Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-06-02
EARTHQUAKE VISITS
FOUR-LAkE REGION
Distinctly Felt by Many in City Though Few
Suspected Real Cause--Little
Excitement
Movement Touches Four States But Is Most
General i'm Illinois and Southern
Wisconsin
Interesting Incidents Connected With Expert
ences of Citizens---Dishes Ratified and
Petals Shaken From Flowers

the motion was an east and west di.
rection. | believe it will be found that
| this was the tail-end of some big
| earthquake, although it is possible that
| 1t occurred in some part of the world
where it would not be observed by
man. | noticed that the movements of
the earth were those indicative of an
earthquake and that it worked up to a
climax"
Dean Collie said he had noticed
other earthquake shocks in Eeloit. tut
this was the llost severe he had ever
| observed. The last one was in 1896.
In the house Of .. J. johnson. 4 clock
was stopped by the shock Clinton.
Rockton, Shirland, Roscoe and other
small places all report the quake was
felt in their vicinity
The shock was felt in Monroe, Wis,
shortly after o'clock.
Shocks Observed at Lake Geneva.
Two distinct shocks which were
more noticeable than any earth vibra-
ton in the 10 years during which the
observatory has been established, were
felt here said Prof f. b. Frost, di-
rector of the Yerkes observatory at
Lake Geneva. THE disturbance start
ed at S:37 a m, and its duration was
minute and half. We may make
some correction in our time tonight.
The motion was north and south.
Though the tremor was not notice.
able or The ground. in the building it
was distinct and on the third floor
was pronounced, Some of the staff
were eating breakfast and the water
and milk on the table was Jared to
the extent of splitting. Many persons
have telephoned us. making inquiry,
but so far as I can learn no damage
has been done 1t Is not in our line
to account for the phenomenon"
Communication is Interrupted.
During the period of the vibration
in Milwaukee, it was almost impossi-
bic to get correct telephone connec-
tions owing to the swaying of the
wires against each other. At Rock
ford, Illinois, all the college but! lings
rocked violently. MANY persons ex-
perienced difficulty remaining on their
feet.
Al Joliet, chairs ard other light OBJ
jects were overturned and at Dixon
gas fires We're shs zen out.
The shock passed through Sterling
Illinois. and Whites de county at s:3S
O'Clock. One shock was distinct and
although no heavy damage resulted,
people rushed from their homes in
fear Reports from outlying districts
are slow in coming III because of wire
troubles but indications are that the
shock did considerable damage in the
vicinity of Tampico, Erie and Other
small towns in the southern part Of
this county
Tbs t.brations lasted Is seconds in
Cedr Rapids, Iowa. They were most
seye.e at Coe college. causing students
TO rush from the fourth floor of the
building.
In Illinois.
Cities in Illinois reporting the shock
are Lamont, Joliet, Lockport, River
dale, Downers' Grove, Orland, Napier
vile, Evanston, Peoria, Kewaunee, Au-
rora, Rockford, Bloomington. Dixon
and Galena, besides many other small
er cities. Burlington and Dubuque.
Iowa, and South Haven, Michigan. felt
the shocks distinctly In the Alichi
gan city windows were shaken and
! china was broken by the vibrations.
Small Fires Started.
Several small fires were started by
the oyerturning of stoves and many
chimneys were RACED. Aurora, H., is
said to Lave suffered particularly in
this respect.
In Chicago the shock was generally
felt, but in great majority OF cases
was attributed to ordinary causes.
such as the passage of street cars, ele-
waited trains, blasting in distant quar-
ries or the passage of structural iron
ON big trucks through the streets. 1t
was not until newspapers made their
appearance with the story that the
public learned that they had passed
through a natural phenomenon.
Damage in Chicago and elsewhere
was confined to the breaking of dishes
and ornaments shaken from mantel
pieces or tables No fires Of material
consequence wee reported. In the
outskirts OF the city several small fires
were started but were extinguished
by he householders themselves