The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-05-23
HOW
INITIALS act
DURING
EARTHQUAKES

mcmDeTcO, duuOuuCcU IAdI Oh TIC CVS
OF the great earthquake at Karatagh.
in Central Asia, on October 20, all
the dogs of the region set up howl
ing, horses stampeded, and cattle
beloved with fright. This report is
In singular confirmation of some gen.
eral principles as to the conduct OF
animals during earthquakes laid down
In an article in a recent number OF
the Dutch review, Vragen van den
Dag.
The writer OF this article reminds
US Of the frequent contention thai
some animals are able to feel in ad-
vance certain conditions Of the
weather or other natural phenomena.
and that they are thus, in this re-
spect, better endowed than man.
Whether this power has been lost
to man in the process of civilization.
or that it was never possessed by
him at all, we would not undertake
to affirm Although animals are nos
to be wholly regarded as weather
prophets, still by a close observation
of their behavior under particular cir
cumstances Of the kind, something
may be gained in this line of human
knowledge.
In connection with the fearful ca
tastrophies Of recent date In Italy.
California, and elsewhere, which, like
SO many others of like nature, will
long retain hold on human memory,
attention has again been called to
the fact that many animals give In
timations of such great disturbances
in advance by certain particular and
often unusual conduct. 1t Is particu-
larly such animals as have their
abode under ground that often indi-
cate, days before the event, that
something unusual in nature is about
to occur, by coming out of their hid
ing places under ground into the
open.
Aelian mentions that, in the year
1913 before Christ, five days before
the destruction of Hehke. all the
mice, weasels, snakes, and many 9TH
er like creatures, were observed go.
ing in great masses along the roads
leading from that place. Something
similar was noticed. also, later.
though not to 80 marked an extent as
In the case mentioned by Aelian.
This leaving Of their subte-ranean
abodes by underground creatures on
such occasions might possibly be ex-
planned by the emission Of various
malodorous and noxious gases during
these disturbances of the earth.
But not only do animals living un-
der ground furnish indications that
something out Of the ordinary is about
to happen. The larger animals on
the surface, such as cows, horses.
asses, sheep, and many birds. even.
seem to get premonitions Of particu-
lar natural phenomena and events.
Thus 1t Is related that in 1895. dur.
ing an earthquake. the cattle at
Naples and its neighborhood set up
q continuous believing some time be-
fore the event, at the same time try
ing to support themselves more firm
~ by planting the forefeet widely
apart; the sheep kept up continu-
GUS bleating. and hens and other
fowl expressed their restlessness by
making terrible racket. Even the
dogs gave many indications Of un-
easiness at the time. The actions
Of animals observed during the great
earthquake of 1888 seem to have
been most remarkable. Thus the
bowling OF the dogs at Messma be-
came 80 uncomfortable that men were
sent out with cudgels to kill them.
Their noise was most marked during
the progress Of the earthquake, while
it was dihicult to pacify the animals
In the vicinity for some time even
after the cessation of the shocks.
Dogs and horses ran about mean
while with hanging heads, or stood
with outstretched legs, as II aware
OF the need planting themselves
firmly. Horses that were ridden ct
the time stopped and stood still with
out orders. trembling 50 at the same
time that no rider could remain in
the saddle. Scophus tells the story
OF = cat during an earthquake at Lo-
oris which set up most dismal cat
erwauling ct the approach Of each
new shock. meanwhile constantly
jumping from one point to another.
Tho ROSTERS kept up q continual
Growing, both before and during the
earthquake. In. the fields Scophus
observed hares 50 under the influ-
ence Of the terrestrial disturbance
that they made no attempt to escape
end seemed In no way disturbed BY
his presence. A flock of sheep could
not ~ kept ON the right road, not