The Washington times., 1918-04-10
QUAKE IN CAPITAL
CAUSED BY EARTH'S
CRUST "SL|PP|NG"
tcontinusd from First Paxa)

tContinued from First Paxa)
a tiny mark on sheet of paper. Tn,
Intensity of the quake was measured
by the length of the mark, three
tenths of an inch.
Numerous instances of slight dam
age from the earthquake were re
ported today. Many windows were
broken, and dishes in some homes
were reported shaken from shelves and
smashed. ~
The earth tremor. which struck
this city at about 900 last night
was the most serious experienced in
this section since the quake which
devastated Charleston, s. C., more
than thirty years ago. The shocks
were felt as far south as Richmond
and Lynchburg. Va. and as far north
as Baltimore. although the disturb
ance there was almost too slight to
be noticed. The quake was most pro
nounced in the Piedmont section Of
Virginia.
Very slight Disturbance.
Father Tondorf described the dis
turbance as very slight. from the
geologIst's point OF view. He at
tributed 1t to "faultT in the earth.
the fault" extending from Massa-
chusetts along the Atlantic Coast
States as far south as South Carolina.
The exact center OF the disturbance
has not been located, but was at q
point about 200 miles from Washing
ton.
An old popular theory that the
earthquake was in some manner con-
lected with the storm raging over
this section today was shattered by
Father Tondcrf, who stated the quake
and the weather were in no way
interrelated.
The disturbance in this city took
the form OF one series of shocks,
lasting in all about three minutes.
The beginning was at 9 minutes and
I: seconds after nine. while the
shocks ended at Il minutes and 30
seconds after .. The heaviest shock
was the last, continuing about tive
seconds This was the one which
broke numerous windows and ratified
fishes and furniture, and sent many
people scampering from their homes,
frightened. In an effort to seek
safety.
Rumors that n big explosion in
'ome nearby munition plant, caused
~ German spies, Immediately found
REGULATION. These persisted for some
ime, despite assurances from George
own University and other place:
hat a slight earthquake was re
ponsible.
The Naval Observatory, the uni
ersity, the Weather Bureau. and
ut
lhone calls asking the cause OF tn
disturbance. Many people, attribut
ng the vibrations of their homes I,
passing trucks, became excited on
earning that the cause was an earth
tuake, and called up these place.
find IL there was danger OF heavier
tremors.
No Serious Damage.
Father Tondof states that there
IS no scientific law upon which any
OF moro quakes could be
based
The intensity OF the disturbance
vas belittled by scientific observers.
No serious damage has been re
ported either in this city or in nearby
places. Broken windows constitute
the greatest damage. Many persons
we're so frightened by the shocks.
however. that they sought safety In
The streets. One man said that he
had been rolled about In his bed.
Richmond felt three distinct
shocks. At Lynchburg. there were
two shocks. about ten minutes apart.
In Baltimore. very few people no
tIced the disturbance. its intensity
having been spent before reaching
that city. No damage was recorded
In any OF these places.
In Harrisonburg. Va. a shock at
500. lasting n minute, was followed
by another at about $50 Houses
were rocked and windows broken.
At Staunton. Va. the shocks came
lt the same time as HarrIsonburg.
and there also. windows were broken.