192 D. S. Martin— Earthquake of December, 1874. 
west points, to some four minutes of time, presented together a 
mass of uncertainties that might defy the powers of an abler com- 
mittee to unravel. It was hoped that astronomical time might 
be obtained at some points, sufficient to fix a definite basis for 
averages and calculations, but such was not the case. The 
most that could be ascertained was that the shock occurred at 
about 10.25 Pp. M., throughout the entire district affected. The 
absence of any indication of a progress in time, together with 
other facts to be referred to directly, speedily led to the idea 
that the movement had its source at a very considerable depth, 
and was by no means local or superficial. 
The shock was felt from a little beyond Fishkill Landing, 
Dutchess County, New York, southward to Sandy Hook light- 
house, a distance of some 80 miles. In an east and west direc- 
vation appears, until near the rear (or inner) edge of the great 
Palisade range of trap, when numerous reports began to come 
