Page:Awful phenomena of nature -- earthquakes.pdf/3

3 letter, when the table I was writing on began to tremble with a gentle motion, which surprised me, as I could not perceive a breath of wind stirring. Whilst I was reflecting on what could be the cause, the whole house began to shake from the very foundation, which at first I imputed to the rattling of coaches in the street; but on listening more attentively, I found it was owing to a frightful noise under ground, resembling the rumbling of distant thunder. All this passed in less than a minute. I now began to be alarmed, as it occurred to me, that the noise might possibly be the presage of an approaching earthquake.

I threw down my pen, and started upon my feet, remaining for a moment in, whether I should stay in the , or run into the street; but in an I was roused from my dream, being  with a most horrid crash, as though  edifice in the city had tumbled down  once. The house I was in shook with violence, that the upper stories  fell in; and though my apartment which was on the first floor) did not  share the same fate, yet every  was thrown out of its place, and it  with difficulty that I kept my feet.  expected nothing less than to be crushed death, as the walls continued rocking to