Abstract
THE seventh and eighth numbers of the new series of publications issued by the Earthquake Commission of the Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien respectively refer to earthquakes which have been noted in certain parts of the Austrian Alps and in the Carpathians. The first of these, by Dr. R. Hoernes, is a register of 208 shocks observed in Styria between the years 1000 and 1870. Many of these disturbances are described in detail, and to each description there is appended a criticism of the various sources from which the author has derived his information. To complete this work, earthquakes which shook Styria, but originated beyond its borders, have to be considered, and, lastly, the districts shaken and the lines along which shocks have been distributed have yet to be determined. In short, what E. Suess has done for lower Austria and H. Hoefer for Carinthia is to be done for Styria. The second publication, by Prof. W. Láska, is an historical account of the earthquakes of Poland. It refers to a period practically identical with that considered by Dr. Hoernes. The author commences by saying that “earthquake's in Poland are rare,” but as reference is made to earthquakes of distant countries which were synchronous with observations made in Poland, the description of Galician shocks extends over thirty-six pages. As an example of these references we read that the first earthquake in 1834 occurred on January 23 at 8h. 45m. and was observed in Tarnopol. On the same day there was an earthquake in England, the epicentrum of which was five miles north of Chichester, and it is worthy of note that there was a similar coincidence in 1666. The probability, however, is that if we had before us a register of all the earthquakes of the world, a coincidence might be found for each of the Carpathian records. In the general remarks attached to these registers we find several interesting notes on the emotional effects produced hy those who have predicted the occurrence of earthquakes on specified dates. An accidental realisation of a widely published prediction took place on February 27, 1786, with the result that processions were organised and prayers were offered that earthquakes should not only shake Poland, but that a few should be arranged for Prussia.
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Earthquake Notes . Nature 66, 234 (1902). https://doi.org/10.1038/066234a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/066234a0