Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1903 — FEEL GROUND QUAKE. [ARTICLE]

FEEL GROUND QUAKE.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY FEELB 8EI&* MIC DISTURBANCE. Panic Caused at Many Pointa by tbe Phenomenon —No Serious Damage Results—'Waves Veit in Illinois* Indians, Missouri end Kentucky. An earthquake shock, noted first at St Louis at 6:20 o’clock Sunday night and twenty-five minutes later at Louisvttle, Ky., caused windows to rattle and buildings tp tremble in those towns and many others which lie in the 300 miles that separate them. A second smaller disturbance of the earth was noted at St Louis a few minutes after the first had ended. At Hannibal, Pacific and Farmington, Mo!, the shock was perceptible for about half a minute, and sounds resembling distant heavy thunder was heard. Many southern and central Illinois cities reported the visit of a perceptible but harmless shock.

At St. Louis the first quaking of the earth extended over a period of almost twenty seconds’ duration, and was felt with great distinctness in Alton, Edwardsville, Belleville and other towns on this side of the Mississippi. At Alton it was clear that the disturbance was moving from west to east. At Cairo it did not have so long a duration as when fiist reported, nor was any second fthock reported. Its effects were distinctly noted all over the city, although no actual damage was done. At Eldorado, Jll., the shocks lasted fifteen seconds, and many' clocks were stopped. At Carbondale, 111., the shock lasted fifteen seconds, and the vibration was from northeast to southwest. People ran from their houses and inquired-of their neighbors what was the matter. Clocks were stopped in many houses. At Nashville, 111., two distinct shocks were felt at 6:13 o’clock and followed each other in rapid succession. The vibrations were perceptible in other parts of Washington County, and much alarm was felt. A distinct earthquake shock was felt at. Centralia, 111., at 0:40 o’clock, and telephone messages from all parts of the county show that-it was general, especially to the southeast. Dispatches from Chester, 111., stated that that town noted the shock at 6:25 o’clock and that it lasted over three seconds. Owensboro, Ky., which is almost directly east of Alton, resorted the seismic disturbance at 6:40 o’clock, and added that it seemed to have lost none of its force. Pictures and bric-a-brac were shaken from the walls and tables of sec-ond-story rooms. Louisville noted the shock five minutes afterwafd, and re-' ported that it was so slight as to attract little attention. TlyJ shock was distinctly felt at Evansville, Ind. Buildings rocked and trembled. Tlie wave lasted but a second. The shock was felt in many parts of southern Indiana. No damage was done to any of the towns affected by the shock.