Wednesday, January 1, 1812
Charleston, Dec. 16
An Earthquake - This
morning, a few minutes before three o'clock, a severe shock of an earthquake
was felt in this city. Its duration is supposed to have been between two and
three minutes. For an hour previous, though the air was perfectly calm, and
several stars visible, there was, at intervals of about five minutes,
a rumbline noise, resembling distant thunder; which increased in violence of
sound, just before the shock was felt. The vibrations of St. Phillip's
steeple caused the clock bell to ring about 10 seconds. Two other shocks
were felt this morning, one a little before 8 o'clock, and the other ten
minutes after that hour; both slighter than the first, and of shorter
duration: the vibrations of the second lasted probably rather more than a
minute, and of the last two or three seconds. Many of the clocks were
stopped; and the water of the different wells was much agitated. We have not
heard of any damage having been done by these repeated shocks; nor have we
heard how far they have extended into the country; except that they were
felt at Rantowle's.
Such phenomena, until lately, were very rare. One is
remembered to have happen on the 19th May, 1754, about 11 o'clock, A.M.; but
it was very slight. Another slight one was felt on the 11th April, 1799,
about 1 o'clock in the morning. In the year 1811, on the 13th January,
another occurred, and was felt at Columbia and Granby, in this state, and in
Augusta in Georgia, but not in Charleston.
Wednesday, January 29, 1812
Alexandria, Jan. 24.
A shock of an Earthquake was distinctly felt in this
town yesterday morning, about 20 minutes after nine o'clock. Its duration
was sopposed to be about 30 seconds, and its motions from N.W. to S.E.
Considerable sensation was excited by this event.
New York, January 24.
Another Earthquake - A correspondent at Jamaici (L.I.) under date of this
day, says - "Yesterday morning, at fifteen minutes after nine o'clock, a
shock of an earthquake was sensibly felt in this village. Every thing
suspended in my store was set in motion for more than a minute. The motion
was a steady swinging backward and forward. The shock was felt also by my
family, and by several of our neighbors."
We understand that the shock
was noticed by many people in this city.
Arkport, (N.Y.) Jan. 6
Messrs. Miner & Butler,
A very singular phenomenon took place near
Angelica, in the country of Allegany, on Monday morning the 16th of
December, which I will state, as related to me by one of the eye witnesses.
Early in the morning, about sunrise as sitting at breakfast, he had a
strange feeling, and supposed at first that he was fainting, but as his
sight did not fail, he then concluded that he was going into a fit, and
removed his chair back from the table. - He then had a sensation as though
the house was swinging and observed clothes hanging on lines in the room
were swinging, as also a large kettle hanging over the fire. He observed
that his wife and family appeared to be greatly alarmed, and still supposing
that it was in consequence of his apparently falling into a fit, but on
enquiry found that all felt the same sensation. This continued as he
supposed for at least 15 minutes. There was no noise or trembling, nor any
wind, but only an appearance of swinging or rocking, as he supposed, equal
to the house rocking two feet one way and the other. - One of his neighbors
felt the same, and on the opposite side of the river, at the farmhouse and
dwelling house of Phillip Church, the same motions and sensations were felt.
Mrs. Church was in bed, and when she first felt the motion, and a strange
sensation as if suffocating, she jumped out of bed, supposing the house was
on fire. The motion was so considerable as to set all the bells in the
several rooms a ringing, and an inside door was observed to swing open and
shut.
The same motions were felt up the river, about eight miles above,
at a house near a small brook; the people ran out of the house, and observed
the water to have the same motion. Accounts state, that the same motions
have been felt at sundry other places 30 miles distant.
I could relate
many other similar motions felt and perceived at the same time, but leave it
for the present. How to account for it I know not. If you think it worthy of
notice, you may make it public, and if the same or similar motions have been
felt at other places, doubtless it will be communicated. I should like to
hear it accounted for on rational principles.
Christopher Hurlbut
Baltimore. Jan. 27
Extract of a letter dated West River, January 23.
"This morning, at about 9 o'clock, a friend of mine, Captain Franklin, miss
Webster, and myself, had just sat down to breakfast, when Captain F.
observed, "What's that? An Earthquake!" at the same instant, we felt as if
we were in the cabin of a vessel, during a heavy swell. This sensation
continued for one or two minutes, possibly longer. For although I had the
presence of mind to take out my watch, I felt too sick to accurately observe
its duration. The feeling was by no means tremulous, but a steady vibration.
A portrait, about four feet in length, suspended from the ceiling by a hook
and staple, and about five eights of an inch from the side wall, vibrated at
least from eighteen inches to 2 feet each side, and so very steady, as not
to touch the wall. My next neighbour and his daughter felt the same
sensation about the same time. The father supposed it was the gout in his
head. The daughter got up and walked to a window, supposing the heat of the
fire had caused what she considered a faintness. Two others that I have seen
mentioned to have felt the same, but none of them had thought of an
earthquake. The two last being mechanics, and up late, mentioned that they
were much alarmed at about 11 o'clock last night, by a great rumbling, as
they thought, in the earth, attended with several flashes of lightning,
which so lighted the house, that they could have picked up the smallest pin
- one mentioned, that the rumbling and the light was accompanied by a noise
like that produced by throwing a hot iron into snow, only very loud and
terrific, so much so, that he was fearful to go out to look what it was, for
he never once thought of an earthquake. I have thrown together the above
particulars, supposing an extract may meet with corroborating accounts, and
afford some satisfaction to your readers.
P.S. - The lightning and
rumbling noise came from the south - I have just heard of its being felt in
several other houses, but not any particulars more than related.
Easton,
(Md.) . Jan. 25.
The Earthquake - Last Thursday morning, about nine
o'clock, the shock of an Earthquake was very sensibly felt in this place.
