SEVERE EARTHQUAKE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14599, 25 February 1913, Page 10

SEVERE EARTHQUAKE.

CONTINUED SHOCKS. WESTPORT'S EXPEIUENCES. (PRESS ASSOf'TATION- TELEGn A.11.) WESTPORT. February 24. Earthquake shocks have been practically continuous from 12.36 on Saturday till 8 a.m. to-day. Pronounced shakes at 3.30 a.m., 7.30 a.m. and V.40, were accompanied by a noise similar to cannonading. No damage has been done since the first l>ig snock. The women and younger jiortion of tho population are in a state of apprehension. In three or four places in tho district narrow fissures opened in the ground, mostly in "made" ground. Some headstones were displaced in the cemetery, and scores ot gas mantles were broken in town. Quite a "sea raged in the river. An hands below on the steamer Karc>ri rushed to the deck. Arriving steamers report no disturbance at sea. It is almost impossible to give an account of the number of chimneys damaged. Nearly every household in the district had articles thrown aown, with extensive breakages in many places. Men working inside the collieries report a terrifying experience. It seemed as if a general collapse was imminent, but there was no actual damage to tho mines. The plaster in the ceilings of the State schools is loose, being in danger of falling, and all the children were dispersed this morning, pending repairs. There are slight cracks m the wall of the Westport Coal Company's laboratory, ana also £10 worth of chemical? were destroyed. _—,