The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-06-16
EStim2tes Place Locality of
Disturbance About 5000
Miles Away.
WASHINGTON GIVES
FIRST NEWS OF IT
Five Distinct Tremors Felt, Three
of Two Minutes Each, Says
Father Torndorf.

A series Of five violent and important
earthquake shocks are recorded on the
seismographs Of the world as having
occurred during the early hours Just
before dawn this morning.
Just where they were located cannot
Vet he ascertained but all records thus
far addUced showed that they we're of
an unusually violent charac cter and con-
tinued for an unusual period of time.
The initial record Indicating the
shocks was reflected by the seismo-
graph Of the Georgetown University OBJ
servatory under the Rev. Father Fran
els A Torndorf
Father Torndorf was instrumental in
furnishing the washington Times in its
first edition with all the details possible
TO gather telling Of the disturbances.
Simultaneously the news was sent
broadcast by The Times, the details first
gained being quickly confirmed.
Following the report made by Father
TOrndorf came another from the United
States Weather Bureau. Then came dis
patches from other observatories
throughout the country, including those
conducted by the order OF Jesuits in
various sections Of the United States,
and the station operated by the Coast
and Geodeic Survey at Cheltenham, Nd
Shocks Last Two Hours.
The records show series of violent
and important disturbances Of the
earth's surface beginning at 1:45 a. m
ana continuing up to Al o'clock this
morning
There are five distinct and plainly
traceable shocks recorded upon Father
Ioindcrts seismOgTaph. All Of them
snow a heavy roll Of the earths crust
After each Of these five heavy shocks
there was series or ripple Of dis
luI pdLces which were equally plainly
traced upon Father TOrndOrfs scientific /
instrument, ana upon others throughout
the world, but which showed that the
disturbances were suosiding temporarily. |
Al the conclusion Of each ripple how
ever, the disturbance began with re-
newed violence and IL was not until
after dawn that the siesmograph show
ed a complete cessation of the shocks
Estimates made by Father TerndOrf,
followed by those OF others in charge
of seismographs, showed that the
shocks occurred d some point be
tween 1900 and 400 miles from this
vicinity.
The exact location Of the disturb
snces, however, had not been ascer-
tained up 20 a late hour this after
noon
II is not at all improbable that they
occurred under water in one of the
big seas. However, even that assump-
tion had not been cleared up this
afternoon.
Father Torndorf's seismograph showed
q record which he reported as follows TO
The Times this morning:
The preliminary tremors began at
1.43 a. am and were followed byi
two heavy shocks, one lasting from
;79 a. no. 20 2;g2 a. m. and the other
from 2.o3 a. N. until 2:05 a. M. The
trcmOrs continued until 2:0S a. m, when
another distinct shock was felt which
lasted until 2:1O a. m"
Shghter Shocks Felt.
"A series Of slighter shocks were then
felt which lasted until 2:46 O'Clock. when
another heavy shock was recorded. last
ing from 2.51 until 2:52, the tremors con-
tinuinE in all until All O'Clock
The total time Of the shocks was tuvo
hours and twenty-cight minutes. The
direction of the shocks was mainly east
and west and are estimated 20 be be-
tween 800 to 400 miles away"
Shortly after Father TOTndorf made
public his record, the Weather Bureau
also made known some facts regarding
the tremOTs.
Following these two statements others
OF a similar character were teIegraphed
ABOUT the country and from abroad. But |
most Of them told the same story,
rather TorndOrf's record appearing to /
be the most complete Of all received.