Evening star., 1918-04-10
QUAKE, GALE, RAIN
AND SNOW HIT D. C.
Crock SIip," Scientist Says,
Gave District Touch Of Tre-
mors for Three Minutes.
FELT IN VIRGINIA CITIES

Earthquake, tornado and driving rain
last night gave Washington and
vicinity the widest variety Of seismic
and meteorological conditions expert
enced here in many years at this time
Of year.
The earth tremor. according to the
Georgetown University seismogranh.
was the most severe that has been ex-
perienced here since the memorable
Charleston earthquake in 1885. while
the gale that ragged during all Of last
night at times attained velocity of
more than forty-flve miles an hour,
some particularly strong blasts regis
tering velocities OF more rnan nifty
miles. The gale bore driving rain
which, with the low temperature.
chilled to the bone all who were COM
PEELED to be out of doors. This morning
snowflakes mingled with the rain.
The earthquake, which occurred at
nine minutes past 9 o'clock last night.
was felt throughout the entire section
surrounding this city. and reports of
Richmond and Lynchburg, Va At the
former three distinct shocks were felt
of sufficient intensity to rattle windows
and doors, cause dishes on pantry
shelves to Jingle, and to tmpart dis
tinct motion to houses.
Besieged by Inquirers.
Within few minutes after the shocks
here newspaper offices, the Georgetown
sieged with telephone calls, inQuirers
asking II an explosion had occurred in
this vicinity.
Father Tondorf. at Georgetown Uni
were due to an earth or rock Slip"
such as may be expected at any time
along q coastal region.
The eeismograph at the university
observatory indicated that the quake
centered probably within 200 miles of
little more than three minutes. No re-
ports of damage from the shock were
made here.
White House Queries.
The first inquiry came from the
White House, where at first it was
thought the vibrations were due to the
passage of heavily loaded trucks When
1t was found this was not the case ex-
ecutive Office employees began asking
questions. 1t was thought at first the
tremors might have been caused by an
explosion, the fact being recalled that
the terrible Eddystone ammunition
works explosion occurred one year ago
today, and the suggestion being made
that German spies might be celebrating
the anniversary with another explosion.
Within few minutes police head
quarters. newspaper offices, telegraph
Offices the Associated Press and other
telephone calls asking the cause Of the
shock.
Reports today indicated that the
shock was particularly severe In the
Piedmont section OF Virginia.
Lasts a Minute at Lynchburg.
LYNCHBURG. Va. April 1o.-A pro-
earthquake shock. continu-
ing for a little less than one minute,
was felt here last night shortly after 8
o oolock, causing many inquiries at the
local. newspaper Offices. 1t was also
felt in the contiguous counties The
shock was not Of sufficient foroe to
cause any damage
RICHMOND, Va. April 1o.-several
Of the suburb Of Highland Park
reported to the police and newspaper Of
fees last night that their homes were
hree distinct shocks we're fe
Reports from various parts OF the state
Indicate that the cold weather seriously
the fruit crop At Winches-
ter AZ blizzard rased for the greater part
night Fields were covered to q depth of
three inches. The Blue Ridge mountains
are snow covered. Snow fell in Richmond.
Gale OFF Norfolk.
NORFOLK, Va. April 10-The vir-
coast, according to late
coast wire reports, is in the grip of a gale
that is steadily increasing in Violence
The wind was reported to have reached a
fifty-mile velocity at some points. A
binding rain adds to the diff
culties Of navigators. No reports Of dis
aster to ships have been received
Snow Again Threatens
District as IN Anril 10