The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-03-17
Seismic Disturbances, Accompanied by
Low Rumblings, Felt All Through the
Puget Sound COuntry===NO Damage Has
Been Reported

At Sis last niSht the severest
earthquake shock in years was felt
in Seattle. Three distinct shocks
We're noted. and the unusual violence
OF the vibration occasloncd fright.
and in some instance. almost panic.
A large congregation IN the Church
OF the immaculate Conception mar
rowty escaped the dire results Of a
pantc. when the shock struck the
church It shook the whole building
severely. and especially the balcony.
a womOn's terrified scream brought
the congregation 20 It's feet and a
stampede began. The cooi-headed-
ness % the ushers and their excel
lent mana cement. however. stopped
the stampede before the crush at the
doors had become dangerous At all
the churches where the regular
"wednesday night services were be-.
ing held there were similar expe-
rienccs. and at the smaller theatsrs.
which were open. the audiences were
startled. although they remained In
their seats.
In the large apartment houses and
family hotels women and children
ran shrieklng from their rooms and
into the street. and FOR some time
after the shock frightened groups
were gathered IN the streets and In
Railways In fear OF a repetition Of
the disturbance
The fright OF patients In the hos
pitfalls was pi,iablc. and In many
cases the condition % the sick WIS
made much worse by the nervous
panic that seized the patient The
nurses were kept busy quie,inz and
soothing the sick. many OF the pa
tients leapins from their beds In ter
ror.
! In the more solid structures Of the
city the shock was most severe.
Heavy brick buildings. lend them
selves more readily Il he earth vi
hrations than do the lighter and
lower structures. In many OF the
one-story wooden houses the earth
auake was felt but slightly. while in
The tall office buildings the disturb
nee Was alarming In the New
Iotk and walker buildings book
cases were JOstied from the walls
and thrown back again, and loosely
placed books fell 20 the floor. while
chandeliers ratified and shook 20 Sc
yereiy ar 10 loosen and break the
plaster about the fittings on the cell
Ing. The plaster on the walls In
several offices was cracked. and IN
several drug stores bottles we're
shaken from the shelves and broken
on the floor.
Many families were az supper. and
dishes and bottles were turned top
sy-turvy. while tho frightened diners
Jumped 20 their feet and rushed out
o. the house.
Many persons who have lived long
IN the earthquake belts have COM
mented on the disturbance. and all
declare u 10 have been a very ae-
we're one. even IN comparison with
Some % the shocks IN the equatorial
none. A South Carolina man teie-
phoned The Star last night that the
shock was such as would have
shaken tho teeth from an alligator
IA hia home state. although earth
duakes are Of pretty frequent oc-
currence there.
West Seattle residents were badly
frightened. II would appear that the
shock was felt more severely there
than On Seattle proper South Seattle
siso reports a bad shaking UP.
The waterfront felt the disturbance
distinctly. vessels az anchor were
tosaed about on tho big uudulations.
and tht steamer Resale. tied up at
the dock. was shaken violently. ali FER
timbers quiverinE with the vibrations.
DR.. Gordon. % the geological depart
mcnt az the University. states that
the center q The disturbance could not
base been near Seattle. as the vibra-
tons were lateral after tho fashion ~
the .eLEolinR rlpples that follow the
throwing ~ a stone IN the water. Had
the center % the shock been near Sc
attic, there would have been q YER
Teal motion Accompanying the lateral
motion. u u quite probable that the
disturbance occurred On the vicinity
u Mount Rainier.
The guests Of the Lincoln hotel were
badly frightened. Ii the upper stories
the effect % the shock was alarming.
Bfio-a-brac Tell from the walls and
the Chandeliers were shaken violently
The guests rushed down the stairs 10
the ground floor IN great fright.
Queen ANNE hin was affected Sc
verelY. Windows and doors ratified
and china was shaken from shelves
and broken. A rocking sensation. like
that q rolling ship. was cxDsni
enced.