Old England Shaken

London, Dec. 17.- Great Britain is in the throcs of a genuine and i dented sensation. An earthquake, the most violent ever experienced in this country, has shaken every shire from Durnam to Surrey and from London to the Welsh coast. The subterraneous distúrbame was first noticed at about 5:30 o'elock Thursday morning, and lasted from four to thirty seconds. At many points two distinct shocks were experienced. The most severe shocks were feit at Cheltenham, Ledbury and Dean Forest. The earth shaking was accompanied by a loud, rushing sound. Buildings were violently shaken, furniture was shifted, doors were thrown open and pictureS and other ornaments were upset. The inhabitants were panic-stricken and fled from their homes. The earthquake also visited Birmingham and other various points in ShropBhire, was violent in Worcester and the country surrounding the city. Houses rocked and furniture was overturned. Great Alarm Eïerywhère, The shocks were followed by a tremor of earth and were accompanied by a rumbling sound. The greatest alarm prevailed everywhere. Chimneys V overthrown and Windows, etc., . smashed. At some points persons on the country roads were thrown down and a number of people were thrown out of their beds. Herford cathedral was Injured. There the dull rumbling beneath fhe earth's surface was followed by two loud crashes and a terrible lifting and rocking. The panic at Herford was so great that one woman died of fright. People rushed wildly into the streets. Many chimneys feil crashing into the thoroughfares and all the pinnacles of St. Nicholas' church toppled over and part of the pinnacle of the cathedral feel to the ground. At Liverpool, the earthquake was preceded by heavy thunder and a fearful hailstorm. In London the earthquake was only slightly feit. Streets Seemed on Fire. A singular phenomenon was notjced at Bridgenorth, near Shrewsbury, previous to the disturbance. The streets suddenly seemed to be on lire and there was a violent report, accompanied by a shaking of the earth. People who were going abroad in that vicinity say that they were for a time unable to walk, owing to the vibrations. There was very great excitement among the rustios about Poole, who thought that the end of the world had come. Houses shook nearly a minute at Bristol and Clifton, causing much alarm in those districts. The railroad employés at Crewer report that they feit the rails oscillate. At Evesham the shock was followed by a brilliant light in the sky. In the mining distric-ts it was at first thought that the Khocks were the result of colliery explosions. The disturbance was experienced with great violence at Warwick castle. The Earl of Warwick was awakened and feit his bed lifted as though by some force beneath it, and the furn.iture in his room was shifted.