From further information relative to this interesting
phenomenon received since our last, in which its occurrence at Newcastle and
Raymond Terrace was adverted to, it appears to have extended in a direct line in
a north easterly direction for a distance of upwards of 200 miles, from
Windsor, on the McLeay River to Kempsey.
A line drawn from one of these two
points to the other embraces all the localities in which the action of the
earthquake has been most violent. This line of central action is almost parallel
to the coast at a distance of about 25 miles; and as it has been experienced in
several places along the coast, it is probably that further inquiries will show
that its action extended for a n equal distance on each side of this line, thus
embracing a surface measuring upwards of 10,000 square miles, over which it had
been more or less felt.
It is worthy of remark, that nearly similar
atmospherical phenomena preceded the shock wherever it has been experienced
Those phenomena, however, must be regarded in no respect as the cause of
the earthquake, but as the concurrent effect of a common cause. At Kempsey, on
the McLeay the shock was preceded by a heavy hail storm. The earthquake here,
says a correspondent of the Herald, was very sensibly felt by every one on the
river; it shook the whole of the cottage in the village in such a manner as even
to cause the plastering to separate from the walls, and fall to the ground; many
of the houses were actually rocked like a cradle by the shock. The sky has been
all day very cloudy, with every appearance of rain, which is very much required.
Two shocks
were sensibly felt at Newcastle, where its occurrence has been
already mentioned, the first about half past five in the morning, and the other
a few minutes later. The walls of the houses shook so much as to appear as
though they were falling, and persons who were in bed describe the sensation
they experienced to be as though their beds had been turned completely on one
side, and after coming to their original position, they were violently shaken
for some seconds. The shock was accompanied with a low rumbling noise and a
tremulous motion of the earth. This is the fourth shock of an earthquake that
has been felt on the hunter since the month of August 1837.
The present shock appears to have been experienced throughout
the whole of that district. A correspondent from Dunmore says. "We had a shock
of an earthquake here, on Friday morning last, at half past 5 o'clock. It made
the house shake very much and was accompanied with a rumbling noise. It was also
felt at Maitland at the same time". At Raymond Terrace as mentioned in our last,
it was felt at the same time.
At Paterson it was felt at about twenty five
minutes
past five o'clock, and two distinct shocks were experienced. It appears to have
been more violent, and of longer duration in this locality than at any other
place. The first shock was a slight trembling motion of the earth, accompanied
by a low murmuring noise, which continued for about fifteen seconds. Two or
three minutes after its cessation there was a more violent shock which continued
for nearly forty seconds, and shook the firmest buildings whilst every thing
loose about the houses was set in motion. Some persons were seriously alarmed for
their safety. During the continuance of the tremor, a decayed tree on the banks
of the river was thrown down; there was very little noise with the last shock.
At Singleton, Patrick Plains, the shock was very
sensibly felt, some say two and
others three times; but it does not appear to have been so violent there as at
the Paterson, though the tremulous motion of the earth was felt. The shock
occurred about half past five in the morning. For some days previous to the 28th
the weather had been exceeding sultry and oppressive, and in the neighbourhood
of Newcastle there had been a great deal of thunder. with almost incessant
lighting, but very little rain. - Colonial Observer 5th November 1842