OF THE l7xn OF DECEMBER, 1896. 205 



StructiU'al damage to buildings is, where recorded (and that 

 in three instances only), of the very slightest character. At 

 Kotluunstod Lodge, Harpcnidon (a house situated on high ground, 

 427 i'ei't above the sea), Colonel Diirnford states that the ceiling of 

 a detached room over an open porch was cracked, as also was 

 a pane of glass in a conservatory on the opposite side of the house. 

 At Hitcbin (Tile House) two cracks were made in the wall of 

 a dining-room, extending from floor to ceiling. Cracks in a ceiling 

 are reported, but doubtfully, from Braughing. 



As to the character of the movement, there is a very general 

 agreement. XTndulations or swaying as of a ship at sea, or of 

 a carriage driven over a depression in a road, are spoken of by 

 observers who were awake prior to the movement and were thus 

 well able to record their impressions. Several of my correspondents 

 thought their beds had been lifted up by a person underneath, 

 many speak of the bed being lifted, others of a rocking motion. 

 An engine-driver on the Great Northern Railway near Hatfield, 

 the only outdoor observer whose experiences have been noted, felt 

 the line rock. Various terms are used in the descriptions given 

 by observers of their sensations — "slight rocking," "trembling," 

 *' rocking backwards and forwards," " bed lieaved as if a wave had 

 passed under it," "wave-like motion," " rolling motion," "turned 

 from one side to the other," " beds raised and went back with 

 a thud," "rock to and fro," "violently shaken," "rocking, 

 horizontal motion," " side-to-side motion " — occur in the accounts 

 transcribed, and represent the general impression of the forty or so 

 persons who speak distinctly on this point. 



The result seems to indicate pretty clearly that a terrestrial 

 undulation took place, the movement being variously translated 

 according to the position and structure of the buiklings in which 

 the observers were at the moment, but being generally comparable 

 as regards the observers to that of a ship at sea under which 

 a wave or more than one wave passes. 



There is a conflict of evidence as to accompanying sounds. 

 In a large number of cases a rumbling sound is recorded. The 

 following are representative examples of the expressions used by 

 observers : — Like a traction-engine moving heavily along (Little 

 Gaddesden) ; fall of a heavy body, or explosion at a distance 

 (Hemcl Hempstead) ; concussion as of a van or traction-engine 

 overturned (Kickmansworth) ; a sort of thud ; a loud noise 

 (Watford); a rumbling noise (Redbourn) ; as of heavy furniture 

 falling (New Baruet) ; unusual rumbling noise (North Mimms) ; 

 noise a long way off ( Pirton) ; prolonged noise ; like discharge of 

 distant fog-signal (Hitcbin) ; loud rumble, like heavy train 

 (Stevenage) ; like heavy goods train (Ardeley) ; rumbling and 

 grating (Eoyston) ; unusual sound (Braughing). 



On the other hand, some very competent observers speak posi- 

 tively as to the absence of noise, and these reports come from 

 various districts: — Watford (Mr. G. H. Haywood); Aldenham 

 (Mr. S. T. Holland) ; St. Albans (Miss Ormerod) ; Hitcbin 



