Panic During an Earthquake.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 89, 14 April 1892, Page 3

Panic During an Earthquake.

I was staying on the Biviera when the famous earthquake of 1888 occurred I was awakened by a shock which dashed two pictures off the wall of my room and upset the wash hand stand. While I was striking a match another shock strewed me and some chairs among some fragments of broken crockery. I had presence of mind enough to remember that during an earthquake you are no safer in the streets than in a covered building; so I dressed without mad precipitancy, and, after a desperate struggle to open my door-wtoch had got jammed-walked down stairs The siirht was one never to be forgotten. MeJ womeJ and children in dishabille were huddled in the front hall, crying shrieking and praying. Some had bolted out of doors with hardly any clothes on and had made for the sea, where they clamored to go out in boats. Among the panic stricken folk was an old gentleman m pyjamas, who had come down the stairs three steps at a time. But on reaching the hall he exclaimed that he had forgotten something and must go back. His friends shouted to him that the upper stories were dangerous, but he turned a deaf ear bounded up stairs ftnd presently returned panting. The thing which he had Jorgjotten was his set of false teeth/"