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Omaha Daily Bee
15 Nov 1877
AN EARTHQUAKE SHOCK. Omaha Receives a Lively Shaking Up.
-------Exciting Scenes and Incidents in the United States Court Room
-------Also in the Douglas County District
Court: at Military Headquar-
ters: at Union Pacific
Headquarters and in
all Parts of the
City.
-------The latest sensation is an earthquake shock, which visited Omaha and vicinity at about twenty-five minuets to twelve o'clock this morning. It was pretty generally felt all over the city, both by people on the streets and in buildings. In the large buildings especially the shock was very distinctly felt, creating intense excitement among the occupants and causing a rush for the doors. The shake lasted from a half minute to a minute and a half, according to the statements of different parties. It was a genuine shake up as thousands of persons can testify.
Probably the most excitement occurred at the postoffice building. The United States Circuit Court was in session in the large court room on the third floor. The pro rata case of the Kansas Pacific and Denver Pacific railroads vs. the Union Pacific railroad was occupying the attention of the court. Judge Usher was just opening the case for the plaintiffs, when suddenly the large clock on the wall back of the Judge's seat, swung to and fro, the large chandelier, suspended from the ceiling, swayed this way and that, and a general vibration of the whole of the whole building was noticed. A general panic ensued, Judge Usher stopped short in his argument. The numerous crowd sprang to their feet and started for the door.
The United States' District Attorney, Mr. Neville exclaimed, "There's an earthquake."
His assistant, Mr. Doolittle followed him, saying "For God's sake let's get out of here."
Hon. G. W. Collins, of Pawnee City, became panicky, and said, "What's the matter? I am going out of here," and he hurriedly left the court room.
In the various offices below, and especially in the internal revenue department, nearly all the occupants were startled and made a start for the doors. In fact there was hardly a person in the building but what felt the shock. At. first, however, ....
caused by earthquake shocks.
However the shock was soon over, but the excitement lasted some little time, and everybody had some incident to relate.
Similar scenes occurred at the County Court house, where the Douglas county District Court was in session. C. A. Baldwin was addressing the jury in a trespass case, when several person ran to the windows. Mr. Baldwin asked Judge Savage what the matter was, and His Honor replied that it was an earthquake, but Mr. Baldwin, thinking it all a joke, resurmed the thread of his argument. The building vibrated slightly, but sufficiently to give nearly everybody a scare.
In the County Clerk's office the clock was moved about half an inch, and some plants waved as if being blown by quite a lively little breeze.
At military headquarters, the shock caused the inmates of the building to make a start for out of doors.
In the upper stories of the Grand Central Hotel the shock caused some little sensation, and Mr. Thrall, the landlord, ran to the speaking tube and asked the clerk in the office below what was the trouble with the building.
At the Omaha National Bank, and in the upper stories of Caldwell block, Central block and Creighton block the earthquake was distinctly felt.
At the Smelting Works, in the lumberyards, in the BEE office, and in the Union Pacific headquarters building it was very strong, especially in the latter structure; where many of the employes in the second and third stories ran out of the offices, thinking that a heavy safe that was being hoisted to the second story had fallen, and a few of the clerks thought the building was tumbling down and went outside to satisfy themselves.
In every quarter of the city similar incidents transpired, and in a few minutes everybody had come to the conclusion that Omaha had been struck by an earthquake wave.------------ Along the U.P. Railroad
Despatches received at Union Pacific headquarters show that the earthquake extended from Omaha to Sidney, and was felt at nearly every station on the road between these two points.
The wall of the court house at Columbus were cracked in nine different places.
At North Platte the school children hurriedly vacated the school building.----------
PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS
-------Lyman McCarty, of Kansas City, is at the Grand Central.
Hon. Albinus Nance, of Osceola, Nebraska, is at the Grand Central.
