EARTHQUAKES. 



231 



very fow of the statements we to abnormal, ono or 

 two in tlu-ir l.rwity (ono or two seconds) and about 

 M many in tlu-ir length (two or throe minute*), that 

 no weight can bo accorded to them. On the whole, 

 duration twenty-six seconds at Now 

 i, is continued as having been about the dura- 

 tion in all other places observed a uniformity proba- 

 ':. in itsrlf. In ono instance tho oscillations are 

 u of as four or five in a second, and as being 

 iie motions of a boat also in ono other (ut 

 Keene) they arc described as having been vertical. 



Respecting tho relative amount of disturbance at 

 .!>:!' rv!it places, tho sensations experienced by in- 

 dividuals would bo but a fallacious test, because so 

 much influenced by temperament, as well as by 

 situations and positions. Persons sitting, for ex- 

 ample, were far more sensitive than persons stand- 

 ing. Again, while operatives in upper rooms often 

 rushed down as hero at New Haven in a panic, 

 persons standing or walking in the immediate vicinity 

 below did not even perceive the phenomenon. Tho 

 same remark applies to tho reported swaying of walls 

 and buildings ten inches to a foot, which is no doubt 

 exaggerated in amount. But a vague conclusion 

 may oe derived from specific occurrences, such as 

 tho displacement of objects, the cracking of window 

 panes or of ceilings, and the falling of chimneys, as 



well M from the degree of public notice which the 

 event excited. All that, in the present instance, 

 can be rationally deduced from such indications 

 would seem to be, that tho amount of disturbance at 

 Now York, at Cleveland, at Milwaukee, and Detroit, 

 was about the same as at New Haven ; that it wan 

 greater at Boston, at Brunswick, at Montreal, and at 

 Quebec; that it was less at Cincinnati, at Chicago, 

 ami at Dubuquo, and was but just distinctly percep- 

 tible at Richmond, Va. In other words, the move- 

 ment was more remarkable in the East and North, 

 and loss in the West, and particularly in the South. 

 It is also believed that no like occurrence compara- 

 ble in the aggregate with this one baa been ex- 

 perienced in New England during the present cen- 

 tury, nor since November 18, 1755 supposing tho 

 newspaper quotation, relative to that event, made by 

 a Boston correspondent, from " a book published in 

 1786," to be correct and authentic. 



Ho then constructs a table, comparing the 

 times noted at various places from which 

 sufficiently authentic information could be ob- 

 tained. 



Some of these were recorded by astronomers 

 and meteorologists, others by other p.ersons: 



Mr. Twining remarks that a nearly east and 

 west progress is that which appears most con- 

 sistent with the aggregate of times. Nor is 

 there discovered in the table any decisive 

 change of direction as between the east and 

 the west of the Alleghanies, but the various ac- 

 counts, so far as they go, indicate the very re- 

 verso. The best approximate result seems to 

 be that the earthquake made progress from 

 about E. 6 N., to about W. 6 S., at the rate 

 of 160 miles a minute, being six and a half 

 minutes from St. John to Chicago, while the 

 ordinary direction of the subordinate undula- 

 tion was about N". by E. But there was no 

 absolute regularity of rate in any single direc- 

 tion. 



Among the facts relating to the phenomenon, 

 which the author gives, the following, supplied 

 by Mr. Robert McOord, a telegraph- operator at 

 Quebec, are peculiarly interesting. He says : 



All perceptible motion was over hero by the time 

 I had finished telegraphing to Montreal Do you feel 

 tarthquakt f It would take about eight seconds to 

 telegraph the words used. Tho operator's immedi- 



ate reply was No. About fifteen seconds after, ho 

 said Here it is. The gentleman at Montreal after- 

 ward explained that, although he said No. he did ex- 

 perience a slight movement at the time, but was Dot 

 aware that it was caused by an earthquake. He tele- 

 graphed Here it is on the instant that the shock 

 became sensibly evident. He cannot say how long 

 the vibration lasted after that period, accurately, but 

 is of opinion it continued for nine or ten seconds. 

 Tho following further particulars may be of interest. 

 The shock passed over this district from a northerly 

 direction a rumbling sound accompanied the shock, 

 resembling that produced by ponderous machinery 

 noise and motion increased steadily for some seconds, 

 and gradually passed away. Buildings were violent- 

 ly^ shaken. Our office being in tho upper part of a 

 high brick building, the trembling was powerfully 

 felt tho clock in the office was stopped by it at 11.20, 

 but am not certain if the time by it previous to tho 

 shock was correct. Some observers say tho shock 

 was first felt here a few seconds before 11.24, and 

 lasted forty seconds others state fifty or sixty sec- 

 onds. I am of opinion it lasted sixty seconds. No 

 two opinions agree as to the commencement and du- 

 ration. 



At Bay St. Paul and Les Eboulements places 

 about ninety or one hundred miles northeast of Que- 

 bec the ground opened in several places, and water 

 was thrown up. Slight elevations of land in some 



