EARLY MORNING TREMOR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17527, 23 July 1931, Page 2

EARLY MORNING TREMOR

LITTLE DAMAGE EFFECT FELT OVER WIDE AREA RECENT ’QUAKE IN ENGLAND LONDON, June 8. An earth tremor of greater severity than any experienced in this country since the East Anglican shock in 1884 was felt over a wide area of England and Scotland shortly before half-past one vesterdav morning). No serious damage appears to have been caused by the disturbance, but the movement was sufficiently pronounced to ■cause alarm where it was observed,, and many people rushed into the streets. Houses were shaken, windows ratLcd, beds rocked, doors banged, and pictures were moved. 'I ho tremors were dis-i tinetly felt in London, and may have been the cause of a hurst water main which was discovered at 2.10 a.in. in Great Eastern street, Shoreditch. The Meteorological Department of the Air Ministry yesterday afternoon issued the following statement The earthquake which was felt in England this morning was recorded at Kew Observatory. The first impulse arrived at 0 hours' 26 minutes G..M.T. (1.26 British Summer Time), and the maximum movement was recorded about one minute later, the amplitude being so great that the trace exceeded the limit of registration. The tremor lasted about half an hour. A rough estimate indicates that the epicentre was about 150 miles awav in a northerly direction from Kew —i.e., in the north-east of England. The shock is the biggest near-earthquake which has been recorded at Kew. SWAYING BEDS In respect of the area over which the shock was felt, the tremors were probably more extensive than any of which there is real knowledge in England. The earthquake was observed at Bournemouth and other places on the South Coast and as far north as Elgin. A tentative estimate is that- the area affected was about 150,000 square miles in extent, as compared with 100,000 miles in the case of the shock in 1884. The tremors 47 years ago, however, were more violent and caused substantial destruction. Although the news that there had been an earthquake shock in London surprised most of the millions who slept through the disturbance, all who were awake felt the earth movement. There is common, agreement that the tremors were weird and puzzling. People who were in hod noticed that their beds suddenly began to sway from side to side, and the movement continued for about a minute. A correspondent who lives on the Parliament Hill side of Hampstead Heath states that he was awakened at 1.26 a.ni by the bed lifting up and clown. The head of the bed was due south-east, and the movement seemed to be sideways as well as one of rise and fall. It was rhythmical in character and of such intensity- that his first impulse was toclutch the mattress. For half an hour after the disturbance swans and other birds on si pond and two blackbirds nesting under the window of the house wore calling out in an agitated manner. CLOCKS STOPPED A group of people sitting) in a room at Alaida Vale described their experience as uncanny. There was a marked rumbling r.oise, which was at- first attributed to the passing of a heavy lorry, brtt as it continued this explanation* was discarded. Then it was noticed that all the electric lights were swinging, and that a tall vase containing flowers was moving. The flowers continued to sway for at least a minute. It was thought that a big explosion had occurred somewhere in the neighborhood. In several houses clocks were stopped by the tremor at 1.26 a.m., or within a minute or two ot that time. Light sleepers who were awakened by. the movements of beds or the, noise of windows were at a loss to know what had happened, but experienced uneasiness. There are many reports of barking dogs. A telephone operator on duty at the Times office in Printing House Square was startled hv the shaking of the switchboard of the private exchange and sudden chaos among indicators. The clock above Edmonton Institute, Bridport road, N., was split open by the shock. Reports from correspondents of the Times in various parts of the country indicate that tho intensity of the tremor over tlie area in which it was felt did not vary greatly, though the shock Was most severe in the neighborhood of Hull. South Wales was almost, outside the area of shock, but in Carnarvonshire the tremor lasted five seconds and was preceded by a strong gale of wind. SHOOKS IN SCOTLAND The earthquake was felt over a wide area in Scotland, but no damage has been reported. Householders along the vallev of the Tweed were awakened by a rumbling noise, like the passing of heavy traffic along) the roadway, and the mysterious ringing of door bells. In Peehles .people living near a building which is in course of construction rushed out of their houses under the impression that the structure had collapsed. The

shock was also felt m Perthshire, particularly in the Comrie district, where earthquake shocks are not uncommon. There sleepers were roused by the barking of dogs and the scampering of frightened horses and cattle in the fields. In tho morning many people found the pictures on their walls hanging askew. At Fraserburgh many people heard a loud rumbling noise and felt a distinct tremor, which was attributed to a passing motor or to gun practice by the Fleet. The tremor was also felt at Rosehearty, Sandhaven, and other neighboring villages, where glasses rattled on shelves and light objects fell down. Shocks were felt as far north as Elgin, where there were two earth tremors, the first at 1.25 a.m. like the vibration caused by the passing of a- heavy vehicle, and another, three minutes later, which was much more severe. Houses trembled violently,, windows, crockery, and furniture rattled, and beds were shaken. A low rumbling noise was mistaken by many persons for the sound of distant thunder.