MR. II. 15. WOODWARD ON THE EARTHQUAKE OF 1881. 
southwards as hu- as Mersea Island, liardly a chimney-stack was 
left standing, and hundreds of houses were Avholly or partially 
unroofed. The fine old church of St. Andrew, Langenhoe, was 
shattered, and almost destroyed ; at Wivenhoe the church-steeple 
■was overthrown, and the correspondent of the ‘Standard’ remarked 
that “ the little village looked as though it had been bombarded.”* 
Peldon and Abberton suffered likervisc. In the former village every 
house appeared to be damaged more or less, and one house “ ■was 
moved upon its foundation for a space of six inches, not laterally, 
but as if it had been taken and partially turned round. ”t 
L)r. J. E. Taylor refers to an instance of this kind, and states (on 
the authority of Mr. Wilkin of Wivenhoe) that there must at one 
spot have been a rise and fall of the ground of 2 feet 9 inches. ^ 
The evidence of a twisting motion, Avhich has been frequently 
observed after earthquakes, was attributed by l\Ir. Mallet to 
“ resolved motions, due to the transit rectilinearly of the shock.”§ 
In the present case, this phenomenon has also been attributed to 
the second shock which many individuals experienced. 
The trembling of the earth was likened by some persons to that 
produced by a traction engine or heavy vehicle passing along the 
road. To others the sensation Avas that of being at sea, Avith just 
enough motion to make it uncomfortable. Peojile in some cases 
seemed to be lifted up, and they staggered, or even fell doAvn ; Avhile 
in another case, an ass Avas prostrated, and its rider capsized. If 
the buildings vibrated, no Avonder their contents Avere affected. 
Doors Avere opened or shut, bells Avere set ringing, the bedsteads 
rocked, plates rattled, pictures and ornaments Avere shaken, and 
gaseliers and jiendants SAvayed too and fro. In a feAV instances 
cliairs and basins Avere noticed to have a “ gyrating movement ; ” 
many clocks Avere stopped, and a Avater-pipe burst. On the Avholc 
the disturbance Avas felt more in the upper rooms than in the base- 
ments of houses. 
Other signs of commotion Avere observed. The Avater in ponds 
and pools Avas agitated or drained off. In one place a spring burst 
* ‘Standard,’ April 23rd and 24th. (The date of all references to News- 
papers is 1884.) 
t ‘Daily News,’ April 24th. 
J ‘Nature,’ May 8th. 
§ Sec W. Topley, ‘Nature,’ May 15lh. 
