General Summary. 211
felt. These may have marked the successive arrival
of the disturbance, first through the harder rocks and
then through the less elastic softer beds.
10. A distinct rumbling noise preceded the shock at most
places round the origin, and slight rumblings were
heard at some of the distant stations.
11. The seismic area was shaken by a previous shock on
February 18th, 1884, and there may have been a slight
succeeding shock on June 24th of the same year.
12. The usual concomitant effects of great earthquakes were
experienced, such as the sudden blow given to ships,
and the sensations of nausea felt by persons.
13. The number of buildings damaged by the shock was
between 1200 and 1300, including 20 churches and
11 chapels.
14. The damage occurred in North-East Essex, within an
area of fifty or sixty square miles. This localisation of
the damage is probably due to the disturbance having
originated beneath a clay area.
15. The main axis of damage had a general direction
N.E.-S.W., extending from Wivenhoe to Peldon,
with maxima of intensity at these two places.
16. No satisfactory evidence of the agitation of the water in
rivers or the sea near the centre of the disturbance
has been obtained.
17. The shock caused the water of many wells to become
turbid for a short time, and also produced a rise in
the level of the water in deep wells at Colchester and
Bocking, this increased level having been maintained
for many months, but afterwards apparently gradually
falling.
18. In one locality (Cross Farm), where the soil just beneath
the surface was saturated with water, the shock caused
the spouting forth of temporary streamlets.
19. No perceptible change of surface-geology was produced
by the shock, and no permanent alteration of level
is known to have resulted therefrom. Slight cracks in
the ground were opened in Mersea Island.