Evening star., 1951-01-07

Hdrklng back TO the calaHltleS
of the Districts early days, some
may recall the Charleston earth
quake of August 81, 1886, when
four distinct shocks were also felt
in Washington. The shock was
more or less general throughout
the Atlantic seaboard area, and
in this connection the writer
quotes from The Star of Septem-
ber l of 1886 as follows:
"An earthquake of considerable
violence was experienced and in
this city last evening, the first
tremor occurring a few moments
before 10 o'clock, was followed by
another about 10 minutes later
The quake was so alarming that
many persons in a panicky condi-
ton made their way from build
ings to the street. The shocks
made themselves manifest every
where by the vibration of chande-
liers, the rattling of loose windows
and doors, and the rocking of NOV
able objects. In the Corcorar
Building, on Fifteenth street; the
Evans Building on New York ave.
nue.: the hotels in the vicinity: the
Post Building, on Tenth street; the
Grand Army Hall, on Ninth street;
Masonic Temple on F street. ano
other tall buildings and in the de-
partment buildings, the occupants
felt the shock and hurried from
the buildings. There was a great
deal of alarm manifested at this
unusual occurrence and some
people in their fright reported the
fact to the police. The central
portions Of the city seemed to have
experienced the shock more gen.
orally, although reports from all
sections of the city indicate that
it was not confined to a small area
The telegraph operators in Allan
ia a few minutes before this hac
notified the Washington Western
Union operators that the shock
was coming and to look out for it
"At Albaugh's Opera House
where the summer opera company
was singing the Mascot wher
the first shock occurred, it wa.
felt distinctly by the persons II
the gallery, many of whom being
alarmed started hastily to leave
Those sitting in the lower part O.
the house did not at once discover
the cause for the movement, pu
supposed there was a fight.
panicky feeling prevailed ant
many rose to go. Gentlemen il
different parts of the house ros,
and shouted to people to 'si
down Order was soon restored
though not until many of those il
the gallery had made their exit
A few minutes later a second shocl
occurred and many of those re
manning in the gallery concluded
it was time to go and went
Thus when the third act openet
about half the audience was gone.
Stories of the "Quake"
At the Portland, just south o
Thomas Circle-one of the earlies
apartment houses in the city
lived Lucius @. c. Lamar, Secre
tary of the Interior. His apart
ment was in one of the uppel
stories and he felt the shock tt
such an extent that he hurried
from his room to the lower flool
without waiting to dress with his
usual care.
South Washington also felt the
shock, and the story is told of g
widow residing there who became
greatly alarmed at the time. She
was employed in the Treasury
Department, and when the quake
began to rock the city was quietly
sitting in her room counting hel
money and making UP her monthly
accounts, when all of a sudden
"She saw her money move anc
thought there was a burglar h
the house and, going to the win.
dow. she called murder anC
police and in a few moments al
the neighbors gathered in front
of the house, but no policeman put
in an appearance. Finally some
of the citizens discovered that ar
earthquake has taken place, ane
the widow came to the conclu.
sion that she had made a mis-.
take"
, In hall at John Marshall place
an organization of colored bricl
makers was in session and whel
the building began to shake, tn,
members did not hesitate to say
Feet, are you with me?" and
suiting their action to the word
began to sprint for the stairs, an,
did not stop running until the,
were safely outside on the street.