OF THE 20TH OF NOVEMBER, 1887. 
49 
OXFORDSHIRE. 
Sandford St. Martin. —Sandford St. Martin, near Great Tew, 
lies in a valley similarly to Oxford. Mr. J. Wiggins heard [there], 
at 8'20 a.m., a rambling noise similar to distant cannon, to right of 
Steeple Aston, S.E. of this position; [there was] a thick fog at the 
time. He thought it was a dynamite explosion in London. The 
postman also thought it was an explosion from a S.E. direction. 
Others in the village were of similar opinion.— F. A. Bellamy , 
Oxford. [Steeple Aston is about 10° S. of E. from Sandford St. 
Martin.] 
Heyford. —In a letter from a friend at Aynhoe the following 
passage occurs:—“That noise was near Heyford. There was a 
motion of the earth experienced. It was not thought to be thunder, 
being so sudden and only one sound.” He adds that it startled all 
the pheasants—they generally call out when it thunders.— John 
Mathison, Addington. 
Bicester. —A singular phenomenon, which appears to have been 
a shock of earthquake, was observed here, and in several of the 
surrounding villages, at about 8'20. The effect is variously 
described as resembling a distant explosion and as somewhat like 
a clap of thunder. Some conjectured that a terrible dynamite 
explosion had taken place in London, whilst an extensively- 
prevailing report on Monday attributed the noise to an explosion 
which was said to have taken place in connection with the gas¬ 
works at Baron Bothschild’s seat at Lodge Hill.— 1 M. M .,’ p. 164. 
Kirtlington.— I heard a report in the atmosphere such as I 
never heard before. It brought me quite to a stand still. I looked 
up to see, but only heard the report as of a big gun. It was in 
the direction of Bicester, about N.E. The vibrations moved to the 
S. The wind was still before the report, but after [it] the trees 
by my house were moving.— George Norridge, The Laundry , Kirt- 
lington. [Bicester is about E.N.E. from Xirtlington.] 
Oxford.— Many inhabitants were startled shortly after 8 o’clock 
by a rumbling sound like that of a distant explosion. Some persons 
appear not to have experienced anything unusual, but others state 
that doors and windows were made to rattle, and a noise was heard 
resembling the passing of a heavy vehicle. Beports have been 
received from villages in the neighbourhood to the same effect.— 
1 M. M.; p. 164. 
I heard an extraordinary explosion [while] in my house in North 
Oxford. It seemed rather to come from above than below the 
earth, similar to a clap of far-off thunder, or a distant sound of a 
moving train.— A correspondent in 1 M. Jf.,’ p. 164. 
I happened to be walking at the time mentioned [8*20 a.m.], and 
heard a fine rolling sound, which appeared to begin just opposite 
where I was, and rolled away to the eastward, till I could no longer 
hear it. The tone of the roll was very grand. I looked up into 
the sky, expecting to see some appearance of thunder-clouds, but 
there was nothing unusual to be seen. I felt no tremor. 
VOL. V.—PART II. 
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