EARTHQUAKE AT SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13355, 8 December 1906, Page 9

EARTHQUAKE AT SEA.

SHIPS CREW STARTLED.

Captain J. A. Watlaxo, of the ship Alex. Gibson, reported to the branch Hydrographic office, at San Francisco, on October 8, that at five minutes, past seven p.m., on August 3, 1906, when,in latitude 25deg. 35min., longitude HOde-g. 6min., he experienced a tremendously heavy shock of earthquake, lasting about 40 seconds, and shaking the ship from stem to stern as if she were bumping over a ledge of rocks. It shook tools out of the racks in the carpenter's shop, pots and pans down in the galley, cups and pitchers from hooks in the pantry, and all glasses off the lamps. Tho crew came running aft, not knowing what was the matter, and the captain thought the yards were coming down. The sea at the time was perfectly smooth, the wind light from the south-west, no land in sight, and all sail set, in fine, clear weather. At ton minutes past seven p.m., ship's time, he felt another light shock, of about 15 seconds' duration, and from eight to twelve o'clock midnight felt two more very lightshocks, but did not note the time. The captain states that he had experienced an earthquake at sea on a former occasion, so he knew what it was; but the one felt before was nothing compared to this one, either in force or duration.

Captain C. H. McLeod, of the barque Agate; reports, to the branch Hydrographic office that at a-qttarter to four a.m., September 2, 1906, when in latitude. tSdeg. 40min. north, longitude 128deg. 50min. west, he experienced a heavy earthquake shock, lasting nearly a minute, the sensation being as if the vessel had struck a coral reef or rock. The wind was north-west and light, weather clear, sea smooth, and the •barometer at 30. At five minutes to four a.m. he felt another shock, not quite so severe as the first, nor of so long duration.