The news & observer., 1905-11-19

entire globe. In the central tracts. the
solid ground seemed TO fose it's con-
SistenCe, and the earth rose in waves
which could be seen to approach like
rollers on SeaCoaSt. but with the eX-
traOrdinarY velocity Of two miles Il
second. At NalbGri. the singular spec
tacle was witnessed of rice-fieldS undu-
lating rythmically during the transit Of
the seismic swell. Even at Calcutta,
255 miles from the centre, the oscilla
tiOns of the soil caused buildings to
rock like. ships ploughing the sea
1t is further mentioned that on
juno Is, 1896, the seismic waves
washed upon Japanese shores, and
$1,000 people were drowned in one
day. In April, 1902, seismic rever-
berations extended for LAO miles
from Salonil1a. 1t is regarded by ,le
authorities that earthquakes show
planetary activity, and often of
most violent kind. | give one more
citation from the Edinburgh Re
view"
our globe is. bv its elasticity, kept
habitable. The separation of sea from
dry land is thus and no otherwise
maintained; the alterations of cleva-
ton and subsidence manifest the con
tinual activity Of this reserve of ener-
gy. The dimensions of the globe We
inhabit depend uDon the balance of
pressure and eXpansveness.
In 1887, two octave volumes were
published in England from the pen of
Rev. Charles Davy. 1t contained re-
markably well written description If
the dreadful earthquake at Lisbon
the chief city of Portugal. 1t is most
graphic and full, and nearly fills Jif-
teen pages A merchant who saw it
wrote the fine account. The earth
quake occurred at between nine and
ten o'clock on the morning of Novem-
Der 1st. 1755. 1t was caused by sea
waves or powerful vibrations ! have
before me the volume containing the
account and it is highly interesting,
but ! have not space at my command
to draw upon it sufficiently to make it
intelligible. More than 10000 persons
perished, and the extensive and opu-
lent city" was made "a vast heap of
ruins. 'Some thousands of families
which but the day before had been
easy in their circumstances, being now
scattered about the fields, wanting
every convenience of life, and finding
none able to relieve them" The table
furnished by Major de Ballore in a
recent volume shows that 1892
quakes have been felt, and 10,499
epicentres have been known in the
seismithic regions Of the world. The
article quoted from several times IS
elaborate, scientific and instructive.
! wish to congratulate the News and
Observer upon having such a capitaily
equipped. and thoroughly competent
a correspondent as my friend, Hon.
Benjamin Franklin Grady. of Samp-
son county. l desire to thank him tor
his most timely and admirable paper
OF the 9TH inst, that appeared IN the
News and Observer. 1t is excelieat
from start to finish. 1t is lucid. 1ofce-
tul and unanswerable. 1t rlchly de-
serves to be read by all North caro-
llnians of intelligence. and to De CIR
culated in all the well-mealllng news
papers of the State. 1t IS true IN
every statement. and is falthtul 20
the South and this State, ana 10 the
Iacts. | thank God for such an aple
hlghly honorable. truthful cltizeli 50
ready and SO capable so Tar as my
information extends he IS by reason
or breadth and accuracy OF lillorffla-
ton and real ability the foremost Rep
resentative North Carolina mas had IN
the Z. S. House of representatives IN
quarter of a century. When he was
retired by a bad custom after four
years faithful. efficient service he was
gaining in reputation among the mem