700 MYRON L. FULLER 
THE RECENT EARTHQUAKE 
WEATHER CONDITIONS 
At the time of the recent severe shock, which occurred a little 
after half-past three in the afternoon, the barometer stood at 29.551, 
which is normal for the locality and elevation. The weather was 
clear. The shock occurred near the date of the new moon at which 
period, it is claimed by some, the Jamaica earthquakes are particu- 
larly likely to occur, owing to the supplementary attraction due to 
the conjunction of sun and moon. A comparison with the table above 
also shows that it took place near the afternoon period of maximum 
intensity. 
TIME AND DURATION 
The principal shock, which was the only one producing any 
serious damage, took place at 33 minutes and 6 seconds past 3 o’clock 
in the afternoon of January 14, 1907, and lasted about 30 seconds. 
The vibrations were not of uniform strength, but were marked, 
according to descriptions, by at least three recurrent pulsations of 
alternating low and high intensities. 
CHARACTER OF MOVEMENT 
Direction oj vibrations—Those who experienced the shock in 
Kingston are generally of the opinion that the vibrations were along 
an east-west line, but whether from the east or from the west there 
is some disagreement. ‘That the principal movement was along the 
line indicated is further attested by the fact that the east and west 
ends of buildings were most commonly thrown down, east and west 
walls more frequently buckled and crushed, and cracks in the walls 
mainly in east and west directions. As will be seen later the epicenter 
was very near Kingston, and there was more or less deflection of the 
waves by the surrounding mountains, doubtless giving rise to compli- 
cations of movement which more or less disguised the normal direction 
of transmission. 
Nature oj vibrations.—The natureof the earthmovements depended 
largely upon the character of the underlying material at the point 
where the shock was observed. On the solid rocks and on the com- 
pact semi-cemented alluvium on which Kingston is situated the 
