206 H. G. FORDHAM — THE EARTHQUAKE 



(Mr. W. Hill) ; Ardeley ; Bayfordbury (Mr. W. Clinton Baker) ; 

 Waltham Cross ; and Buntingford, 



A possible explanation of this discrepancy may be found in 

 the difficulty in discriminating between sound- vibration ac- 

 companying or produced by the earth-movement itself, and the 

 noise of moving objects, which would be purely local. That 

 there was no general aerial wave seems clear, several notes 

 from various parts of the County expressly stating that there 

 was no vsdnd ; but in one district, or rather on one narrow line of 

 country, stretching in a N.W. and S.E. direction, three of my 

 correspondents agree in speaking of strong gusts of wind (Slipend, 

 Sandon, Buckland). AVhether this was a collateral circumstance 

 or a variety in the impressions received from the terrestrial move- 

 ment, I cannot say; the former seems the more probable conclusion. 



A few instances are cited of the effect of the shock on wild and 

 domestic animals. As has been often observed, any unusual aerial 

 or terrestrial disturbance has a terrifying influence on the higher 

 classes of animals ; a thunderstorm, an explosion, or an earthquake, 

 are equally noticed by them. In the present instance at Stevenage 

 dogs barked in a house, at Ardeley a parrot screamed, and from 

 Bramfield and Hertingfordbury we have reports that pheasants 

 called out. 



On the duration of the general movement and the number of 

 distinct tremors we have a variety of notes. In the majority of 

 cases only one movement is spoken of, no distinction being made 

 between the minor shocks or vibrations which by some persons are 

 recorded. At Little Gaddesden two distinct parts to the shock, 

 with an interval of only a second or two, are reported. Three 

 gentle tremblings of the bed, and then a lifting and twisting motion, 

 are noted at Eickmans worth. Mr. G. H. Haywood, of Watford, 

 experienced a succession of waves following one another fairly 

 rapidly (say about three per second ?) during four to six seconds. 

 Miss Brunner, The Folly, Aldenham, writes of a door opening 

 twice at an interval estimated at three minutes. At Redbourn the 

 principal shock was preceded by a slight tremor lasting about half 

 a minute. Colonel Durnford (Rothamsted Lodge) was awakened 

 by a vibratory motion, which was followed in a few seconds by 

 a severe shaking. Miss Ormerod (St. Albans) gives the duration 

 of the disturbance as " perha[)s as much as half a minute." At 

 Hitchin Mr. Hill noticed "three main vibrations, lasting two or 

 three seconds." At Stevenage one shock only is recorded by 

 Mr. W. Brudenell Rooke and Mr. Chas. Mardell. From Ardeley we 

 have various accounts: — a " shock consisting of two distinct parts, 

 if not three, with an interval of a few seconds" (Luffenhall) ; 

 shock, with no interval, lasting three or four seconds (Moor Hall) ; 

 movement lasting thirty seconds (Ardeley Bury). Mr. W. Clinton 

 Baker, of Bayfordbury, says there was no tremulous motion either 

 before or after the principal vibrations. The latter he describes as 

 " about twelve vibrations (probably more) lasting about fifteen 

 seconds," and increasing in intensity up to the ninth. At Hertford 



