Year: 1876

An earthquake occurred last night,
Dec. 22nd, In this city ut. precisely
11:40. The vibration was from
south to north. and was so sensible rs
to shake the entire city. the shock
lasting at least ten seconds. Per
sons on the street say il was precsd-
ed By a disturbance of the atmospher,
and accompanied bya rushing sound
ike the coming OF storm in the
forest. In the houses, the first idea
of most with whom we conversed,
and it was also our own, was that a
boiler had exploded, but this was
Immediately dissipated by the con
tinued vibrations of the floors and
walls, the disturbance Of glass and
shaking of movable objects. Then
it was that all seemed spontaneously
to recognize the phenomena of the
veritable earthquake, and there WAS
il simultaneous rush into the streets,
many appearing ed diStcJiRe, not
waiting. in their anXietysio gel clear
of walls and roofs momentarlly ex-
pectcd to tumble in, 10 dress them
selves. The streets were soon filed
with excited crowds Of people, ant
although the shock had passed and
tie solid earth was as steady As ever,
still there was feyerish feeling of
dread aud anxiety lest it should be
followed by another and more fear
ful one. Each had his story to re-
late, and if the thoughts, sensations
and acts of all could he taken down
they would form quite M Interesting
volume.


Halt an hour after, another but
much lighter shock was Gelt-aad
this added to the feeling Of insecuri-
tv 50 much that many nervous peo
pie expressed their determination to
stay out all night, and doubtless there
were some who failed to 90 home til
morning.


The weather had been quite warm
before the last shock, but an immc-
date change in the temperature WAS
at once observable, and it began to
grow colder. Speculation was ai
once rife is to the cause, and many
at once found some connection be-
tween it and the eruption of Nesu-
vius, while others thought the cx-
trcme cold weather followed lay the
heat of yesterday had a good deal to
do with it. The probability that it
was q continuation Of the one recent
" felt in tennessee and Georgia was
also discussed, bat the scientific
mind Of the city, Of that portion of
it brought into the street ut mid
night, was generally at fault and the
problem Of lis cause was still IN
solved when our report closed.


Many ludicrous incident. occurred
and numerous people were badly
frightened. We heard of one young
man who injured his hands severely
by descending by a rope from the
fourth story Of 4 printing Office.


We heard Of number Of cases OF
hvsteria among ladies, who We're
greatly frightened, and there were
many calls for physicians from all
parts of the city.


The shock was the severcst ever
felt by those who had had any earth
quake experiences but as it was the
first ever experienced here since the
settlement Of Virginia. We have no
antccodcnt event Of the kind by
which 10 compare it.


1t va. noticeable that the houses
in Manchester were lit upimmcdiate-
" after the first vibration was felt in
Richmond. The policemen were all
woke up by it and were on the alert.
1t wJs reported that q house iell in


Brook ayenuc, bnt We could not
trace the rumor to an authentic
source. According to the reports OF
some, it must have continued longer
at some points than others, aud it al
80 appear, to have been more severe,
Ily fit in s1me parts II the city than
| in Others; bat SO far rs we could
learn no damage va. done, other than
the fright and anxiety occaaioned by
the novel event.