The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-04-27
NO OFFSHOOT OF vESUvIUS
Professor Hicks Predicts That the
Mississippi Valley Will Feel
The Effects Soon.

on seismic disturbances, dictated the fol-
lowing, statement:
"The earthquake which brought ruin
to so many in San Francisco was caused
by an invisible settling or breaking in
of the earth's crust somewhere not
many miles from that city. 1t is not
very likely that the earthquake had any
connection with the eruption of Mount
Vesuvius.
MANY of the mountains in that part
of the world are still young as the
geologist would say. They are as much
unlike the old, gentle and softened Blue
ridge as great, ovcrgrown, husky boy
is unlike a fully developed and hard
ened man.
"They are expanding in some places
and contracting in others, though this
process is so slow that the changes can
not be measured in many generations.
But every now and then something gives
way in the bowels of the earth, an
immense mass settles, and though the
fall may be only "a foot or few inches
the Jar is so tremendous that great
buildings miles distant are shaken like
jackstraws.
"This is probably the explanation for
| the cause of the terrible catastrophe in
San Francisco If the earthquake had
| happened in Venezuela or in the West
Indies we would, with good reason, at.
| tribute it to volcanic agencies, but San
| Francisco is too far away from volcanic
| Influences 1t has been noticed that vol
canc disturbances. of any kind are usu'
ally accom- panied by magnetic or cleo
trieal disturbances, which i'll waves len-
circle the earth" ais' 2tlo
" Explains the Disaster. 80 i
Oakland, CAL, April 90 Professor
George Davidson of the University Of
California, formerly connected with the
United States geodetic survey, said TO-
night -.
"The earthquake came from north to
south, and the only description 1 am
able to give of its effect to me is that
| it seemed like a terrier shaking a rat.
| | was in bed but was awakened at the
first shock. l began to count the sec,
| ~ ,,roo,,+ {oott,,,,.,lc 4 Id to1,Ja whore
my watch, was, being able, through much
practice, to closely approximate the time
in that manner. The shock came at SIP
| o'clock The first sixty seconds were the
| most severe From that time on it de-
creased gradually for about thirty sec
onds There was then the slightest per-
ceptible lull, then the shock continued
for sixty seconds longer, being slighter
| in degree in this minute than In any
part of the preceding minute and half.
There were two very slight shocks, after
which | did not time. At 5:l4 o'clock
| recorded a shock of five seconds drra-
| ton and one at SIS of two seconds.
There were slight shocks which / did
not record at SLY and 5:27; at 6:5O
D. m, there was sharp shock of several
seconds.
Regarding the cause, / maintain. as
| have always, that it is the earth cool
ing on the inside Cooling brings about
contraction, which is bound to create a
reimbursement of the earth's surface.
81 have heard talk that the eruption
of Vesuvius had connection with this
disaster, but that is rank nonsense. My
seismograph was twisted out OF shape
| by the shock so that | have no record
| from that.
Gas to telling whether there will be
repetition of the earthquake | can
no more predict that than | could have
predicted the earthquake of today"
What Hicks Predicts.
ST. Louis, April l9.-Professor Ira r.
Hicks, the scientist, declares the earth
quake which spread disaster IN San
Francisco will be felt in st. Louis and
the Mississippi valley in few days Mr..
Hicks said that the seismic disturbance
in Frisco was direct result OF VIC
lent CONFUSION of the planetary sys-
tenn, cause that superinduced the re-
cent eruption of Vesuvius.
These disturbances he said, would
continue at intervals until June or until
the end of the summer solstlce.
81 look for a trembling at any
time" he said, for the disturbances are
bound to take place throughout the
world Spots on the sun that can now
be seen with the naked eye signify the
perturbation now manifested in the sol
ar system. They are the effects of
great upheavals, which are bound to af-
feet all the other planets"
Was Long Expected.
Madison, Wis.,, April 20.-President
Charles r. Van Hise of the University
of Wisconsin, one of the best biologists