The Montgomery tribune., 1909-10-01
TWO EARTHQUAKE
SHOCKS ARE FELT
TREMoR REPORTED IN ST. LOUIS
THROUGHOUT MISSOURI
AND ILLINOIS.
MANY AROUSED FROM SLUMBER
Disturbance Characterized BY Univer
slty Scientist as Most Violent in
rs Ycars-Thousands Alarmed
Mo Damage or Injury.

st. Louis, Most. Louis and
vicinity was convulsed early Monday
by an earthquake, which, for violence,
was one of the most severe known
throughout the Middle West in a quar-
ter Of a century. Thousands, routed
from their sleep. rushed into the
streets
Houses rocked, windows ratified and
the seismic upheaval caused general
alarm. No one was injured and
there practically was no damage to
property.
There were two distinct shocks,
each varying from 10 to Is seconds in
duration. Reports by telegraph and
telephone show the tremors were OBJ
served distinctly at Madison, Ind; Mt.
Vernon, Springfield Edwardsville,
Lelleville, Granite City and East st.
Louis, H., and ST. Charles, Mo.
There was panic in the East st.
Louis Jail when the building began
to rock. 1t took the TALLER half an
whom were women.
No Official Record Was Taken
There is no seismograph in st.
Louis and no official observations of
the length and intensity of the phe-
nomenon are obtainable.
The upheaval travelled from south
east to northwest. according to re-
ports. While the vibrations were not
sufficiently intense to do any prop
erty damage, number of unusual in
cidents followed in their wake.
Burglars at Belleville, H., were
frightened away by the quake as they
were robbing a safe. The trembler
stopped the town clock at st. Charles,
Mo-, and moved ahead the hands of
the Catholic church clock at Webster
Groves 10 minutes.
Out in st. Louis county the chick
ems raised such chorus as never was
heard before by residents of Webster
Groves, Kirkwood and Clayton. Bur-
glar scares were numerous.
The two distinct shocks were about
10 seconds apart. The second, sharp
er than the first, was followed by two
heavy rumbles, like deep peals Of
thunder, which rolled from the south
east to the northwest. The sky was
cloudless.
The seismic disturbance travelled
slowly, as if it were the exhausted
portion of an earthquake far away.
While no damage TO property is re-
ported, the shocks swayed buildings
and rocked persons in their beds, but
no one was injured.
The first report of the quake came
from Carondelet, the extreme south
eastern limits of the city, at 3:45
a. m.
Almost Immediately the telephones
at central headquarters began to ring.
Patrolmen in all parts of the city
called up and asked what the disturb
ance was.
Niaht Chiefs Wife Frightened.
Mrs. C.. G. Gillaspy, vile of Night
| Chief Gillaspy, directed her family to
dress and prepare for any emergency.
| Then she telephoned to her husband
at police headquarters for informa'
| ton He told her it was an earth
quake and instructed the family to &c
back to bed. They went.
Thomas Foerstil, 1929 Clayton ave
nue., felt the disturbance and conclud
| ed it was due to burglars. Barefoot
| ed and in nightgown he seized the
family musket and began a burglar
| =, 1Ad bf
futile quest he learned the truth.
| Several Jewish families in the Ghet
| to in terror ran into the streets ant
| prayed, believing the end of the worlt
had come. Neighbors reassured them
and induced them to so in.
The quakes routed sleep for resi-
| dents of Webster Groves, Wellstor
and Kirkwood. The clock in the tow
er of Webster Groves was so affected
that the customary o'clock bell rang
| 10 minutes earlier than usual.
The tremors awoke all the chickens
and hardly had the last vibration
passed when Webster Groves wa'
treated to one of the most tremendous
chanticleer choruses ever heard II
st. Louis county.
.Kirkwood friends of Lieut. Hess o
Central district telephoned him o
their impressions. At Wellston th'
druggists will do rousing business
in quinine because Of the bare head
and feet that were exposed Will
amazed householders sought to learl
what had befallen them.
,oses s1o mn suit Aoainst Widow.