186 REPORT— 1898. 



3. What has caused this to be the case I am not prepared to say ; but 

 I agree with Mr. Baynes that the subject is one of peculiar interest, and 

 I should be glad if it could form the subject of scientific investigation. 



I have, &c., 



F. Fleming. 

 The Eight Hon. Joseph Chambeelain, M.P., P.C. 



Commissioner's OflBce, Montserrat : 

 Februarj' 21, 1898. 



SiE, — On Tuesday, the 15th instant, severe shocks of earthquake 

 occurred in this island, which have since been followed by shocks of 

 nearly equal severity, and have caused considerable damage to buildings. 



2. The principal shock was at ll.lG a.m. on Tuesday, and was the 

 most severe I have ever experienced. This was followed by shocks so 

 numerous as to seem almost continuous until 3.45 p.m., when there was 

 one of equal severity but shorter duration ; and during the rest of the day 

 and the following night numerous shocks continued to be felt. On Friday, 

 at 7 A.M. and 4.25 p.m., and on Sunday, at 9.20 a.m., very severe shocks 

 occurred, and in the intervals minor shocks have been of constant 

 occurrence. 



3. The windmill tower at Gage's Estate has been seriously damaged, 

 and the chimneys on the Grove, Dagenham's, Weeke's, Gage's, Paradise, 

 and White's Estates have sustained injury. One house at Gage's has 

 been so much damaged as to be made uninhabitable, and several houses 

 in various localities have been injured. St. George's Church and St. 

 Anthony's Church and Rectory have also sustained some damage. 



4. The only serious damage to any Government building has been at 

 the Poor House, where the walls of a small detached building have been 

 so seriously damaged that it has been necessary to remove the inmates. 

 There are cracks in the walls of the Court House and Treasury, but these 

 appear to be superficial. On the public roads, especially those of recent 

 construction, large quantities of earth and boulders have been shaken 

 from the cliffs on to the roadway, but no further damage is reported. 

 Several breaks in the water pipes supplying the town occurred through 

 landslips in the ravines through which the pipe track passes, but these 

 injuries were at once repaired. 



5. These shocks of earthquake have been of frequent occuiTence since 

 the flood of November, 1896, and in my letter of May 3 last I gave some 

 account of them up to that date. Of late they have greatly increased iii 

 severity. Some months ago a number of shocks occurred in Guadeloupe, 

 but I have no recent information from that island. With this exception 

 they have not been felt in the neighbouring islands. They would there- 

 fore appear to be of local origin, and some disturbance of the volcanic 

 springs in Gage's Mountain has evidently taken place. The subject is one 

 of peculiar interest, and seems to be well deserving of scientific investi- 

 gation. 



I have, &c., 



Edward Baynes, 



Commissioner. 

 His Excellency Sir F. Fleming, K.C.M.G. 



The following two letters bearing on the same subject are also of 

 interest : — 