The vibratory motion, which continued nearly a minute, seemed to be north
and south, and was so violent that the pendulums of several clocks stopped
vibrating, and the weights were thrown into an irregular and confused
motion. Considerable giddiness, some nausea, much wonder, and a little
terror, were among the consequences.
Annapolis, Jan. 23.
An Earthquake
- A severe shock of an earthquake was experienced by a number of persons in
this city yesterday morning, the 22nd inst. about sixteen minutes before ten
o'clock. Its duration is supposed to have been about two or three minutes,
from beginning to end, and its direction apparently from E. to S.W. This
phenomenon was dissimilar in its nature and effects from any of the kind
that we have heretofore heard of, as it was not accompanied or preceded by
the usual rumbling noise, nor any sudden concussion of the earth, but a
continued roll, similar to that of a vessel in a heavy sea. One circumstance
which renders its effect more singular is, that it was very sensibly felt by
some, while others altho' in same room, and perhaps within a few feet of
them, were not in the least affected by its operation, and those who were in
the street, or open air, were insensible as to any extraordinary motion of
the earth. The first intimation to those who experienced its effects was
from the motion of every thing around them, and a sudden and deadly
sickness, accompanied with a giddiness in the head. We judge of the severity
of the shock from the motion which was given to substances saspended from
the ceilings of houses. The fairest opportunity that was presented (to our
knowledge) of judging of its force and direction, was from an ostrich egg
which was suspended by a string of about a foot in length from a first floor
ceiling, which was caused to oscillate at least four inches from point to
point. We are informed that the steeple of the State House, which is
supposed to be 250 feet in height, vibrated at least 6 or 8 feet at the top,
and the motion was perceptible for 8 or 10 minutes. A number of clocks were
stopped, and the ice in the river and bay cracked considerably. Some
persons, who were skaiting, were very much terrified, and immediately made
for the shore. In the lower part of the city it appears to have been most
forcible, some people abandoning their homes, for the purpose of seeking
safety in the open air. It is said that a noise like distant thunder was
heard about 4 o'clock in the morning, and a slight motion of the earth
observed about 8, but neither were very sensibly heard or felt.
There was
nothing extraordinary in the atmosphere, except that it was remarkably calm,
and rather inclined to be warm, altho' there was a deep snow on the ground,
and for several days past it had been extremely cold.
Wednesday,
Feb. 5, 1812
FROM THE NORFOLK HERALD
Extract of a letter from a
gentleman who in descending the river Mississippi, to his father in Norfolk,
dated Chickasaw Agency, Dec. 17, 1811.
"On the 13th we reached the
confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi; and on the 14th we entered
the father of rivers, on the 15th we passed New Madrid, a small settlement
in the upper Louisiana, and at 2 o'clock on the morning of the 16th, we
sensibly felt the jar of a distant convulsion, which we conjectured to be an
earthquake, caused by eruption of some operations far to the west of the
Mississippi. - We hope in God that its seat was far from human habitation. -
We have frequently heard a distant noise like thunder since; the 16th was
indeed a solemn, awful, and gloomy day; but now all seems quiet and serene;
safety has returned our cheerfulness to us, and our hearts are warmed with
grateful thanks to the Supreme Ruler of Nature for our preservation. From
Natchez or New Orleans I will write you a full and minute account of the
convulsions."
Wednesday, February 5, 1812
THE EARTHQUAKE
Raleigh,
(N.C.) Jan. 24
The Earthquake. - A letter has been received in this city,
from a gentleman of the first respectability in Tennessee, which states that
the Earthquake, so generally felt on the 16th of Dec. was so violent in the
vicinity of his residence, that several chimnies were thrown down, and that
eighteen or twenty acres of land on Piney river had suddenly sunk so low,
that the tops of the trees were on a level with the surrounding earth. Four
other shocks were experienced on the 17th, and one or more continued to
occur every day to the 30th aft., the date of the letter.
A slight shock
of an Earthquake was felt in this city about eight o'clock yesterday
morning. It continued only a few seconds.
Wednesday, February 12, 1812
From the New York Evening Post
February 8
Yesterday morning, at half
past four o'clock, a smart shock of an earthquake was felt in this city.
During the last two-months, this city, and every town in the U. States to
the Southward of us, have been visited with one or more earthquakes.
From
Poulson's American Daily Advertiser
EARTHQUAKES
Several distinct
shocks for undulations of the earth were felt in this city on Friday
morning, a few minutes before 4 o'clock. To several persons it appeared as
if their bedsteads were raised under them by a pressure below.
One
gentleman described it, as being so violent as to force open the folding
doors of a wardrobe in his bed chamber, and others, state, that their
chamber doors were thrown open, and articles loosely suspended from the
ceilings and walls were kept in a state of oscillation for more than a
minute. The undulations were more sensibly felt in the southern, than in the
northern part of the city.
Mr. Pouson
THE EARTHQUAKE which happened
this morning was, by my watch, at 4 h. 24 m. A.M. - I find by T. Parker's
regulator, that my watch was slow 3 M. 30 s. This will give the correct
time, 4 h. 27 m. 30 s. A.M. The duration of the trembling was at least 1 m.
30 s. probably 2 m. with short intervals of quickness. The person who
awakened me at the commencement stated, that it began with a noise
resembling the very quick passage of a dray over hard ground. The motion
appeared to be from West to East, or from East to West.
All the furniture
in my chamber was much agitated, particularly the bed on which I slept, and
the drawer handles of a desk and book case, standing on the west side, which
continued rattling for some seconds after the motions of the bedstand had
ceased.
I send you these remarks with the assurance that you may depend
on the correctness of the time. - Perhaps some other persons may have made
similar observations, in different places; by comparing which together an
idea may be formed, of the centre from which the numerous late shocks have
proceded. Yours, Sc. W.V. Feb. 7, 1812
We are informed (says the
Baltimore Federal Gazette of Friday last) by several persons of
respectability, that a shock of an Earthquake was very sensibly felt here
this morning about half past four o'clock.
