There Was Nothing
pp. 40-41 · Read in the full issue
To Do!
PERHAPS I have experienced a greater shock than that of Monday, 14th September; but I doubt it.
I was at the writing table of my house, which is down two steps to the floor, with a main door opening to a verandah and the garden. The house is a wooden one. When the shock occurred my sub-conscious mind led me to jump through both doors and on to the grass. Then I shouted for my servants and told them to get out on to the garden at the back.
It was not my first meeting with an earthquake; I had met one in a Japanese house outside Tokyo. On that occasion I and a friend were turning in for the night when the whole house started to “swing.” I was half-way through the window when I heard a laugh from Evans, who was used to them, having often
experienced earthquakes!
Long after this I met earthquakes when stationed in Rabaul. New Guinea, and took little notice of them.
But this one was quite different, One might expect them m such localities, but not in quiet Fiji!
Having made sure that the tidal
. wave would not reach my house, I could, find nothing to do. This sounds absurd, I know. But: Was my house all right? Would there be another shock? How had the town fared? How had ships fared in the harbour? Would there be another shock?
It was impossible to tell.
I, for one—and I expect many others—did not sleep on the first dark night. (Of course, there were no lights other than lanterns).
But gradually the public got used to the conditions. Friends took in friends when houses were danger ous and the tectonic experts and such other folk as deal with earth quakes reassured the people that minor shocks only, for a week
or two, will be felt.-
William
Burrows.
Oct. 7: The first quake on Sept. 14 was calculated to be of Force 8 —which is quite a severe shake.
The Rabaul quake of May this year was Force 7. The Suva shake was of comparatively short duration, however.
Since Sept. 14, Suva has ex perienced numerous lesser shakes— two fairly severe ones on the morn ing of October 4. This settling down period after a severe shake is regarded as normal.