THE LIVING EARTH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1703, 4 November 1887, Page 4

THE LIVING EARTH

In a paper published In the " Indian Fnglneer," an illustration Is given of the life that dwells m nature, the phenomenon of earthquakes being cited. The peculiar terror of an earthquake lies mainly m the suddenness of its approach. Volcanic eruptions are usually preceded by vast rumblings, or jets of Bteam, or other uamlßtakeable tokens. Hurricanes and cyolones m like manner, havo heralds that announoo their coming. But with an earthquake there are no premonitory symptoms The groat earthquake w> i e took place at Lisbon In th > year 1755, found the peop'e engaged In tuoir ordiu»r^ oconpationß. All the shocks were over m about five minutes. The first shock lasted about six seconds. In that brief space of time most of the houseß had been thrown down, and thousands of men, women, and children crushed beneath tho rulnß. At times the ocean lends fresh terrors to the ■oene. Thus at Lisbon a wave of water over 60 feet high rushed m among the housep, and covered what still remained. In the isl»nd of Jamaica on a (similar occasion t« o thousand five hundred housts wtra burled m three minutes under 30 feet of water. Recent delloate scientific experiments have closed the fact that tke surface of tho land is never absolutely at reat for more than thirty hours at a time. Thus those great earthquakes which make epochs m history are merely extreme oaaai of forces that seldom sleep.