Earthquake in England.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 160, 4 June 1884, Page 2

Earthquake m England.

[Per Mail Steamer.J

Despatches from LoucJon say that 'on the morning of April 22, at 9.30 | o'clock, an earthquake shock of con siderable force was felt m Eastern Counties of England. In Essex and Suffolk there worn scenes of the greatest disturbance. At Ipswich the shock was so severe that the walls of houses were perceptibly shaken plates rattled and bells rung. A mansion was shattered, and the rail way depot was partially destroyed. People have been thrown into such a state of consternation that business is for a time suspended. The duration of the shock at Ipswich is estimated at three seconds. The shock was still more severe at Colchester; the concussion lasted half a minute. The first sympton was a deep rumbling sound, portentous and awe-inspiring, speedily followed by quaking and shaking of all the buildings. The church bells sounded as though swayed by unseen bauds ; tall chimney stacks of factories crashed m ruins to the earth, and other lofty structures were destroyed. The spire of one of the largest churches m the city, 150 feet high fell with an awful crash to the ground. It is impossible to estimate the amount of damage, but it is known to be great. In private houses the greatest confusion prevailed ; chairs and tables were overturned, china and glassware m cupboards rattled together and were frequently shattered ; while pictures and other ornaments upon the walls were loosened from their fastenings and fell to the floor. People wei'e terror-stricken m the streets, where their agonised cries and pale faces made a most painful and impressive scene. In some streets traffic was I'm bidden for the time, as the buildings were so badly shattered that they were consideied dangerous. At Chelmsford, about twenty miles from London, the shock was «»!so .severo, and people were filled with terror and dismay. At Maiden, ten miles from Chelmsford, the Town Hall and private houses were swayed several times. The wave passed from Bouth to north. At Southend the | earth trembled for miles arouud. Tho windows of many dwellings were broken, chimneys were dashed to the earth, and crockery and glassware smashed. In London there were numerous indications of proximity of an earthquake. Telegraph instruments were shaken, and the shock was distinctly felt m Cheapside aud Fleet-street. The Globe says the shock was felt m the strand. A business house, it asserts, was perceptibly rocked, so much so that the employe's were affected, and rushed into the streets. The earthquake has caused « general feeling of alarm and insecurity throughout England. Later reports say that at Colchester a child was killed, and a woman's skull was fractured. There were many narrow escapes. The fine old parish church at Langenhoe was demolished, and the place looks as if it had been bombarded. The damage at Wivenhoe alone is £4000. At Coggeshall a number of school girls rushed panicstrickeu into the street, and many of them were crushed.