The Republican Journal

A Maine Earthquake.

It was the Real thing, and the Eastern Section of the State had Quite a Shaking.

Last Saturday Maine had the unusual experience of an unmistakable earthquake shock, that was felt in Waldo, Penobscot, Hancock, Kennebec, Washington, Knox and Somerset counties. The shock was very noticeable in this city and was noted in some detail by several persons. It occurred at 1:05 p. m., standard time, and its duration was estimated not to exceed fifteen seconds: some say not over ten. At first there was a rumble and jar as though a heavy team was passing rapidly over a rough road. This lasted perhaps four seconds. Then came a pause of two or three seconds, followed by a second jar, which began light, gradually increased and suddenly stopped. The second shock lasted from five to eight seconds.

In all parts of the city, except where there was a constant jar from machinery, passing teams or other causes, the earthquake was noticed to the extent of feeling the jar and hearing a rumbling sound, and rattling of dishes, chandeliers, etc. It was noticed most strongly on Wilson hill near Grove Cemetery, where it rattled the stove covers and caused chandeliers to swing noticeably.

At the first shock people thought it was the rumbling of a passing team, moving furniture over head or some commotion next door. Then many started to rush out-doors fearing that the buildings were coming down; but the excitement was soon over, and it was then recognized as an earthquake. One of the ideas concerning the shock was that some trouble at the water works had given a jar through the pipes. In East Belfast the shock was noticeably manifest in the houses, but was not felt by men at work on the clay in the brickyard. Our county correspondents report as follows:

NORTHPORT.
Saturday afternoon about 2 o'clock (local time?) was felt a very distinct shock of an earthquake. Dishes, stoves and other articles were considerably disturbed. A long, low rumbling sound was heard for some time, and the oscillations lasted nearly three quarters of a minute, as timed by Mr. Harvard Elwell at the post office.

SANDYPOINT.
An earthquake was felt here Saturday about 1:30 p. m.

SWANSVILLE. Last Saturday afternoon we had what we suppose was an earthquake shock.

WINTERPORT. The earthquake shock Saturday afternoon was quite heavy, and was distinctly felt in all parts of the town, and in Frankfort.

LIBERTY. At about 1:30 p. m. last Saturday the people of this village were very much shaken by a slight earthquake, which shook every building and lasted for about half a minute.

PALERMO. An earthquake shock was felt last Saturday afternoon. It lasted about one minute, shook the buildings, rattled the windows, stoves and dishes, and frightened women and children.

CENTRE MONTVILLE.
A slight shock of an earthquake was felt at this place Saturday, Sept. 25th, between the hours of 1 and 2 o'clock p. m. Persons in the houses noticed a decided jar of the buildings, while stoves and crockery rattled considerably. A rumbling noise accompanied this manifestation of internal disturbance.

REPORTS FROM OTHER SECTIONS,

OLD TOWN, Sept. 25 Old Town and neighboring towns felt a slight shock of earthquake shortly after 1 o'clock to-day. It lasted fully half a minute.

PITTSFIELD, Sept. 25. A distinct earthquake shock of several seconds duration was felt at this place soon after one o'clock to-day. Bottles in the drug stores rattled, and in one store a clock fell from the building.

SOLON, Sept 25. From all sections about here reports are coming in that there was an earthquake this noon. The jar was painfully felt in the most substantial buildings in the place. The shock lasted some four seconds.

ROCKLAND, Sept. 25. An earthquake shock was distinctly felt here a few minutes after 1 o'clock this afternoon The shock was felt in all towns in this section, and buildings were shaken, but no apparent damage was done.

FARMINGTON, Sept. 25. At 1.30 to-day a very perceptible earthquake shock was felt in this section. The motion was northeast to southwest and lasted five seconds. The motion was a peculiar one and came in rapid intervals. No damage was done here,

WATERVILLE. Sept. 25. At 1 o'clock this afternoon there was felt in all parts of the city a heavy earthquake shock which lasted nearly half a minute. The motion seemed to be from north to south. and it caused the rocking of houses and shaking up of dishes to some extent, though strange to say there was no damage.

BINGHAM, Sept. 25. At about 1 o'clock this place was visited by an earthquake which the Postal Telegraph operator reports as nearly knocking him from his chair, and lasting for nearly a minute. The telegraph office is at the Somerset railroad station and the sensation was as if some very heavy team had backed up against the building and brought up with a jump.

ELLSWORTH, Sept. 25. An earthquake shock was felt here at 1.01 this afternoon, with rumbling from the southward. Houses shook, windows and dishes rattled, the vibration lasted for 10 seconds. The sky was clear and the thermometer was 72 above zero. The shock was also noticed in other towns in this county and in Steuben and Washington county.

BANGOR, Sept. 25. Bangor and Brewer experienced a very decided shock of earthquake about 1 o'clock this afternoon. The rumbling lasted, according to reliable witnesses. from three-fourths to a minute in time. It shook granite and brick buildings very noticeably and rattled dishes in the cupboards of private houses. The quake evidently pursued a direction from the south to the north. Special despatches to the Commercial note the occurrence of the shock in Bucksport. Ellsworth, Stockton Springs to the south and Orono, Old Town and Olamon and other places to the north.