“The rumbling sound was accompanied by a violent shaking of beds, like the passing of a heavy wagon at a short distance, that lasted about two seconds. Some thought that thieves had broken in; others awoke dizzy. The main oscillation was from east to west with a secondary motion of a whirling nature, producing feelings of dazed terror.
Strong doors jumped open from their catches. The shock was most
violent at Burton Bradstock, Bridport Harbour, Chideock, Charmouth
and Lyme Regis. The fright was considerable though a violent shock
in the early hours of the morning comes upon a populace deeply removed
from the cares of this world. Even a great noise then is only comparable
to a horse rearing in the afternoon, it being impossible to gauge
the magnitude of the disaster. Inland the effects were less perceptible,
but along the coast most awoke in the middle of that night with
a vivid impression of shock”.