Earthquakes in South Australia.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11744, 22 September 1902, Page 5

Earthquakes in South Australia.

MOST SEVERE EVER EXPERIENCED IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. X

THE PEOPLE PANIC STRIKEN.

THOUSANDS RUSH INTO THE

STREETS

Press Association—Telegraph—CopyrighV. Received September 20, 10.15 a.m. . ADELAIDE, September 20. Yesterday morningl there were earthquake shocks over a great portion of the State.

Buildings were shaken

At night, a few minutes past 8, the shocks were repeated, much more severe, surpassing .anything previously experienced in South Australia.

From a cold atmosphere it became oppressively warm, and intensely calm:

A (pffeliminiaay came, and then a severe shock, lasting half a minute, accompanied by a tremendous noise.

Buildings rockedl and trembled, walls cracked, chimneys toppled over, and pictures and pottery fell from the walls.

There was a great panic, and people rushed into the streets in thousands.

In the Adelaide Hospital the patients left their beds, and some who managed to get out refused to ve-enter the building.

In the Theatre Royal the audience began a stampede which was avertedl by the presence of mind of an actor named Ward running on the stage and announcing that ifc was only the result of an experiment in connectioin with the forthcoming play..

Many ladies fainted and! there were scenes at other public meetings.

AH clocks in the city stopped at five aninubes past 8.

The Tronbridge lighthouse was 'badly damaged. The % oil overflowed and fired the lantern, which was destroyed.

The night was intensely dark, and it was impossible to ascertain the extent of damage, but it is believed that not many buildings are seriously damaged;

The direction was south td north, and it was particularly severe in the north.