The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-10-19

ably would make it impossible for
any tidal wave to be seen.
IF there was q tidal wave, 1t
would not have been big enough to
affect ships or even small boats"
Massachusetts, Gets 1t Bad
Boston, Oct. 19.-(UP)-Dishes
crashed, beds moved and windows
ratled today as q major" EARTH
quake shoow Metropolitan Boston
and many other sections of populous
New England.
There was no serious damage, nor
were any casualties reported.
SO severe were the temblors that
the records at Harvard university
seismograph station at Harvard,
Mass, 20 miles west of Boston, were
wiped out" for 20 minutes.
Massachusetts, Maine, New Hamp-
shire and Vermont-where some g.
100000 persons live-all reported
having experienced the quake in
varying intensities about a. m.
At Brockton, in southeastern
Massachusetts, Charles G. Barrows
reported that as he and his wife
were about to get up, their bed
trembled and then slid IL inches
away from the wall. Simultaneous
ly, he said, they heard crash IN
the kitchen and later discovered that
dozen dishes had tumbled from
shelves and smashed on the floor
In another bedroom, the bed Of
their daughter Evelyn moved SIX
inches.
Other Incidents
At Springfield, 100 miles west OF
Boston, police received q telephone
call from an excited woman who
asked if there had been an ex-
plosion. She said that her house
Shook as she was getting breakfast
and a coffee pot was knocked from
the stove to the floor. A score OF
other calls weer also received.
A dozen persons living in various
parts of Lawrence and Methuen, IN
northeastern Massachusetts, re-
ported that windows and dishes
ratified and chandeliers swayeo
during the few seconds that The
vibrations persisted.
In middle Massachusetts, the
shocks were reported felt over q
wide area. Polise of Worcester
Massachusetts, second largest city
received many" calsl from residents
who had experienced the quake
Some of the reports came from such
surrounding communities as Brook
| field and Warren.
In New Hampshire
At Nashua, N. H., the tremors
began about 6:55 a m. and con-
tinued four minutes, though police
said damage was confined TO broken
dishes. The Crown Hill section OF
the city appeared to have felt the
strongest shocks. The temblor also
was reported across the Merrimack
River in Hudson.
Buildings were shaken at-Burling-
ton. VT, where the University Of
Vermont's seismograph recorded 9
six-minute quake starting at san
a. m.
In Portland, Me-, the most pro.
nounced shocks were reported IN the
Munjoy Hill district, about two miles
from the business center.
Augusta, Me-, also reported slight
shocks. -
capitals-Providence, r. l., and Con-
cord, N. H.-had no Immediate re-
ports of temblors, however.
Franks In Boston Homes
Though the temblors played
pranks in many a Boston home, tens
Of thousands of Bostonians-asleep
breakfasting or enroute to work =
were unaware Of the 'quake'S quirks
Constantine CARGO of East Boston
said his bed felt as though some
body was shaking it and that pic
lures ratified and fell from the walls
Miss Janet Griffith and several
other Back Bay residents reported
SHARP and noticeable" tremors.
Similar reports came from the
North End.
In suburban Waltham, residents
OF q mile-long section diagonally
across the city, felt tremors for Q
minute and a half. Windows ratified
and pictures were knocked askew
they reported.
While Concord, N. H., police ha6
no reports Of the tremors, at Man
chester, less than 20 miles south
ward, three distince shocks were felt
Only last week, on successive days
slight earthquakes were reported ir
| the same area.
since New England,s first 'quak,
was recorded SOL years ago last June
over 200 have been experienced II
this section.
The most recent severe shock
prir to those Of today occurred Nov
! /, 1885 when all New England aEis