38 Earthquake Waves on the Western Coast of the U. States. 
might be induced, perhaps even similar observations may hav 
been made, and these registers of the self-acting tide-gauge, will 
show what observations it is desirable to have for comparison. 
Thus far we are left to the public prints for the information 
obtained,* and the different accounts are quite discrepant where 
they give details, and are usually, as intended merely for general 
information, too vague in “the statements to give satisfactory 
means of comparison. 
A correspondent of the New York Herald writing from Shang- 
hae gives the following notes, stated to be derived from an officer 
of the Frigate Diana. 
vA. “ on the 23d of December, weather clear, thermometer 
72°, barometer 30, a severe shock of an earthquake was felt on board 
the ‘frigate, Srhakibe the ship most severely. This shock lasted full five 
minutes and was followed at quick intervals by rapid and severe shocks 
for 30 minutes.” 
** At 9°30 a.m. the sea was observed ree into the bay, in one 
immense wave thirty feet high, with awful velocit In an instant the 
town of Simoda was overwhelmed and swept from its foundations. * * 
“This advance and recession of the water occurred five times. * * 
*, 2°30 p. M. all was quiet.” 
communication in the same paper, poxporting to give an ex- 
jo pore the log-book of the Diana, states that— 
‘Ata quarter past nine, without t any previous indication, the shock 
of an earthquake, which lasted two or three minutes, causing the ves- 
sel to shake very much, was felt both on deck and in the pani, _ 
ten o'clock a large wave was observed entering the bay. * 
“ The peng and falling of the water were very great; a ai th 
varying from less than eight to more than forty feet, and these changes 
at intervals ar par five minutes continued until noon 
Scarcely had half an hour elapsed when the rising and falling of the 
water became more violent than before. Between this time and a 
quarter past two, (when the agitation again became much less,) the 
frigate was left four times = her side, and orice phesib thus laid i in only 
four feet of water. 
* Since pone this paper I mae pep through a Paar of Commodore 
M. C. Perry, a copy of a letter fro n H. A. Adams, U.S. N., who visited 
be 
; ing in rk whole p 
“ The entire coast of Japan seems to have suffered by this calamity. Yedo ac 
was injured, and the fine city of Ooaka sorely dos destroyed.” 
Captain Adams then gives an account of the disaster to the Russian Fri 
Diana, Admiral Pontiatine commanding, which was so. inj ated ie the bei ‘Si 
moda as to lead finally te her entire loss, 
