New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-24
Continued on third page.

The statistics of the destruction OF lie by
earthquake compiled by the celebrated seis-
mologist, Professor Milne, and mentioning
only the most notable instances are appalling
In India in 1898, 10000 persons were killed by
a single shock, four-hfths of them in single
city. Japan lost 100000 at ore time in l7o3
In 1869, $4,000 were killed at Messins; in 1888
$1,000 and in 1908, probably 100000
The perfecting OF instruments for the pur
pose of recording movements OF every kind
in the surface of the earth has vastly extend
ed our knowledge Of the character OF earth
vibrations and enhanced the value Of deduc
tons affecting the theory Of earthquakes, said
Dr. Hovey.
mo large part Of the surface Of the globe
seems to be entirely stable" he added, but
certain regions or zones are much more likely
than others to suffer earthquakes.
IF we study map of the world upon which
their location has been plotted, we find in the
Western Hemisphere broad belt OF seismic
activity extending from west TO east through
the Mediterranean Sea, Persia. the Southern
Himalayas and the Sumatra- Java group OF
islands. A branch zone stretches from the
southern end Of the Caspian Sea northeastward
half way across Asia. This belt has furnished
more than So per cent of the shocks.
"A seismic belt practically encircles the Pa
chc Ocean, the principal points in it being the
Japanese Archipelago, Alaska, California
Southern Mexico and Central America and the
northern and southern Andes. This belt has
given Al per cent of the earthquakes.
IN the Western Hemisphere, in addition to
part OF the circum-Pscihc belt Just men
tioned-the belt that has produced III per cent
of the carthquakes-there are the West INDIA
Islands and the mountains OF Venezuela form
ing seismic zone. Earthquakes mostly Of
volcanic origin have visited many Of the ISLANDS
of the South Sea. The major portions OF Al
RIGA and South America remain blank upon
such map, probably because little is known
about their sesmicity"
What is the greatest area that has been a.
fected by an earthquake3" DR.. Hovey was
asked.
That OF Lisbon, l755, was felt from North
ern Africa on the south to Scandinavia on inc
north, and to the east coast Of North America
on the west an area estimated by Baron Voc
Humboldt at four times that OF the whole Of
Europe.
The Andean earthquake of 1868 shook Sc
vercly strip of country 1000 miles long. The
modern seismogrsphs have given pronounce
records OF earthquakes whose origin was ee'
tainly not less than 5000 miles distant-uuV
world shaking events"
will we be able to foretell earthquake
with any degree OF accuracy such as IS l''
quently done by the Weather Bureau d.
Hovey was asked.
1T has not been possible yet TO deter'n"s
the periodcity OF shocks or TO predict WIN
any degree o. accuracy the nme OF me o''"'
renee OF an earthquake. Some earthquake ~
gions are subject 70 frequent shocks, WIZ,
others experience them only at long lnter's',
The horror OF experiencing an esruiqus''
has been set down by Mr. f. S. Lyman WV
was in the Hawaiian Islands some years Ss0'
when there began series OF earthquakes
the southern TANKS of so-cslled "quie' W.
cano"
First the earth swayed to and ITO n0"
north TO south, then from east to west W.
round and round, up and down, ana hnsnV
every imaginable direction, tor seVe'Si W."
utes, everything crashing around and the u'e.
thrashing as il torn by hurricane ana NV
was a sound as OF mighty wind II was ~
possible to stand; we had to 81, on the grou'D'
bracing with hands and feet to keep from '.
ing rolled over. The villages on the Shore We
swept away by the great wave that ru'"s'
upon the land Immediately after inc cav
quake" ,,,
1t is difficult to imagine anything S00S'
which one would be more thankful Tor aoss"s.
information than an earthquake IN Ne~ "