Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 77.djvu/165

Rh but there is a suggestion that they were rioted in Waukegan, where the sidewalks were seen to "heave." A high bridge near Dubuque, Ia., and some old buildings in Plattsville, in Wisconsin, were seen to "sway." But motions of such structures, as well as motions of smaller objects, indoors and outdoors, are merely the effects of the earth's motion and not a part of the earthquake itself. It is unnecessary to enumerate them here.

Another classification of the earthquake phenomena takes into consideration the different objects giving evidence of the seismic motion and the terms used by the observers in stating how these objects were affected. It presents simultaneously in this case, a study in journalistic diction and in mechanics. Forty reports relate the varied behavior of buildings and houses. These are said to have shaken (17), rocked (7), trembled (4), swayed (3), cracked (3), to have been jarred (2), to have quivered (2) and to have creaked and heaved, respectively in as many cases as indicated by the inserted figures. Observations on dishes, bottles and tinware are next in number. These mostly rattled (15), or were broken (8). Some were dashed to the floor (6), others merely fell (3), some were shaken (3), were moved (2), or they rocked, trembled, wabbled and were disturbed. A crockery store in Dubuque sustained a damage of some eight hundred dollars. The words used in describing the motions of furniture present a turbulence of performances of almost kaleidoscopic variety. Chairs, tables, beds, bookcases, even sedate stoves shook (8), were moved (6), were overturned (3), swayed (2), quivered (2), trembled (2), broke, were upset, tipped over, threatened to tumble over, rattled, rolled back and forth, rocked, heaved and "had the glass shattered." Windows and doors rattled (12), and shook (3), and one door was "sprung so it would not close." Hanging pictures and mirrors engaged in a variety of diversions. Some swung (3), some were shaken from the walls (3) and some were thrown from their fastenings. One mirror "trembled on the wall," and another "fell from the wall." One is said to have "jumped around" and one was "demolished." Light fixtures and lamps swayed (4), heaved, shook, were shaken from their rests, were overturned, fell and broke, or were knocked down, and one gas flame was "shaken out." Chimneys fell (4), toppled over (2), were razed, shaken down and cracked. Water and milk in tumblers and pans were spilled (5) and tippled. At Sabula a wave was thrown up against the bank of the Mississippi River. Bric-a-brac was shaken off, tipped off and thrown down from mantles (6) or simply fell to the floor. Four clocks were stopped. Heavy machinery rattled or "shook in good shape." An elevator swayed and some linotype machines swayed violently. Telephone wires were seen to sway, a telephone receiver was knocked off its hook, and a telephone instrument was "put out of commission." Other public utilities suffered serious damage, several