THE ENGLISH EARTHQUAKE OF DECEMBER 17TH, 1896. 259
The raison d'etre of the present note in our Journal is that the shocks were
certainly felt in Essex. The observations are, unfortunately, very few in number
and meagre in detail ; still, it is well to record them, so as to register the limits of
the vibrations eastwards. It was recorded in the newspapers that a gentleman in
Chelmsford at the time of the shock felt his bed shake from side to side three or
four times ; at Sandon a lady noticed the vibration while lying in bed, and thought
that a traction engine was passing the house, and there are similar reports from
Writtle, Stock, Baddow and other places in the vicinity of Chelmsford. No
reports of the vibrations have been received from the Colchester district. Nearer
London we have received several verbal reports of the shock having been felt at
Woodford, and Buckhurst Hill. From Loughton and Chingford we have more
definite observations :
Mr. I. Chalkley Gould, of Traps Hill House, Loughton, writes: "The earth-
quake of December 17th was distinctly felt in this house, the vibration of a room
on the north-east side being sufficient to awaken me, though I heard no sound.
The occupant of a room on the north-west side experienced a sudden tremor and
apparent rising of the bed, while the ornaments on a dressing-table slightly
rattled."
Mr. T. Hay Wilson, of Chingford, writes, that "Mr. W. L. Rickett, of Warren
Road (the garden abutting into Organ Lane, near the junction with High Street,
Chingford), who, during his residence in Japan, has often experienced earthquakes,
tells me that he was awoke by his bed shaking, and the rattling of the ware in his
bedroom. His clock showed the time as 5.40 a.m., but he feared it was not
accurate. Mr. Rickett says that an earthquake always gave him, in Japan, a
peculiar sensation, which he at once recognised on this occasion."
Mr. Wilson also records that Mr. Charles Savill, of "Dunlace," Chingford,
"felt his bed shake, heard the ware rattle, and the flooring-boards creak. He
noted that the time was about 5.30 a.m. Mr. Savill's house is a little to the S.E.
ot the Royal Forest Hotel, facing the forest in front of it."
Mr. George Bartrip, of Chingford Green, writes as follows :
" My house is a very old-fashioned one. Sitting by the fireside I can occasion-
ally hear and recognise the tunes of the bands playing at Ponder's End and
Woodford ; but on going outside into the open I could not hear a note. Being a
slight sleeper, I was awoke on the morning of December 17th with a most un-
earthly sound and shaking, as if someone were rolling a heavy cart or roller on
the floor, and found myself sitting up in bed. I looked at the watch and found it
was half-past five, and all around was quiet. My son, who resides half-a-mile
away, likewise felt a motion at the same time, as did several of my friends, one of
whom went downstairs with a stick, thinking there were burglars in the house, as
the glasses were jingling. On the Sunday following a portion of the roof of my
house fell in with a crash. The builder thinks it very probable that the displacing
of some of the tiles was the cause."
Mr. Wilson observes that "the above three houses lie nearly in a line taken
from Chingford Station from the junction of Organ Lane and High Street,
Chingford, the direction being a little to the north of east. The depth of the
London Clay in the three cases will average about 240 feet."
The above are all the Essex records in our possession at the time of writing.
We shall be glad to receive any precise observations, or the observers may com-
municate direct with Dr. Davison, whose promised memoir on this remarkable
English earthquake will doubtless have a distinct scientific value.