Evening star., 1944-09-05
Severe Earth Shocks
Rock East Coast;
Canada Hard Hit
One Person Injured
In Ontorio; Tremors
Extend to Virginia
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
A severe earth shock. followed
several hours later by two minor
tremors, shook the Eastern
United States and several prov
inces in Canada early today,
awakening thousands and caus-
ing heavy damage in the vicinity
Of Cornwall, Ontario.
The first shock, recorded on Ford
ham University's seismograph at
1888 am. was centered near Ma
lone, N. Y. and Cornwall, the Rev
Joseph Lynch, Fordham seismol-
ogist, said, and was felt as far south
as Virginia, and as far west as Mich
igan.
Two additional tremors at 4:20
am. and 4:50 am. were felt in the
Cornwall district. The latter was de-
scribed as severe in Canada and was
recorded by Fordham. but Father
Lynch expressed belief it was not
strong enough to be noticed outside
the immediate Cornwall area.
Was Surface Shock.
Although the early shock was de-
scribed by Father Lynch as the
most severe that 1 recall in New
York State" he said it was only a
surface shock and not a major
earthquake.
1T was the creaking stair kind of
quake" he added, explaining it was
caused by the earth surface con-
tracing like timbers in an old,
deserted house.
The quake was recorded at Wes-
ton (Mass) College and Father
Clarence Blais, acting seismologist,
said it was severe enough to disable
his seismograph for about IS min
utes.
Canadian Press said damage in
Cornwall, on the banks of the ST.
Lawrence River, was unofficially
estimated to be more than $780,
900. Only one person was reported
injured. however.
In Cornwall chimneys toppled
from hundreds of houses, sections OF
brick broke from a number of build
ings and windows cracked and fell
ffonf downtown stores. Several
families were forced to leave their
homes and spend the rest of the
night on verandas or lawns.
Buildings in Montreal, Ottawa and
Toronto also were rocked.
Dishes fell from shelves, bottles
toppled in taverns and windows rat
tied throughout New York State.
While thousands were Awakened by
the jolt in Brooklyn, Queens and
sections of Nassau County on Long
Island, Manhattan and the Bronx
apparently were not affected, ac-
cording to police reports.
Portland, Me-: Manchester, N. H.;
Rutland. Vt: New Haven, Conn.,;
Providence, r. l., and other north.
eastern areas felt the quake, but
reported no damage. It also ex-
tended to Wilmington and surround.
ing Delaware areas, with distinct
shocks" at Wheeling, w. Va, and
westward through Pennsylvania
from Pittsburgh to Erie.
Baltimore Sleepers Awakened.
In Baltimore. pictures were shaken
from walls, dishes ratified and sleep.
ers were awakened. Persons, who
flooded local newspapers with tele.
phone calls said they had felt the
shocks for q minute or more.
The quake was felt at Newark
Paterson and Jersey City where
many people fed to streets.
Northern Ohio residents reported
the quake at 12:45 am, and Prof
A. r. Schmitt Of Loyola University
at Chicago said "a severe shock
was felt for 80 seconds" $50 miles
northeast Of Chicago. The jolt was
felt only on the northside at Chi.
cago.
A slight shock was experienced In
Southeastern Wisconsin.
The Rev. Joseph s. Joliat,' seis-
mologist at John Carroll University
in Cleveland, said instruments there
recorded the disturbance as . an
earthquake Of medium intensity