From the Lexington Reporter
THE EARTHQUAKE
Extract from a letter to a gentleman in Lexington, from
his friend at New Madrid, (U.L.) dated 16th December, 1811.
"About 2
o'clock this morning we were awakened by a most tremendous noise, while the
house danced about and seemed as if it would fall on our heads. I soon
conjectured the cause of our troubles, and cried out it was an Earthquake,
and for the family to leave the house; which we found very difficult to do,
owing to its rolling and jostling about. The shock was soon over, and no
injury was sustained, except the loss of the chimney, and the exposure of my
family to the cold of the night. At the time of this shock, the heavens were
very clear and serene, not a breath of air stirring; but in five minutes it
became very dark, and a vapour which seemed to impregnate the atmosphere,
had a disagreeable smell, and produced a difficulty of respiration. I knew
not how to account for this at the time, but when I saw, in the morning, the
situation of my neighbours' houses, all of them more or less injured, I
attributed it to the dust and sot (?), &c which arose from the fall. The
darkness continued till day-break; during this time we had EIGHT more
shocks, none of them so violent as the first.
"At half past 6 o'clock in
the morning it cleared up, and believing the danger over I left home, to see
what injury my neighbours had sustained. A few minutes after my departure
there was another shock, extremely violent - I hurried home as fast as I
could, but the agitation of the earth was so great that it was with much
difficulty I kept my balance - the motion of the earth was about twelve
inches to and fro. I cannot give you an accurate description of this moment;
the earth seemed convulsed - the houses shook very much - chimnies falling
in every direction. - The loud hoarse roaring which attended the earthquake,
together with the cries, screams, and yells of the people, seems still
ringing in my ears.
"Fifteen minutes after seven o'clock, we had another
shock. This one was the most severe one we have yet had - the darkness
returned, and the noise was remarkably loud. The first motions of the earth
were similar to the preceding shocks, but before they ceased we rebounded up
and down, and it was with difficulty we kept our seats. At this instant I
expected a dreadful catastrophe - the uproar among the people strengthened
the colouring of the picture - the screams and yells were heard at a great
distance.
"One gentleman, from whose learning I expected a more
consistent account says that the convulsions are produced by this world and
the moon coming in contact, and the frequent repetition of the shock is
owing to their rebounding. The appearance of the moon yesterday evening has
knocked his system as low as the quake has leveled my chimnies. Another
person with a very serious face, told me, that when he was ousted from his
bed, he was verily afraid, and thought the Day of Judgment had arrived,
until he reflected that the Day of Judgment would not come in the night.
"Tuesday 17th - I never before thought the passion of fear so strong as I
find it here among the people. It is really diverting, or would be so, to a
disinterested observer, to see the rueful faces of the different persons
that present themselves at my tent - some so agitated that they cannot speak
- others cannot hold their tongues - some cannot sit still, but must be in
constant motion, while others cannot walk. Several men, I am informed, on
the night of the first shock deserted their families, and have not been
heard of since. Encampments are formed of those that remain in the open
fields, of 50 and 100 persons in each.
"Tuesday, Dec. 24th - The shocks
still continue - we have had eight since Saturday - some of them very
severe, but not sufficiently so to do much additional injury. I have heard
of no lives being lost - several persons are wounded. This day I have heard
from the Little Prairie, a settlement on the bank of the river Mississippi,
about 30 miles below this place. There the scene has been dreadful indeed -
the face of the country has been entirely changed. Large lakes have been
raised, and become dry land; and many fields have been converted into pools
of water. Capt. George Roddell, a worthy and respectable old gentleman, and
who has been the father of that neighborhood, made good his retreat to this
place, with about 100 souls. He informs me that no material injury was
sustained from the first shocks - when the 10th shock occurred, he was
standing in his own yard, situated on the bank of the Bayou of the Big Lake;
the bank gave way, and sunk down about 30 yards from the water's edge, as
far as he could see up and down the stream. It upset his mill, and one end
of his dwelling house sunk down considerably; the surface on the opposite
side of the Bayou, which before was swamp, became dry land, the side he was
on became lower. His family at this time were running away from the house
towards the woods; a large crack in the ground prevented their retreat into
the open field. They had just assembled together when the eleventh shock
came on, after which there was not perhaps a square acre of ground unbroken
in the neighborhood, and in about fifteen minutes after the shock, the water
rose round them waist deep. The old gentleman in leading his family,
endeavoring to find higher land, would sometimes be precipitated headlong
into one of those cracks in the earth, which were concealed from the eye by
the muddy water through which they were wading. As they proceeded, the earth
continued to burst open, and mud, water, sand and stone coal, were thrown up
the distance of 30 yards - frequently trees of a large size were split open,
fifteen or twenty feet up. After wading eight miles, he came to dry land.
"I have heard of no white person being lost as yet - Seven Indians were
swallowed up; one of them escaped; he says he was taken into the ground the
depth of 100 trees in length; that the water came under him and threw him
out again - he had to wade and swim four miles before he reached dry land.
The Indian says the Shawnee prophet has caused the earthquake to destroy the
whites."
Wednesday, March 11, 1812
Washington, Feb. 29
More of the
Earthquakes - The following interesting extract of a letter, on these
phenomena, is from a gentleman in Tennessee to his friend in this city,
dated
"January 23d, 1812
"This morning we were again alarmed by a most
tremendous concussion of nature's elements, equal, if not more terrifying
than those of the 15th of last month. Its continuation was from 20 to 30
minutes - it shook off the top of one chimney in this town, and unroofed
some small buildings in the neighbourhood. It was succeeded by three or four
small shocks in the course of an hour. About 4 o'clock, P.M. another was
sensibly felt, but in a much lighter degree. The cause of all these
phenomena appears to originate a little south of a due west course; which
will render the information just received still more probable.