E. E. Cunningham is registered at the Grand Central as a Black Hillian.
J. H. Burbank, of the Omaha Indian Agency, registered at the Grand Central last evening.
Daniel Frohman, the advance agent of Caliender's Georgia minstrels, who play here on the 20th and 21st, is at the Grand Central.
Mr. J. F. Vosatko, the superintendent of the Bohemian department of the Hamburg American Steamship Col, is in the city and is stopping with Mr. F. Vodicka.
W. P. Cli(g?), formerly employed in the paymaster's department at military headquarters, in this city, but now stationed at Ft. Buford, is in the city and is stopping at the Grand Central.
Among the arrivals at the Grand Central are the following: A. Meyer, Lincoln; Mis L. Samuel, Des Moines; J. G. Krump, Baltimore; Jas Suedden, Kansas City; W. P. Hepburn, Chlainda, Iowa; J. S. Wood, Ottumwa, Iowa; J Steele, Chicago; G. G. Wright, Des Moines; E. L. Barnes, New York; J. M. Mordock, Sharon, Iowa.
Among the arrivals at the Metropolitan are the following: F. E. Livergood, Wm S. Rothschild, Chicago; Geo B. Bradley, New London, Ohio; O. C. Treedway, Sioux City; W. L. En Earl, Detroit; M Newber, Reb. Frank H. Shulak, Chicago; G. Babson, jr, Crete; F. A. Gillette, Cedar Rapids; C. B. Herman, H. Castetier, Blair; A. L. Clark, Illinois; J. A. Pratt, Neb.; J.S. McIntyre, E. Steirman, Hastings; E. P. Stacy, New York.----------- The Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company meets to night.
----------- Mr. C. E. White, of the Omaha National Bank, has returned from Nebraska City, whither he went as was stated in the papers to commit matrimony. Since his return he has been congratulated almost to death by his many friends, and has had numerous callers who wished to rent him a cottage. Fact of it is, White didn't get married at all. His girl were square back on him, as she says bankers and rich men never go to heaven and she is going to marry a theological student. White says he never so was "shook up" before in his life; the earthquake was nothing in comparison to it.
----------- The place to buy CLOTHING at bottom figures, is at the popular house of
15-eodlm M. HELLMAN & CO.----------- A good coat-maker wanted at J. H. Thiele.
----------- Go to the most reliable tailor, J. H. Thiele, 234 Farnham street, if you want a first-class suit of clothes, or an overcoat, made after the most approved style, at the closest possible figures. oc31 tf
----------- If you want to buy a good RANGE, the best made, get the KEYSTONE, at
15 3t PIERCY'S----------- 50 50 50 50
FIFTY of the Groceries and Restaurants of the city have NOW come back to BOOTH'S OYSTERS, finding them SUPERIOR in FILLING to any other brand. There are but few left to add to the list now.
1444 D. B. REEMER, Agent.----------- Our Ladies DRESS CLAKS cannot be beaten anywhere.
WELF & MCDONALD
250 Farnham street.----------- Go to POLACK'S The Popular Clothier
"238" Farnham St.
If you want to save from 10 to 20 per cent on Men's and Boys' ....... OVERCOATS, UNDERWEAR, CLOTHING, GLOVES AND MITTENS.
Great clearance sale -- to continue 30 days only. Come EVERYBODY. 13tf----------- The Danish Association will hold their first annual ball of the season at Turner Hall, November 24th. nov15-ea-thurs
----------- The Omaha Shirt Factory sells all wool, regular underwear at 25 per cent less than any other house. n5tf
----------- FROMAGE DE BRIE CHEESE
NEUFCHATEL CHEESE
SMOKED EELS
atPFUNDT & GERBER"S Cheese Depot, 13th st. bet. Franham and Douglas. nov 13 4t
----------- BOOTS and SHOES, of all kinds, for Ladies, Gents' and Children.
Cheap for cash, atWHITNEY'S.
1t 255 Douglas Street.----------- Back
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