The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-08
GIVEN A SHAKE.
Topeka Receives Two Slight
Earthquake Shocks.
Dishes Ratified and Some Clocks
We're Stopped.
NO DAMAGE is DONE.
Even Col. Jennings Didn't Feel
the Shock.
Government Instrument at
Baker University Not Yet Read.

An indistinct earthquake shock was
felt in this city at a quarter past six
O'Clock Sunday evening and by the
more observing it is said that there
were two distinct shocks following at
an interval of from ten to twenty sec
onds.
The shock was distinctly felt by
many people over the city who de-
scribed the sensation in about as many
different ways, though most Of them
agree that the disturbance was accom-
panied by a roaring noise not unlike
distant thunder. Dishes ratified IN the
cupboards and china in the closets
jostled against its neighbors and held
high carnival while the shock lasted.
Electric lights swung to and fro, while
in several instances clocks were stop
ped. Mrs. ThOrp, police matron, was
sitting in her Office at the time of the
shock and was disturbed by the rock
ing sensation which accompanied the
rumble which she describes as being
like the noise made by = heavily bad
ed wagon being drawn over d cobble
stone pavement; and at the same time
the electric lights swung back and
/ forth as if in a strong draft.
The guests at several of the hotels
about the city noticed the shocks, as
did many people over the city, who
are D0SlLlNE ItldI InGEG were Two us
tlnct shocks lasting but a fraction of
minute each and following in quick
succession. At the time of the shocks
the wind was blowing a gale and the
rafting Of the windows and other dis
UurbanceS were in many instances at
tributed to the wind by those who IN
reality felt the earthquake. The
shocks were in no instance so severe
that any alarm was felt, other than
the spookie feelings which took posses
r of he ~ on
when the dishes began to rattle ana
carry on in an uncanny way.
The shock was felt generally over the
eastern half Of the state and as far west
and south as Wichita, though the shock
was not as severe in the western portion
of its area as it was in the eastern por-
ton of the state. The first that Weather
Observer Jennings knew of the earth
quake was when some lady called up
the office in a frightened tone of voice
and asked to know what was going on
to cause the earth to tremble. Colonel
Jennings said. I must have been on
the way to the office on my wheel when
the shock occurred for did not notice
it at all and we have no apparatus in
the office for recording such disturb
aRces and knew nothing of it until
some time later when the telephone be-
gan to ring and then was kept busy
for some time explaining that did not
know anything about it, when it hap
pened, how it happened, why it hap
pened or whether it would happen again
and so on
There is but one instrument in the
state which is supposed to record such
disturbances. It is a government instru-
ment and is located at Baker university,
and is in charge of W. B. Keeling who
is in the employ of the government.
When called up over the long distance
telephone this morning Mr.. Keeling had
not heard that there had been an earth
quake and as the films of the instrument
had not yet been developed he could
not say as to the severity of the dis
turbance al that place The electrical
instrument used at Baker university is
not the one used by the government to
observe the workings of earthquakes
but has a small attachment which after
a fashion records any unusual disturb
ances of the earth. About four weeks
ago when the films were developed it