"A
gentleman who was near the Arkansas river, at the time of the first shock in
Dec. last, states, that certain Indians had arrived near the mouth of the
river, who had seen a large lake or sea, where many of their brorhers had
resided, and had perished in the general wreck; that to escape a similar
fate, they had travelled three days up the river, but finding the dangers
increase, as they progressed, frequently having to cut down large trees, to
cross the chasms in the earth, they returned to the mouth of the river, and
from them this information is derived.
Monday evening - Since Thursday
last we have felt 3, 4 and 5 shocks of a day and night, but not very
severe."
Wednesday, March 18, 1812
Russelville, (Ken.) Feb. 26
Arrived in this place on Friday morning last. Mr. John Vettner and crew,
from New Madrid, from whom we learn, that they were on shore five miles
below the place on Friday morning the 7th instant, at the time of the hard
shock, and that the water filled their barge and sunk it, with the whole of
its contents, losing every thing but the clothes they had on. They offered,
at New Madrid, half their loading for a boat to save it, but no price was
sufficient for the hire of a boat. Mrs. Walker offered a likely negro fellow
for the use of a boat a few hours, but could not get it. - The town of New
Madrid has sunk 12 feet below its former standing, but is not covered with
water; the houses are all thrown down, and the inhabitants moved off, except
the French, who live in camps close to the river side, and have their boats
tied near them, in order to sail off, in case the earth should sink. It is
said that a fall equal to that of the Ohio is near above New Madrid, and
that several whirls are in the Mississippi river, some so strong as to sink
every boat that comes within its suck; one boat was sunk with a family in
it. The country from New Madrid to the Grand Prairie is very much torn to
pieces, and the Little Prairie almost entirely deluged. It was reported when
our informants left it, that some Indians who had been out in search of some
other Indians that were lost had returned, and stated that they had
discovered a volcano at the head of the Arkansas, by the light of which they
travelled three days and nights. A vast nomber of sawyers (?) have risen in
the Mississippi river.
No pencil can paint the distress of the many
movers! Men, women and children, barefooted and naked! without money and
without food.
Earthquake
From the Bairdstown Repository
Sir - The
effects produced on the Mississippi, by the Earthquake on the 7th of
February, are so great as to render it highly interesting to the community
in general, and more particularly so at this crisis, when so many of our
fellow citizens are about to adventure their property down that river. Under
this impression I have procured the enclosed written statement of Matthias
M. Speed, just returned from New Madrid, with a view of giving it
publication thru' the medium of your paper. The account I am told is
substantially corroborated by another man, who passed through Bairdstown a
few days ago. I am, very respectfully, your humble servant,
Tho. Speed,
(March 3d, 1812)
In descending the Mississippi, on the night of the 6th
February, we tied our boat to a willow bar on the west bank of the river,
opposite the head of the 9th Island, counting from the mouth of the Ohio we
were lashed to another boat. About 3 o'clock, on the morning of the 7th, we
were waked by the violent agitation of the boat, attended with a noise more
tremendous and terrific than I can describe or any one can conceive, who was
not present or near to such a scene. The constant discharge of heavy cannon
might give some idea of the noise for loudness, but this was infinitely more
terrible, an account of its appearing to be subterraneous.
As soon as we
waked we discovered that the bar to which we were tied was sinking, we cut
loose and moved our boats for the middle of the river. After getting out so
far as to be out of danger from the trees which were falling in from the
bank - the swells in the river was so great as to threaten the sinking of
the boat every moment. We stopped the outholes with blankets to keep out the
water - after remaining in this situation for some time, we perceived a
light in the shore which we had left - (we having a lighted candle in a
lanthorn on our boat,) were hailed and advised to land, which we attempted
to do, but could not effect it, finding the banks and trees still falling
in.
At day light we perceived the head of the tenth island. During all
this time we had made only about four miles down the river - from which
circumstance, and from that of an immense quantity of water rushing into the
river from the woods - it is evident that the earth at this place, or below,
had been raised so high as to stop the progress of the river, and caused it
to overflow its banks - We took the right hand channel of the river of this
island, and having reached within about half a mile of the lower end of the
town, we were affrightened with the appearance of a dreadful rapid of falls
in the river just below us; we were so far in the sock (?) that it was
impossible now to land - all hopes of surviving was now lost and certain
destruction appeared to await us! We having passed the rapids without
injury, keeping our bow foremost, both boats being still lashed together.
As we passed the point on the left hand below the island, the bank and trees
were rapidly falling in. From the state of alarm I was in at this time, I
cannot pretend to be correct as to the length or height of the falls; but my
impression is, that they were about equal to the rapids of the Ohio. As we
passed the lower point of the island, looking back, up the left channel, we
thought the falls extended higher up the river on that side than on the
other.
The water of the river, after it was fairly light, appeared to be
almost black, with something like the dust of stone coal - We landed at New
Madrid about breakfast time without having experienced any injury- The
appearance of the town, and the situation of the inhabitants, were such as
to afford but little relief to our minds. The former elevation of the bank
on which the town stood was estimated by the inhabitants at about 25 feet
above common water; when we reached it the elevation was only about 12 or 13
feet - There was scarcely a house left entire - some wholly prostrated,
others unroofed and not a chimey standing - the people all having deserted
their habitations, were in camps and tents back of the town, and their
little watercafts (mispelled), such as skiffs, boats and canoes, handed out
of the water to their camps, that they might be ready in case the country
should sink.
I remained at New Madrid from the 7th till the 12th, during
which time I think shocks of earthquakes were experienced every 15 or 20
minutes- those shocks were all attended with a rumbling noise, resembling
distant thunder from the southwest, varying in report according to the force
of the shock. When I left the place, the surface of the earth was very
little, if any, above the tops of the boats in the river.
