Probably shorted it out. Did any get in the outlet? I assume the surge protector is UNPLUGGED now? How do you know that the breaker didn't trip? Make sure you're switching the breaker to OFF and then to ON in order to properly reset the breaker; sometimes a breaker will trip properly but it won't be obvious from the handle position.

I doubt theres a short, IF anything there is a SLIGHT possibility the outlet in question may be damaged. IF it was the first in the series feeding the other outlets it could cause the problem you describe. First do what perel said and flip the breaker off then back on, if there is a problem you will hear it trip.

Thanks for the responses. I don't think any got in the outlet, just on the surge protector. It is now unplugged and trashed. I repeatedly switched the breaker into the "OFF" then "ON" position. Still nothing. I replaced the circuit breaker, and still nothing. Probably a damaged outlet then?

Definitely sounds like it.
remove the outlet in question and make sure all the wires are properly connected to the screws on the side, and the screws are tight. If that don't work try replacing the outlet.

Sounds like there is probably a GFCI receptacle on the circuit somewhere that tripped. Spend some time looking for one with the reset button popped out.

UNK

itsunclebill, you were right. There was a GFCI outlet in the bathroom adjacent to the room. I didn't think they would be on the same circuit, but they were. Thank you all for your help!

Funny you mention this. I guess urine is pretty conductive. There are some (sub)urban legends about this, usually having to do with alcohol and such items as electric fences and high voltage lines. ;-)

This one's no legend. An acquaintance of ours called from her cell phone a few weeks ago, and asked if I could look at her phone wiring. She couldn't get a dial tone, and everyone calling got a busy signal.

This is typical of a tip-ring short and often is caused by a phone or answering machine that's gone south. All was OK at the demarc box, so indeed it had to be inside the house. There were several phones. I unplugged them all, but the problem persisted. The next step would have been to start pulling homeruns at the pushdown strip, but before I did that, I did some further ... uh ... nosing around.

When I'd unplugged phones, I'd skipped the spare room, which she said didn't have a phone. Now I checked it, and when I opened the door, my nose suggested that one of her (rather amiable and agreeable) housecats had committed an act of civil disobedience in there. That was when she recalled that one of them had gotten trapped in that room a while back.

Unable to get to a litter box for the better part of a day, he resorted to using an old magazine next to the bed. Under that magazine was the end of an unused phone cable. I unplugged that cable and disposed of it (and the magazine). That took care of the phone problem. The hardwood floor is another matter entirely. :-(

yeh I had screwed up phones once because of my dog. He had marked his territory on a baseboard jack..and it screwed something up inside (corroded or whatever).