144
The East Anglian Earthquake.
could only attribute their displacement to the earthquake
movement. By the kind invitation of Mr. Ranyard, I was
enabled to make an examination of the instrument referred
to, which is an eighteen-inch reflector, supported on walls
rising about 211/2 inches above ground, and sunk three feet
below ground, the walls resting on a concrete foundation.
The two 28 lb. counterpoise weights to the polar axis were
resting on a support hanging from the end of a lever-arm
standing N. and S., this lever magnifying any motion of the
supporting axis about six times. The weights, which were
flat and slotted, had been nearly shaken off their support, the
lowest weight having been displaced to a sufficient extent to
touch the iron frame of the instrument. Unfortunately, the
displacement of these weights gives no precise information as
to the direction of the vibrations, as the slots permitted them
to slide off only in one direction; it can only be affirmed that
the movement was more or less in a N. and S. direction;
nor can the amount of their displacement be used as a basis
for calculating the amount of displacement of the ground
during the passage of the disturbance, as the effect produced
was doubtless the result, not of a single " shock," but the
cumulative action of a series of small vibrations.
Brunswick Square.—Oscillation felt in an upper room at
No. 11, by a person seated in a chair. (Information
furnished by Dr. Maurice Davis).
Doughty Street.—Vibration felt in upper storey by a lady
bed at No. 52; bed standing with its length E. and W.
(Information given by Miss L. Lyons).
John Street, Bedford Row.— At No. 21 my mother, Mrs.
Meldola, who was in bed on the second floor, distinctly felt the
oscillation of the bedstead (standing with its length nearly
E. and W.), and at first attributed it to a cat shaking himself
under the bed, but the animal was found on searching to be in
a different corner of the room. On returning home in the
evening and mentioning that an earthquake had been felt in
London, my mother related her experience, and on my
questioning her as to the time, said " about 9.15."
Theobald's Road.—Shock felt at No. 20 by a gentleman in
bed in an upper room.