There was one
boat coming down on the same morning I landed; when they came in sight of
the falls, the crew were so frightened at the prospect, that they abandoned
their boat and made for the island in their canoe- two were left on the
island, and two made for the west bank in the canoe - about the time of
their landing, they saw that the island was violently convulsed - one of the
men on the island threw himself into the river to save himself by swimming -
one of the men from the shore met him with the canoe and saved him. - This
man gave such an account of the convulsion of the island, that neither of
the three dared to venture back for the remaining man. The three men reached
New Madrid by land.
The man remained on the Island from Friday morning
until Sunday evening, when he was taken off by a canoe sent from a boat
coming down. I was several days in company with this man - he stated that
during his stay in the island, there were frequent eruptions, in which sand
and stone, coal and water were thrown up. - The violent agitation of the
ground was such at one time as induced him to hold to a tree to support
himself; the earth gave way at the place, and he with the tree sunk down,
and he got wounded in the fall. - The fissure was so deep as to put it out
of his power to get out at that place - he made his way along the fissure
until a sloping slide offered him an opportunity of crawling out. He states
that frequent lights appeared - that in one instance, after one of the
explosions near where he stood, he approached the hole from which the coal
and land had been thrown up, which was now filled with water, and on putting
his hand into it he found it was warm.
During my stay at new Madrid there
were upwards of twenty boats landed, all of whom spoke of the rapids above,
and conceived of it as I had done.
Several persons, who came up the river
in a small barge, represented that there were other falls in the
Mississippi, about 7 miles below New Madrid, principally on the eastern side
- more dangerous than those above - and that some boats had certainly been
lost in attempting to pass them - but they thought it was practicable to
pass by keeping close to the western shore.
From what I had seen and
heard I was deterred from proceeding further, and nearly gave away what
property I had. On my return by land up the right side of the river, I found
the surface of the earth for 10 or 12 miles cracked in numberless places,
running in different directions - some of which were bridged and some filled
with logs to make them passable - others were so wide that they were obliged
to be surrounded. In some of these cracks the earth sank on one side from
the level to the distance of five feet, and from one to three feet there was
water in most of them. Above this the cracks were not so numerous nor so
great - but the inhabitants have generally left their dwellings and gone to
the higher grounds.
Nothing appeared to have issued from the cracks but
where there was sand and stone coal, they seem to have been thrown up from
holes; in most of those, which varied in size, there was water standing. In
the town of New Madrid there were four, but neither of them had vented stone
or sand - the size of them, in diameter, varied from 12 to 50 feet, and in
depth from, 5 to 10 feet from the surface to the water. In travelling out
from New Madrid those were very frequent, and were to be seen in different
places, as high as fort ,Massac, in the Ohio.
MATHIAS M. SPEED (Jefferson
County, March 2, 1812)
Wednesday, April 22, 1812
Earthquake of
March 25, 1812 killed about 10,000 inhabitants of Caracas.
Lexington,
(Ken) April 4 - We are informed from a respectable source, that the old road
to the port of Arkansas, by Spring river, is entirely destroyed by the last
violent shocks of earthquakes - chasms of great depth and considerable
length cross the country in various directions; - some swamps have become
dry, others deep lakes, and in some places hills have disappeared.
Wednesday, May 6, 1812
Richmond, (Vir.) April 24
A few minutes before
4 o'clock, on Wednesday morning, an earthquake was distinctly felt and heard
by several persons in and near this city. The sound was like the rumbling of
distant thunder. Pendulous bodies swung, beds were shaken, and several
roused from their slumbers. How fortunate are we, that we are so far removed
from the scene of convulsion - and saved from the frightful disaster - which
has laid the wretched Carracas in ruins.
Wednesday, May 20, 1812
Louisville, (Ken.) May 1
Earthquake - At forty-five minutes after three
o'clock A.M. on Friday last, a shock of an earthquake was very sensibly
felt, and at forty minutes after ten o'clock P.M. another slight shock was
distinctly perceived; the vibration appeared to be from North to South, or
rather West of North and East of South; - duration of first shock, about
minute, of second shock, about half a minute.
NEW YORK EVENING, POST
Monday, December 23, 1811
Richmond, Dec. 17
Our city has been sensibly
shocked at intervals, for the last two days, by an earthquake. It was first
felt on Monday morning at three o'clock. In the most elevated parts of the
city, the citizens were alarmed by the violent concussion, and the house
bells in some places set a ringing. On yesterday, at eleven o'clock another
violent shock was felt.
It was felt at Norfolk at 3 and 8 o'clock on
Monday morning, at which the Hearald says, "The clocks were all stopt, and
doors, and things suspended from the ceilings of the shops and stores,
oscillated violently, though a dead calm prevailed. Its course was from West
to East." It is remarkable that although the higher parts of this city were
much agitated, and a gentleman who was then shaving himself was obliged to
discontinue the operation, those who live below the hill never felt it at
all.
Thursday, December 26, 1811
Charleston, Dec. 17
Earthquake -
Yesterday morning, about three o'clock, a severe shock of an Earthquake was
felt in this city. It was preceded by a blowing noise, resembling that made
by smith's bellows. The agitation of the earth was such that the bells in
the church steeples rung to a degree that some supposed there was fire. The
houses shook so sensibly as to induce many persons to rise from their beds.
The clocks generally stopped. Another slight shock was felt about fifteen
minutes after, and again at eight o'clock, which last shook to such a degree
as to make a very considerable rattling among glass, china and other
furniture. A looking glass, about three feet in length, hanging against a
West wall, was observed to vibrate two or three inches from North to South.
Thursday, December 26, 1811
Georgetown, December 18
Earthquake -
Several shocks of an Earthquake were experienced in this town between the
hours of three and eight o'clock on Monday morning. Great indeed was the
consternation of the inhabitants, on the awful occasion. So severe were the
shocks that the parade ground of the fort settled from one to two inches
below its former level. A tub of water sitting on a table in the barracks
was upset by the jarring of the building.
