The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-06-09
TREMORS OF EARTH
DISTURB KENOSHA
Many Homes in Kenosha Feel Unex-
planned Earth Tremors Shortly
Before Noon Today.

Kenosha became all excited during
the noon hour today as reports from
all parts of the city told of the shak-
ing of homes as if the result from
an explosion of of slight tremor of
the earth. Most of the reports came
from homes located in the eastern part
of the city, many of them along the
lake front. They told of houses shak-
ing until the windows ratified and IN
til the occupants, frightened, ran out
into the streets to find their neighbors
seized with the same fright and won
derment.
Whatever caused the strange shaking
of the houses could not be established.
No report told of any damage of any
kind in Kenosha other than the fright
and excitement caused to those who
felt the strange tremors of the earth
Several Distinct Quakes.
The first report received OF the
earthquake" came from Mrs Fred
E. Westine at her home on Exchange
street. She declared that the windows
of her house had been shaken so that
she had run out into the street in fear.
There were many other residents of
South Exchange street who likewise
felt the tremors ard had gone into
the street to find out what was the
trouble.
Mrs. Westine declared that there
were several distinct tremors of the
building lasting over several minutes
They were first felt about 1885 this
morning. Reports from other parts
of the city declared that two tremors
were felt about fifteen. minutes apart.
the first one coming about noon and
lasting several seconds. County Re-
corder Bert Shaw's home was also re-
ported as one where the force of the
explosion or whatver it was had been
felt. Mrs. Myron Hale, Cooper Road
also told of the quake" and reports
came thick and fast from the north,
east, south and west sides of the city.
May Have Been Guns.
Immediately an attempt was made to
solve the mystery. Hurried calls to
the Hercules Powder company at Pleas
ant Prairie brought back the report
that absolutely no explosion of any
kind had taken place there. Report
from the government stations did not
give any account of earth tremors of
any kind.
The only explanation which could
be secured for the tremors was carried
in an Associated Press report which
told of the sinking of a German sub
marine, a war trophy, in Lake Michi-
gan, thirty miles off the Chicago Har-
Dor. This message came by radio
from the U. S. E. Wilmette which was
in charge of the sinking of the boat.
1t said:
The German submarine U-97 was
sunk at eleven o'clock this morning
in Lake Michigan some thirty miles
off Chicago by the four inch guns of
the U. S. S. Wilmette. The sinking
was under the direction of Captain
Wurtzbaugh under provision of the
Treaty of Versailles"
If this sinking took place at standard
time, it would have occurred at exact
ly the time when the tremors were felt
in Kenosha. The fact that no other
cities seem to have experienced any
tremors of the earth gives reason to
disbelieve the theory that Kenosha was
struck by slight earthquake.
The submarine which was sunk in
Lake Michigan was the same one which
more than year ago was brought to
Kenosha harbor in the interests of the
Victory Loan.
Sinks at First SaIvo.
The U97 sank in $50 feet of water
less than one minute after the first
salvo of Is shots hit her. Before the
Wilmette could wheel around to de-
liver another volley the former sea
raider had disappeared beneath the
waves. Seaplanes from the Great
LakesA naval training station circled
over the submarine during the ac-
ton. The commandment and his party
viewed the sinking from the submarine
chaser 412 which Unanswered near by.
Naval reservists from Minnesota man
ned the chaser. The submarine was
towed from its winter mooring in Chi
cage Harbor to the scene of action by
the gunboat Hawk, manned by Wis
consin reservists. 1t was one Of the
first ten submarines to be surrendered
following the armistice.