196 H. G. FORDHAM — THE EAKTHaUAKE 



in this neighbourhood. No sound noticed. — William Hill [F.G.S.], 

 The Maples, Hitchin. 



We were awakened about 5.30 on the morning of the 17th 

 December. We felt our beds rock, and one sister who was 

 sleeping on a higher floor than the rest felt the furniture shake and 

 thought a wardrobe would fall on to her bed. My mother heard 

 a prolonged noise, as of plaster and bricks falling, and my brother 

 heard distinct knocks, as of hammering, and, thinking burglars 

 were getting in, we partially dressed and went round the house, but 

 could see nothing. In the morning we discovered two cracks in 

 the dining-room walls, fi'om floor to ceiling. The room had been 

 enlarged about ten years before, and it was probably a weak place 

 in the building. The servants sleeping in another wing were not 

 disturbed and heard nothing. — Grace Lucas, Tile House, Hitchin. 



Our correspondent states that a sharp shock was felt in Hitchin 

 and neighbourhood at 5.35, and many people were awoke by the 

 movement of the furniture in their houses, but no damage was 

 caused. — Herts Mercury, 19 Dec, 1896. 



The shock of earthquake which was felt over such a large part 

 of the country on Thursday morning was noticed by a good many 

 people in this neighbourhood, some of them being roused by the 

 movement of furniture in their bedrooms. The time, as near 

 as can be ascertained, was between twenty-five and twenty-six 

 minutes to six. Mr. AVilliam Hansom, writing from Fairfield, 

 Hitchin, says: — "With the view of eliciting further reports in 

 this district, I will describe in a few words what I felt sure was 

 the shock of an earthquake. Whilst lying awake on my back in 

 bed, the first indication I noticed was an instantaneous motion by 

 being turned from one side to the other and back again, the motion 

 being very similar to that experienced when driving in a carriage 

 over a depression in the road. Immediately afterwards, the two 

 windows in my room chattered, and likewise the glass in the wash- 

 stand. A noise resembling the discharge of a distant fog-signal 

 followed. I then lighted a candle, and, looking at my watch, noted 

 the time to be twenty minutes to six o'clock." 



While in most respects the descriptions of the occurrence given 

 by different people almost exactly agree, the widest discrepancy 

 exists between the causes to which those who felt the shock 

 attributed their sensations at the moment. The passing of a steam- 

 roller was the explanation which occurred to many ; while not 

 a few appear to have jumped to the more alarming conclusion 

 that burglars were at the bottom of the disturbance — were, some 

 supposed, under the shaken or upraised beds ! — and we hear of 

 one house in Hitcliin having been searched from top to bottom for 

 the imaginary intruders, while in other instances startled sleepers 

 were afraid to speak or stir lest they should become the objects of 

 the burglars' attention. — Herts Express, 19 Bee, 1896. 



The position of my bedroom is as under, on the first floor of the 

 house. On the washstand against the N.W. window the glasses 

 and basin rattled considerably. The X.W. window rattled most. 