Another severe shock was felt
yesterday at 12 o'clock,.
Raleigh, (N.C.) Dec. 13. (18?)
Several
slight shocks of an earthquake were felt in this place on Monday morning.
Wednesday, January 1, 1812
Charleston, Dec. 18
Earthquake - A slight
shock was felt on Monday evening, and another yesterday at 20 minutes after
12. They continued but a few seconds. We have now had six of these awful
visitations in two days.
Savannah, Dec. 17
Four shocks of an
Earthquake have been sustained by our town, and its neighborhood, within the
last two days. The first commenced yesterday morning between two and three,
preceded by a meteoric flash of light and accompanied with a rattling noise,
resembling that of a carriage passing over a paved pathway, and lasted
almost minute. A second succeeded, almost immediately after, but its
continuance was of much shorter duration. A third shock was experienced
about eight o'clock in the morning, and another today about one.
Persons
from White Bluff, (about eight miles from town, southwardly) felt it very
sensibly; and several who were up at the time, state that the movement of
the earth made then tether as though they were on ship board in a heavy
swell of the sea. Those who were up at the time conceive its direction to
have been from southwest to northeast.
On Monday morning, the 16th inst.
about three o'clock, the citizens of the town of Pittsburgh, (Penn.) were
greatly alarmed by the shock of an Earthquake; a number of persons from the
shaking of their houses, were so much alarmed as to run out of bed. About 7
o'clock, the same morning, there was another shock, though not so violent as
the first. - Philad. pap.
Wednesday, January 29, 1812
From the
Annapolis Maryland Republican
An Earthquake- A severe shock of an
earthquake was experienced by a number of persons in this city yesterday
morning, the 22nd inst. about sixteen minutes before ten o'clock. Its
duration is supposed to have been about two or three minutes from beginning
to end, and its direction apparently from E. to S.W. This phenomenon was
dissimilar in its nature and effects from any of the kind that we have
heretofore heard of, as it was not accompanied or preceded by the usual
rumbling noise, nor any sudden concussion of the earth, but a continued roll
similar to that of a vessel in a heavy sea. One circumstance which renders
its effects more singular is, that it was very sensibly felt by some, while
others, although in the same room, and perhaps within a few feet of them,
were not in the least affected by its oscillation, and those who were in the
street or ____ air, were insensible as to any extraordinary motion of the
earth. The first intimation to those who experienced its effects, was from
the motion of every thing around them, and a sudden sickness accompanied
with a giddines in the head. We judge of the severity of the shock from the
motion given to substances suspended from the ceilings of houses. The
fairest opportunity that was presented (to our knowledge) of judging of its
force and direction, was from an ostrich egg which was suspended by a string
of about a foot in length from a first floor ceiling, which was caused to
oscillate at least four inches from point to point - - - We are informed
that the State House, which is supposed to be 250 feet in height vibrated at
least 6 or 8 feet at the top, and the motion was perceptible for 8 or 10
minutes. A number of clocks were stopped and the ice in the bay and river
cracked considerably. Some persons, who were skaiting, were very much
terrified, and immediately made for the shore. In the lower part of the city
it appears to have been most forcible, some people being in the act of
abandoning their houses, for the purpose of seeking safety in the open air.
It is said that a noise like distant thunder was heard about 3 o'clock in
the morning, and a slight motion of the earth observed about 8, but neither
were very sensibly heard or felt.
There was nothing extraordinary in the
atmosphere, except that it was remarkably calm, and rather inclined to be
warm, although there was a deep snow on the ground and for several days past
it had been extremely cold.
Friday, January 31, 1812
Charleston, Jan.
24
Earthquake - Yesterday morning, at fifteen minutes after nine o'clock,
another shock was felt in this city. The vibrating motion was more severe
than any we experienced last month, and continued for one minute. The
pavements in several of the streets are cracked, by the loosening of the
cement; and a three Story Brick House in King-Street, belonging to Mr.
Brownlee, has received very considerable injury. The walls are cracked from
the top to the bottom, and the wooken work and the plastering in the inside,
are split and broken. Many persons in different parts of the city were
sensible of a shock at eight o'clock in the morning- Several families left
their beds. Both these concussions were unaccompanied with any noise.
A
report prevailed in town yesterday, that a part of the town of Natchez had
been sunk by an Earthquake, and that four thousand persons perished.- We
trust that this report will prove to be unfounded; but if such a deplorable
circumstance has taken place, it could not have been on the morning of the
16th December, as a letter dated on that date at Natchez, and published some
time since at the city of Washington says "A considerable shock of an
Earthquake was felt here last night", without adding anything further; which
most undoubtedly would have been done, had any fatality attended it.
Wednesday, February 5, 1812
Natchez, Jan. 2
Important Arrival -
Arrived here on Monday last, the steam-boat from Pittsburgh, which had on
account of low water been some time detained at the falls of the Ohio; and
is destined to run between this place and New Orleans as a regular trader.
She was only 221 hours under way from Pittsburgh to this place a distance of
near two thousand miles.
No very satisfactory accounts of the shocks of
Earthquake, and their effects, which have lately happened, could be
expected; that received from the gentlemen on board, is rather more so than
we anticipated.
The shake or jar, produced by the powerful operation of
the engine, rendered the shocks imperceptible, while the boat was under way.
While at anchor five or six shocks were felt, two or three more severe than
the rest. On enquiry at New Madrid, a small town about 70 miles below the
mouth of Ohio, they found that the chimnies of almost all the houses were
thrown down, and the inhabitants considerably alarmed. At the Little
Prairie, 30 miles lower down, they were bro't to by the cries of some of the
people, who thought the earth was gradually sinking; but declined to take
refuge on board without their friends, whom they wished to collect. Some
distance below the Little Prairie, the bank of the river has caved in to a
considerable extent, and two islands had almost disappeared.
