SIXTH REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I909 37 



October 13. The vibrations continued for nearly an hour 

 and their east-west component was the stronger. They appear 

 to have been set up by a distant shock, perhaps originating in 

 central Europe, which was in a state of unrest at about that time. 



November 6. Very small vibrations of which only an east- 

 west component was recorded. Severe earthquakes were felt 

 in Italy, central Europe and southwestern Asia at correspond- 

 ing times. They were probably preliminary to the Messina dis- 

 turbance of December 28th. 



November 30. Well marked though small vibrations of about 

 equal magnitude on both instruments. Origin unknown. 



December 27-28. A record of the disastrous earthquake at 

 Messina, Italy. The vibrations at this station lasted about 40 

 minutes and reached a maximum amplitude of 2 millimeters at 

 12 midnight. Only very faint movements were shown by the 

 east-west pendulum. Other stations in this country and in 

 Europe reported the wave motion to have been of moderate 

 dimensions. The earthquake was due probably to crustal dis- 

 location along the depression occupied by the straits of Messina. 



January 22. Record of devastating earthquake in the province 

 of Luristan, Persia, in which 60 villages were wholly or partially 

 destroyed. The shock was of world-wide compass and was re- 

 ported by almost all stations. No direct news of its effects in 

 Persia was received till February 17. The vibrations at this 

 station were of about the same intensity as those set up by the 

 Messina earthquake, though they traveled a much greater dis- 

 tance. No vibrations were indicated on the pendulum recording 

 the north-south component. 



February 16. The shock traveled apparently in an east-west 

 direction. The movements lasted for 17 minutes with oscillations 

 of small amplitude. They may be referred to the violent shock 

 that was felt throughout Alaska on the same day and reported 

 from Skagway Lynn canal at 7.30 a.m. 



February 26. Record more clearly indicated on the east-west 

 instrument. The epicenter is estimated at 2500 miles distant. The 

 shock was also recorded by the Ottawa station. 



April 10. Record obtained only on the north-south instru- 

 ment. The shock was of moderate intensity, with a maximum 

 amplitude of i^ millimeters. Its origin is unknown but appears 

 to have been about 6000 miles distant, possibly in the eastern 

 Mediterranean region. 



