Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1909 — SHOCK ROCKS PACIFIC COAST [ARTICLE]

SHOCK ROCKS PACIFIC COAST

Alaska Cable Is an# Forte. Shaken. LASTS. FIFTEEN SECONDS Quake Breaks Water Pipes and Causes. Houses to Be Flooded In Port Townsend, Wash.—Disturbance Felt Over •n Area of, at Least Fifty Square Miles—Buildings Swayed and Windows and Roofs Broken. Port Townsend, Wash., Jan. 12. —An earthquake shock caused considerable damage here. It lasted from ten to fifteen seconds. The shock took the form a vibratory convulsion, swaying buildings and breaking many windows and fragile roofs. Reports from adjoining localities .available by telephone Btate that the force of the shock extended over an area at least fifty miles square, and in several districts two distinct shocks separated by more than a minute were felt. In many places in this city where water pipes had been frozen, the earthquake broke themains and flooded the houses. For a time it was feared the city’s entire water supply would be shut off, so great was the damage being done. Officers at Fort Worden state the investigation so far made shows no apparent damage to the fortifications was caused, although both Fort Worden and Fort Flagler wss badly shaken. The signal corps officers report the parting of the Alaska cable several hours previous to the shock here. Investigation will be made to ascertain if there was any connection between the circumstances. Child Alive In Reggio Ruins. Messina, Jan. 12. —The bodiee of nearly a hundred men employed in tho orange and lemon stores were taken from the ruins hare. At Reggio, firemen came upon a five-year-old boy, who was apparently uninjured.