We also
understand that letters have been received from Louisville, Falls of Ohio,
which state, that the houses have suffered considerable damage in that
place.
From the Richmond Enquirer, Jan. 25.
Another Earthquake was
most distinctly felt in this city on Thursday morning last [Jan. 23] , about
nine o'clock. Some persons were rocked in their chairs. Some staggered as
they stood. Hanging keys oscillated. Doors and windows flapped. Bedsteads
and tall articles of furniture were moved to and fro. Those who were at
breakfast saw a violent ripple on the surface of tea and coffee. A few ran
out of their houses in great alarm. The convulsion was more sensibly felt on
the hill than below it; in high than low houses. We distinctly felt two of
these convulsions, within the lapse of 15 or 20 minutes between them.
Tuesday, February 11, 1812
THE EARTHQUAKE
The following very
interesting communication is from an intelligent friend at N. Orleans. - It
is, we presume, the most particular and satisfactory account of the
earthquakes on the Mississippi, which has, as yet, been published: And Mr.
Pierce being an ear and eye witness to the scenes he describes, the
authenticity of his narrative cannot be doubted.
Saturday, December 21, 1811
Earthquake
On Monday morning last,
about a quarter past two, St. Louis and the surrounding country, was visited
by one of the most violent shocks of earthquake that has been recorded since
the discovery of our country.
As we were all wrapt in sleep, each
tells his story in his own way. I will also relate my simple tale.
At
the period above mentioned, I was roused from sleep by the clamor of
windows, doors and furniture in tremulous motion, with a distant rumbling
noise, resembling a number of carriages passing over pavement- in a few
seconds the motion and subterraneous thunder increased more and more:
believing the noise to proceed from the N. or N.W. and expecting the earth
to be relieved by a volcanic eruption, I went out of doors & looked for the
dreadful phenomenon. The agitation had now reached its utmost violence. I
entered the house to snatch my family from its expected ruins, but before I
could put my design in execution the shock had ceased, having lasted about
one and three fourth minutes. The sky was obscured by a thick hazy fog,
without a breath of air. Fahrenheit thermometer might have stood at this
time at about 35 or 40 (degrees).
At forty seven minutes past two,
another shock was felt without any rumbling noise and much less violent than
the first, it lasted near two minutes.
At thirty four minutes past
three, a third shock nearly as tremulous as the first, but without as much
noise, it lasted about fifty seconds, and a slight trembling continued at
intervals for some time after.
A little after day light, a fourth
shock was felt, but with less violence than any of the others, it lasted
nearly one minute.
About 8 o'clock, a fifth shock was felt; this was
almost as violent as the first, accompanied with the usual noise, it lasted
about half a minute: this morning was very hazy and unusually warm for the
season, the houses and fences appeared covered with a white frost, but on
examination it was found to be vapour, not possessing the chilling cold of
frost: indeed the moon was enshrouded in awful gloom.
At half past
eleven, a slight shock was felt, and about the same hour on Tuesday last, a
smart shock was felt - several gentlemen declare, they felt shocks at other
intervals.
No lives have been lost, nor has the houses sustained much
injury, a few chimneys have been thrown down, and a few stone houses split.
In noticing extraordinary events, perhaps no attendant circumstances
should be deemed unimportant: This is one of that character, and a faithful
record of appearances in such cases as these, may form data for science.
Viewing the subject in this way, it may not be amiss to notice the reports
of those who have explored the extensive plains and mountains of the West.
On the margin of several of our rivers pumice and other volcanic matter
is found. At the base of some of the highest of the black mountains, stone
covers the earth, bearing marks of the violent action of fire. Within -0
miles of the great Osage village on the head waters of their river, and 1-0
miles from this town, it is said that a volcano had ceased to burn for the
last three years, and it is thought to have now broke out in some quarter of
our country. Upon the whole, this has been an uncommon year; the early
melting of snow to the north raised the Mississippi to an unusual height.
The continued rains in the summer and the subsequent hot weather, and
consequent sickness amongst the inhabitants, rendered that period somewhat
distressing. - Autumn, to this time, has been unusually mild, and health
____ the ____ in every quarter.
Since writing the above, several
slight shocks were sensibly felt, to the number ten or twelve.
Editor
Saturday, December 28, 1811
Our correspondent at Cape Girardeau
has forwarded us with the following notice of the Earthquake.
Dec. 22, 1811
"The concussions of the Earthquake which commenced at two
o'clock on Monday morning still continue. We have experienced five severe
shocks which split two brick Houses and damaged five brick chimneys in this
place."
J. McF.
The Earthquake was felt at Nashville, Ten.
with like effects, and about the same moment it was felt here.
Saturday, January 4, 1812
The editor of the St. Vincennes paper, notices
an earthquake to have been felt there on the same morning as with us -- and
at 3 o'clock.
Saturday, January 18, 1812
The earthquake of
Dec. 16 &c was felt in the states of Ohio and Kentucky, some houses has been
thrown down but no lives lost.
Saturday, February 8, 1812
On
Thursday morning last, between 2 & 3 o'clock, we experienced the most severe
shock of earthquake that we have yet felt, many houses are injured, and
several chimneys thrown down; few hours pass without feeling slight
vibrations of the earth. Should we ever obtain another mail, we shall be
attentive in recording the progress in every quarter.
Saturday,
February 15, 1812
A number of our readers having expressed a wish to
become acquainted with the opinions of the learned, on the subject of
earthquakes, we have principally devoted this number to the theories which
are held in the highest estimation, and which the editors of the (last
edition) of the Encyclopedia have selected from the volumes written on
geology.
From what we have read on that subject, we cannot find an
instant, where the earth's vibration has extended to such a vast portion of
country as of the last two months concussion: travellers say that it has
been felt in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia: In Kentucky and the state
of Ohio its effects were more distinctive to buildings than in Louisiana.
