Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1925-07-09
Earthquake Epidemics

Assurance is given by the chief of
the earthquake which caused so
much damage at Santa Barbara had
no relation to the one in Montana
which caused a sensational landslip
in the mountains. He probably
means that the two regions are not
geologically connected and that a
shock in Montana could not be re-
garded as precipitating a shock in
southern California. More broadly,
of course. there is probably a con-
nection somewhat closer than mere
proximity in point of time. It has
long been known that earthquake kes
tended to come in groups, and while
in many cases the shocks occurring
at a time of special seismic activity
occur at different points along the
same line in the earth's crust, there
is also at certain times an increased
liability of shocks in other places
where the earth's crust is under
strain.
This is a line of investigation
which seismologists in many coun-
tries are now hopefully following.
with greatly increased material put
at their disposal by the multiplica-
tion of obseVatories equipped with
delicate instruments for the regis
tratlon, measurement and locating of
even the slightest tremors. Indeed
in these feeble vibrations which or
dinarily attract no attention and
may even be imperceptible to the
senses, the investigators are finding
an important clew by following
which they hope to be able to make
a definite forecast of impending
shocks. This, of course, would give
no protection to property, excluding
movables that could be quickly put
in place of relative safety, except
in so far as special precautions could
be taken against fire, which often
causes more damage than the earth
quake itself. But even a few min
utes after the warning would suffice
1t would give time to evacuate
buildings, even of invalids, cripples
and infirm persons, and in most
cases it would permit the refugees
to find an open space we'll away from
walls and chimneys before the
shock came.
Science as yet has not got so far,
and to locate the scene of the ex-
pected disturbance may prove an
impossible task because of the com
plicated elements of the problem
Yet substantial progress has already
been made, and the shocks in Mon
tana and at Santa Barbara give a
prompt vindication of the Italian
Prof Bendandi of
FaenZa, who on Sunday predicted a
week of earthquakes. 1t should be
noted that on Monday, the day of
the Santa Barbara quake, distinct
les of Alberta. where such phenom-
anon had never been known. Prof
Bendandi has still to make good on
his prediction of a violent shock on
July 5, but if it occurs, as he sug-
gests, in central Asia, it may never
be heard from.
For the eastern United States
there is no cause for alarm in the
forecast Of a period of lively activity
in various parts of the earth's crust
If serious shock like the one at
Charleston which stands unique in
modern annals, We're to occur. ii
would perhaps be more likely to oc-
cur at such time, just as one is
more likely to be struck by lightning
during a thunderstorm A shepherd
girl was killed in France the other
day by a literal "bolt from the
blue" and similar case is record
ed in the miscellany of the American
Magazine more than hundred
years ago Yet such phenomena are
80 rare that the most timid are not
afraid of thunder while the sky is
clear
There may be as much difference
between times of safety and of rela
i've risk in the case of earthquakes,
but nature in this case gives no
guidance and the search for signs
and portents has to he left to the
supernaturally acute senses of the
;eismograph. Traditionally the
1umb great earthquake is impend-
ng, but the old tradition has been
if there is anything in it
We must suppose that they have
more sensitive reaction than man to
'aint tremors preceding a shock. In
the terror of earthquake is
greatly increased by its awful sud
ienness, a surprise attack by fell /
oe; fear as well as danger will be
greatly reduced, for dwellers in ex-
,osed regions, ii the scientists are
ometime able, to predict when and
where the shock will come. Spring
ield, Mass, Rep.