Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-19
CAUSE OF THE EARTHQUAKE
Prof Hayes Says it is Due to Slipping Of
Surface Rocks.
RESULT OF LOCAL CONDITIONS
other scieHtists Agree that a.
Has No Connection with
the Eruption of
Vesuvtus.

WASHINGTON, April 1s.-The possible
relation Of the earthquake in San Francisco
to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius formed
the subject of much discussion among
scientists in this city today. None OF
them was willing to advance any argu-
ment which would tend to connect one with
the other. In fact the officials of the
geological survey declared that there was
no relationship whatever, both being local.
Prof. c. W. Hayes, director Of geology
OF the geological survey said:
THE San Francisco disturbances are due
to the slipping Of the surface rocks to
adjust themselves to changed conditions
! inside the earth They have no relation
ship whatever to the eruption of Vesuvius.
The interior of the earth is in a molten
state except in the region of the vol
canoes, but IL you go down a distance of
| sixty or seventy miles the rocks are prac-
! tically in fluid state from the immense
pressure on top of them. They act like
liquid and they flow to adjust themselves
to changed conditions. But when you come
nearer the surface where the strata are
| hard and brittle, the slipping of a part of
the earth's crust along the line Of a fault
will give you just the conditions that at
tended the attack in San Francisco"
Seismic Disturbance in England.
| LONDON, April 19-The calamity which
has befallen the people of San Francisco
! overshadows in interest all other topics in
! the newspapers here this morning. All the
papers publish long special dispatches de-
scribing the terrible effects Of the earth
quake. together with descriptions of the
| city, its beauty, etc, and Interviews with
! San Franciscans resident in London-in
| fact anything calculated to bring home to
the English reader realization of the stu
pendous disaster. Following so closely the
eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the earth
quakes on the island of Formosa, the ques-
ton is anxiously debated whether there is
any connection between these events. Few
scientists have yet expressed an opinion
on the subject.
Prof. John Milne, whose seismic observa-
tory at Shideon on the Isle of Wight re-
| corded a disturbance at 1870 o'clock
| wednesday afternoon, English time, ex-
presses the opinion that the earthquake
had no connection whatever with the vol
canic eruption. f. W. Mauender, super
intendent of Greenwich observatory, on the
contrary considers that It in all probability
was a direct consequence of the activity
OF Mount Vesuvius, whose eruption doubt
less started a severe wave movement
! through the crust Of the earth. He con-
siders, however. that there is not sufficient
reason to connect the catastrophe with dis
plays of solar activity and comments on
the comparative rarity of earthquakes in
the United States.
! DR.. Davidson of Birmingham. another
seismic expert obtained valuable records,
but could suggest no connection between
the Vesuvius and San Francisco disasters.
All the morning newspapers printed edl-
torials deeply sympathizing with the
American people and victims Of the catas-
trophe. The Standard says: I'VE are
we'll convinced that there will not be lack
ing in this land so happily removed from
these sudden calamities an impulse to
succor our brethren in distress"
Prof. DavidsOn's Observations.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 1s.-Prof.
George Davidson of the University of Cali
fornia, formerly connected with the United
states geodetic survey, said tonight:
The earthquake came from north to
south, and the only description l am able
TO give of it's effect to me is that it seemed
like terrier shaking a rat. was In bed,
but was awakened at the first shock.
began to count the seconds as l went to-
| wards the table where my watch was,
being able through much practice to closely
| approximate the time in that manner. The
shock came at 5:l2 O'Clock. The first sixty
seconds were the most severe. From that
time on IL decreased gradually Tor ABOUT
thirty seconds. There was then the slight
| est perceptible lull, then the shock con-
tinued for sixty seconds longer, being
any part of the preceding minute and a
half. There were two very slight shocks,
which 1 do not record, at 5:l7 and 5:27 At
$50 p m. there was a sharp shock OF sew
| eral seconds.
Regarding the cause maintain, as I
always have, that It is the earth cooling
on the inside. The cooling brings about
contraction, which is bound to create a
readjustment of the earth's surface.
Vesuvius having Connection with this dis
aster, but that is rank nonsense. Ny
sismograph was twisted out Of shape by
| As to telling whether there will be a
| repetition of the earthquake, can no more
predict that than l could have predicted
the ones OF today.
Not Related to Vesuvius.
BERLIN, April 19-Prof. Archenhold, di-
rector of Treptow Astronomical observa-
tory. expresses himself as very doubtful
regarding the idea that the eruption of
Vesuvius and the earthquake at San Fran
cisco were of common origin.
shock Felt in vienna.
VIENNA, April 1s.--A telegram from the
government observatory at Laibach says
that from 2:25 to 1853 o'clock this afternoon
the seismograph recorded distant earth
quake OF great force and destructiveness.
The indications showed that the disturb
ances were much more violent than those
which recently occurred in Formosa.
AS the difference in time between San
Francisco and Vienna is nine hours six
minutes, II follows that the disturbance
shown by the seismograph at Laibach prac-
tically synchronized with the earthquake
shock experienced at San Francisco at
5I3 a, m.
Vibration Recorded in PittsburE.
| PITTSBURG. April 1S-That the vibra-
tons caused by the San Francisco earth
quake were distinctly felt here today was
demonstrated by a large Foucault pen
dulum which hangs suspended from the
ceiling of the Physical laboratory at the
Carnegie Technical school. At s:52 this
morning this pendulum suddenly changed
| its usual motion caused by the movement
OF the earth and began to swing ra0idly
back and forth. The incident created
something OF a sensation in the school.
Tidal Wave IA Predicted.
ROCHESTER,, n. Y, April B.-"Another
and an even greater disaster than the
earthquake threatens San Francisco. A
tidal wave would not be an unlocked for
accompaniment 10 the present seismic dis
turbances," said Prof. II. L. Fairchild OF
the University OF Rochester today. "'Much