Hunters from the west, three or four hundred miles from this place, aver
that the shock felt on the 16th of Dec. was extremely violent in the
headwaters of the White river. From these circumstances it would appear,
that it is not limited to a particular portion of country; its extent, we
believe, will be ascertained to be more wide, than any instance of such
phenomena on record.
Editor
Saturday, February 22, 1812
Natchez, Jan. 2
IMPORTANT ARRIVAL
Arrived here on Monday last, the
Steam Boat from Pittsburgh which had on account of low water been some time
detained at the falls of the Ohio; and is destined to run between this place
and New Orleans as a regular trader. She was only 221 hours under way from
Pittsburgh to this place, a distance of near two thousand miles.
No
very satisfactory account of the shocks of Earthquake, and their effects,
which have lately happened could be expected; that received from the
gentlemen on board, is rather more to than we anticipated.
The shake
or jar, produced by the powerful operation of the engine, rendered the
shocks imperceptible, while the boat was under way. While at anchor five or
six shocks were felt, two or three more severe than the rest. On enquiry at
New Madrid, a small town about 70 miles below the mouth of Ohio, they found
that the chimnies of almost all the houses were thrown down, and the
inhabitants considerably alarmed. - At the little Prairie, thirty miles
lower down, they were bro't to by the cries of some of the people, who
thought the earth was gradually sinking but declined to take refuge on board
without their friends, whom they wished to collect. Some distance below the
little Prairie the bank of the river had caved in to a considerable extent,
and two islands had almost disappeared.
From the Evening Ledger
Mr. Evans - The repeated shocks of Earthquakes, which have been felt in this
place since the morning of the 16th, having drawn forth some speculations
and hypotheses from the scientific. I shall take the liberty of giving as
perfect an account of the phenomena as they occurred, as my own
observations, assisted by that of others, will enable me to do.
About
3 o'clock of the morning of the 16th, a shock was felt which produced an
oscillating movements of the houses, and lasted for nearly a minute. It was
not preceded by any noises which usually portend this phenomenon, nor was
its approach announced by any other appearance than a great serenity in the
atmosphere. An hour afterwards another shock was felt, but of shorter
continuance than the other and a person then up, has said, that he observed
at the same time a tremulous undulating motion of the earth like the rolling
of waves. At 8 o'clock a noise resembling distant thunder was heard, and was
soon after followed by a shock which appeared to operate vertically, that is
to say, by a heaving of the ground upwards - but was not sufficiently severe
to injure either furniture or glasses. This shock was succeeded by a thick
haze, and many people were affected by giddiness and nausea. Another shock
was experienced about 9 o'clock at night, but so light as not to be
generally felt - and at half past 12 the next day (the 17th) another shock
was felt, which lasted only a few seconds and was succeeded by a tremor
which was occasionally observed throughout the day effecting many with
giddiness. At half past 8 o'clock a very thick haze came on, and for a few
minutes a sulphurous smell was emitted. At nine o'clock last night, another
was felt, which continued four or five seconds, but so slight as to have
escaped the observation of many who had not thought of attending
particularly to the operations of this phenomenon. At one o'clock this
morning (23d) another shock took place of nearly equal severity with the
first of the 16th. Buried in sleep, I was not sensible of this, but I have
derived such correct information on the fact that I have no reason to doubt
it; but I have observed since 11 o'clock this morning frequent tremors of
the earth, such as usually precede severe shocks in other parts of the
world.
It is something extraordinary, that these shocks so numerous
should not be attended with more formidable effects, or that they should not
have increased in their severity. There is nothing extraordinary in their
frequency, but as in other countries, not so much subject to the influence
of the sun as this is, such frequent shocks usually have ended in mischief
and desolation, we ought to have calculated upon similar effects from
similar causes.
The mildness of those we have felt can be attributed
only to the distance of the cause by which they have been produced. On this
subject, of the cause of earthquakes, there are numerous and discordant
opinions from the ancient philosopher. An __xagoras, to sir William Hamilton
or Mr. Oplomien.
According to the hypothesis of some, earthquakes are
occasioned by subterranean fires throwing down the arches or vaults of the
earth; according to others the rarefaction of the abyss waters, interior
combustion and fermentation, volcanic operations, and lately by the electric
fluid.
The latter hypothesis seems to be the most accredited, as it
evidently is the most rational. The instantaneous effects of ____
earthquakes prove beyond doubt that electricity __iss be the principal agent
in this alarming and terrible phenomenon. Whether according ___ ___, this
electricity is superficial, or is buried in and pervades the bowels of the
earth, as is supposed by others, is among those ____ of nature, which human
wisdom may be never able to ascertain.
The most rational hypothesis
to me seems to be, that earthquakes are produced by an ____ of terrestrial
and atmospheric electricity, as by the former the heaving of the ground
upwards is easily explained as the corruscations and explosions which
sometimes precede and accompany earthquakes may be accounted for by the
influence of the other.
Volcanic operations may have their influence
in the production of earthquakes, by giving an extraordinary impulse to the
electric matter which everywhere pervades the interior of the earth, and as
no bounds can be fixed to the progress of that subtle fluid, the impulse
which may be given by a volcano of the Andes would reach us in the course of
an hour, or sooner, in proportion to the quantity of electric fluid affected
by the contact.
The celebrated earthquake in 1755 appears from all
the facts, as they have been carefully compiled, to have travelled four
millions of square miles in about one hour and ten minutes.
From the
nature, quality and direction of the shocks felt in this city I am induced
from a variety of circumstances to suppose, that they may be traced to some
of the volcanic operations of the Cordillera de los Andes, and if the hasty
remarks which I now do myself the pleasure of submitting are deemed
sufficiently interesting for publication, the subject will be renewed with
more method and reflection.
A SUBSCRIBER