200 H. G. FORDHAM THE EAUTHaUAKE 



flaps of the table were at either end where marked A and B. Of 

 course the flaps of the table were hanging down. My house is on 

 r.sing ground in the valley of the Kiver Rib. — Hellier R. H. 

 Gosselin, Bengeo Hall, Hertford. 



* Hertford. — A shock was felt at 4.20 a.m. by my daughter, 

 who was woke up by it, and got out of bed directly and looked 

 at the time, and also out of doors to see if it could be anything 

 outside. I did not feel this shock, but must have awoke soon after, 

 as at 4.353^ a m. my bed was shaken up and down and slightly in 

 the direction of N".E. and S.W. for two seconds, not more. Neither 

 of us felt anything that is said to have happened at 5.35. I am 

 sure as to my observation of the time, and so is my daughter. 

 There was a distinct lifting of the bed at 4.20. — R. T. Andrews, 

 25, Castle Street, Hertford. 



A Hertford correspondent says: — " Two distinct shocks of earth- 

 quake were experienced early on Thursday morning in the town 

 and neighbourhood. The one generally felt was at 5.35, but in 

 one case, at least, an earlier shock was felt, between four and five 

 o'clock. The rattling of crockery was noticed, but no harm was 

 done." — Herts Express, 19 Dec, 1896, 



The shock was felt by several persons in Hertford and the 

 neighbourhood. Mr. Leonard McMulIen, of Sele Cottage, North 

 Eoad, informs us that he experienced two shocks, the first one 

 between four and five o'clock, and the second one at 5.35, when 

 there was a distinct shaking of the bedroom and a jingling of 

 the glasses on the washstand. Mr. W. P. Willson, who lives 

 close by, states that the shock was rather severely felt at his 

 house at 5.35 a.m. In one of the rooms the bed was shaken 

 sideways, the shock appearing to come from north to south ; 

 while in other rooms, where the beds are placed in a different 

 position, the head and foot of the bedsteads seemed to be lifted 

 up. The shock appeared to last quite half a minute. Similar 

 occurrences were noted in ditfercnt parts of the town and at 

 Bengeo. One lady informs us that she felt her bed tremble, and 

 the walls appeared to be shaking. — Herts Mercury, 19 Bee, 1896. 



Ware. — At Ware the shock Avas also experienced, the time 

 being taken as 5.35. — Herts Mercury, 19 Bee, 1896. 



Two gentlemen living close to Ware distinctly felt the shock 

 of the earthquake on 17th Dec, at 5. GO a.m., although unable 

 to account for it until reading next day's paper. — George I'rice, 

 Ware. 



The earthquake was felt at 5.30 a.m by our servants sleeping 

 on the second floor of this house — so much so that they got 

 up and lighted a candle, thinking there might have been a gas- 

 explosion. They reported what they had felt, and said it must 

 have been either an earthquake or an explosion. No one sleeping 

 on the first floor was disturbed. — T. Fow ell Buxton, Easneye, Ware. 



HoDDESDox.— Mr. F. M. Campbell [F.L.S., F.Z.S.] of Eose Hill, 

 HoddesdoD, reports that the earthquake was felt at Hoddesdon, 

 but not l)y him.— H. G. F. 



