. 390 On the Earthquake in Chile, 1851. 
where they had slumbered since the dawn of nature, their trains 
marked by streams of fire; in the streets tiles were falling in 
showers mid clouds o dust ; and on the open plain, in,addition 
to that most unearthly and distressing noise and the moaning of 
cattle in their brute terror, the trees were waving from side to 
side under the influence of that same unseen but omnipotent 
agent. 
Preceded some seconds by the usual rumbling noise, the first 
shock commenced at 64 48™ 10s a. m., and for eighteen seconds 
continued with nearly uniform violence, equal to, and in the kind 
of motion not altogether unlike, that ‘of December 6th. ‘This 
started the tiles and walls, though it broke nothing, a fact which 
may perhaps be accounted for by the greater rapidity with which 
the atoms at the surface of the earth were disturbed on the last 
occasion ; for, if one may judge from bodily sensations, the shak- 
ing was certainly as great as in December, though the effects 
were much less. The most excessive displinonesie were be- 
tween 65 48m 28s and 65 48™ 53s; and at 64 49m 38s terminated 
an earthquake unparalleled in central Chile since 1822. Less than 
one minute and a half: a brief period of one’s ie when marked 
this phen lasted only twenty-five seconds, the time sooined 
endless, when measured by ‘die multitude of ‘thoughts crowded - 
into it. Liquids were tossed to North 
the north and south ; and at the 
end, the surface of the mercury 
in a cup with vertical sides was 
left 1-4 inch below the rim. A 
barometer suspended on a north 
and south wall was thrown down, 
and all objects = seoitiardy 
shaken off were moved by suc 
cessive jolts to the pos or south ; 
generally in the latter direction. 
Every wall in the house was 
broken, some of them so that 
day-light shone through; others‘ 
ret 3 
remained in place on the roof. 
Our siete was still gyrating = 
when a could venture into the 
room where it was ke Un- tse 
fortunately the board saportng <— 
~ 
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