110 D)\ C. Davison — British Earthquakes, 1893-99. 



The isoseismal 4 is an elongated oval, 9-^- miles long, 5 miles 

 broad, and 38 square miles in area. The direction of its longer 

 axis is W. 30° N. and E. 30° S. ; and its centre is one mile N. 35° 

 W. of Wells. The distance between the two isoseismals is 3 miles 

 on the north-east side and 5 miles on the south-west side. 



ScaU oi Mil 



Fig. 1.— Somerset Earthquakes: Dec. 30-31, 1893. 



So far as I can learn, the shock was in all parts a continuous 

 series of vibrations, like that felt in an upper room when a heavy 

 waggon or train passes. Its mean duration was 4 seconds. 



The sound was compared by different observers to that of 

 a waggon passing over loose stones, the dragging of a heavy weight 

 or a heavy piece of furniture along the floor, a rolling peal of 

 thunder, a stack of wood or coal tumbling down, the fall of an 

 avalanche of snow, a terrific explosion, etc. As a rule, the beginning 

 of the sound either preceded or coincided with that of the shock, 

 while the end of the sound either coincided with or followed that of 

 the shock, 



Second Earthquake : Bee. 31, 12.28 a.m. — Of this earthquake, 

 there are 41 records from 25 places, and negative records from 20 

 places, the latter being the same as for the first earthquake. 



The intensity of the shock at Wells and one or two other places 

 was about 5. The disturbed area is more elongated than the former. 

 It is 19f miles long, 12^ miles broad, and contains 180 square miles. 

 Its longer axis runs from W. 27° N. to E. 27° S. ; and its centre is 

 I mile W. 6° S. of Wells. 



