Descriptive Report. 89
" As the shock lasted at most six to seven seconds, it was
impossible for any observations to extend beyond the imme-
diate surroundings of the individual, and it is only by
judicious dealing with a collection of these personal experiences,
and a careful inspection of the damage done, that any
reliable estimate of the intensity of the earthquake can be
formed. My experience was briefly as follows:— I was
standing alone in a ground-floor room reading my letters,
about 20 minutes past 9 a.m.; suddenly, without being pre-
viously aware of any rocking or rumbling sensation, there
was a noise as of falling brickwork. I at once came to the
conclusion that a semi-detached chimney at the back of the
room had fallen; the din increased and became deafening,
and the accompanying rolling motion of an earthquake was
easily recognisable. No warning symptoms of earthquake
occurred ; there was bright sunshine at the time, with a clear
sky overhead, and there was no abnormal behaviour of the
barometer. The shock was not preceded by any smaller
premonitory shake, nor was there any subsequent movement
after the single shock. Further, no subsidence of water in
the ponds could be detected after the event. From the fact
that the pendulums of clocks swinging north and south were
stopped, while those east and west continued going, it would
seem that the wave of earthquake moved somewhat in the
latter line, though this theory is scarcely borne out by the
action of the shock on buildings, and it is probable that the
true line of motion was west-south-west and east-north-east.
I may mention that three weeks ago, about the same hour, I
noticed what I believed to be a slight earthquake ; it was not
sufficiently pronounced for me to be certain, though I stated
the fact to others at the time."
The "Nook" in the Cemetery Road (Col. Bowen), was
much damaged in the roof and upper storey by the descent
of the chimney-stacks, and the house had to be abandoned.
At Wivenhoe Cross, about a mile due north of the main
village, the damage began to decline. The " Flag " Inn and
neighbouring building suffered from falling stacks. At the
Rope Walk (Messrs. Browne and Son) about 30 feet of a tall
brick shaft had to be taken down, and a large steam boiler in
the building beneath was much damaged. Between this
hamlet and Greenstead the house at Wivenhoe Park (Mr. H.
J. Gurdon-Rebow), modern and strongly built, had the
chimneys thrown down, the roof damaged, and the walls and