“Marietta,(Ohio) Dec 21”

Date

1-2-1812

Newspaper

Virginia Argus

Page and Column

Page 2, Column 4

Newspaper Location

Richmond, Virginia

Serial Number

1048

Abstract

Very detailed felt report from Marietta, Ohio for the December 16,1811 earthquake. Time of first earthquake was 2:35 am(local time), the second shock was felt at 3:20 am(local time) and a third at 7:30 am (local time) The effect was to violently shake houses. The 7:30 am lasted for 30 minutes. More numerous earthquakes were at Zanesville, Ohio located to the Northwest of Marietta. Eyewitness had experienced earthquakes before (possibly in the Marietta area) and noted that “The first earthquake was certainly very strong-but quite different from earthquakes which have been previously felt by the writer of this article. It was of much longer continuance and stronger, with more regular motion, and less trembling.” Other effects noted were sounds such as an explosion sounding like the unloading of small stones or a carriage in rapid motion over pavement.

Transcript

MARIETTA, (Ohio) Dec. 21. Earthquake.--On the morning of Monday the 16th instant, at 35 minutes past 2 A. M. the inhabitants of Marietta and the vicinity were alarmed by a violent shaking of their houses which was soon found to proceed from all earthquake. The same motion was felt at 20 minutes past three and at half past seven, when the tremor of the ground continued, we are informed until about eight o'clock, and was again felt with less violence, on the following day, a few minutes before noon. The first shock was certainly very strong but quite different from earthquakes which have previously been felt by the writer of this article. It was of much longer continuance and stronger, with more regular motion, and less trembling. By some an explosion was heard-resembling the noise made by emptying loads of small stones, or that of a carriage in rapid motion on a pavement. By the Messenger we learn that the shocks of earthquake were much more violent and numerous at Zanesville than here.

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