and structure that was built OF stone was
simply shaken 20 pieces but this WAS not
so strange when It IS considered that the
buildings were never constructed for the
purpose OF withstaading earthquakes
Great saapeless humps OF stone were laid
in very inferior mortar. and therefore one
Sc rot surprised ths, buildings built as
they are came down. IN fact. IL r. doubt
ful II the best Ok masonry would have
stood the shock.
In the cemetery here huge slabs OF gran
ita or marble were terked several inches
out ~ place Ny opinion IS that the
seo-ks were due % 4 movement along the
line OF what fEe scientists call fault which
means a peculiar condition OF the earth
running aloBg the southern side % the
Khasia and Caro- hills. from near cachar.
on TIE east, % ard beyond the Bramah-
pusra. II you .ook az the map % Assam
ysu w..l see that the southern boundary
of these hflix IS a very straight iine II <
were possible foT y0C 20 personally visit
this section CT India you wouiG also OBJ
FerYe taae TIE rocks are Dent Gown Win
seeming sudaenuess along this lire in =
cs~vs ard 70 the south - e the plains q
Sy.het and Lower Bengal are certainly a
reEiau - unusual formation
An cid fact which comes 20 mind Is the
PECULIAR sound which enc often bears IN
this reg.cn which is known as ths "Barisai
Eurs No one has ever been able .
fathom fhs cause % these reCfarkzbIs
nolsss whlch have besu a puzzle for many
years Il Is now suEgested by those who
have studied ne matter IL every detsll.
that these roIse< are really connected wit1
zee Sane sattaTr2neaa movement walsh
resaatE sometimes 81 earthquakes. and that
;aey ars caused ~ slight slips. as = were
on the ezrth whicA are Sufficient - >auss
actual shocks o earthquake. The sounds
ere hears are sometimes coEnpaaled or
foIlewea BY q very sight SHOCK, bgg more
offen without sny saOek- Al sa tines the
Sounds are almost exactly ike thos@ re-
suitias from tas discharge ot asAyy Astll-
lery-
Few persons outside % Tn8la suppose
Ira, ga.s Is = eountry greatly troubled oy