Science: Temblors

Last week, the North American continent quivered in its sleep. Lying face up, it stirred its right shoulder; just a little twitch, but in one so enormous it was a movement visible and tangible in the states of Idaho, Montana, Washington, Wyoming, and sensible even in Italy, 5,500 miles away, where seismo-graphs recorded an earthquake of two hours’ duration. Buildings were damaged, citizens frightened the Olympian, express of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway, halted by part of a mountain moving in its path.

Again the continent shivered and stretched its right hip. Brick fell in the streets of Santa Barbara, buildings collapsed, hotels and banks were reported in ruins, the dam of one of the city’s reservoirs burst, telegraphic and telephonic connections severed, several were killed.