“Extract of a letter from a Gentleman in Springfield...”

Date

1-9-1812

Newspaper

Virginia Argus

Page and Column

Page 2, Column 4 and 5

Newspaper Location

Richmond, Virginia

Serial Number

1051

Abstract

Felt report for the December 16, 1811 earthquake from Springfield, Tennessee. Springfield is located approximately 30 miles north of Nashville, Tennessee. Time of first shock was “ a little past 2 o’clock” am (local time) Effect was a sensible rocking and a agitated rolling of the earth from southwest to northeast. Duration was “seven to ten minutes” Followed by several aftershocks of lessening degree. Goo detailed report for the site.

Transcript

ALEXANDRIA, January 1. Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Springfield (Tennessee) to his brother in Washington City, dated December 16, 1811. "We have since yesterday morning about 2 o'clock experienced one of the most sublime, grand and awful scenes perhaps on record:--The night of the 15th being remarkably dark and cloudy, accompanied by a stillness of the air equal to the silence of the tombs: a little past 2 o'clock, Mrs. --------- and myself being awake, there appeared to be a rustling of something similar to wind at a distance; we were however soon undeceived by a rattling of things in the house, and then a sensible rocking of the same, to a very great degree-I made up a light as soon as possible and opened the door, more effectually to discover the cause, when, to my utter amazement, there was a perfect calm, and nothing but an agitated rolling of the earth from south-west to north-east; this continued I think from seven to ten minutes; after which the convulsions of nature appeared to cease for about forty or fifty minutes, when a second shock, though much lighter than the former, alarmed us if possible, more than the first-An interval then took place till about sun-rise, when another shock equal I believe to the first; gave us fresh shock equal I believe to the first, gave us fresh alarm; I walked out into my yard, with difficulty could stand steady; saw the earth under my feet, oscillate, as plainly as I ever saw the pendulum of a clock, for some minutes; it then stopped, and was followed by three or four more in succession, for the space of thirty or forty minutes, since then we have had six slight shocks-It is now one o'clock at night; we are in dread of other returns before morning. The consternation we are all in has prevented any speculative conjecture-I am now by myself, and will hazard to you my opinion-I think from the short time I have had to reflect on the course of this phenomena of nature, that it must be owing to one of two causes, viz. either Orleans or New Mexico, or some large tract of land, surrounding the Gulf, has sunk, a similar circumstance, in all human probability, having formed that Gulf, previous to any historical account of this continent-or the other, which I think more improbable that the Comet, in its elipsis, forming so near a parallel with the Sun & Earth and adding its attractive force to that of the Sun, has had this wonderful effect. This in my mind is mere hypothesis. One thing I know, we have felt the effects, in some degree, and I wish some able philosopher to ascertain the cause, if possible."

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS