An Earthquake?

Abstract

ON Friday, July 5, the inhabitants of Lyme Regis were much astonished by some noises, which took place at intervals between 11 and 11.15 p.m., and which there seems good reason to believe were caused by an earthquake. In three houses the occupiers thought that heavy pieces of furniture were being moved about, which was of course found not to be the case; and in another the inmates thought at first that something was wrong with the kitchen boiler. The noises observed consisted of a distant rumble which grew nearer till at last the windows of the houses rattled, and in some cases distinct vibrations of the houses were felt. Some have supposed that these noises were caused by guns at sea, but this seems impossible, because (1) the rattling of the windows occurred after the distant rumble, and not simultaneously as would have been the case with guns; (2) a gentleman who has had much experience in guns and firing, has declared that the noise was not like guns; (3) after making enquiries we have been unable to discover that any firing at sea took place that night; (4) although the night was still, a heavy ground swell was observed. These phenomena have not received any notice as far as we know in the public press, and it seems a pity, if an earthquake, as we believe, really took place, that there should not be some record of it.