“Extract of a Letter”
Date
2-3-1812
Newspaper
Virginia Argus
Page and Column
Page 3, Column 2
Newspaper Location
Richmond, Virginia
Serial Number
1057
Abstract
Felt report for the January 23, 1812 earthquake at Suffolk, Virginia, Suffolk is just west of Norfolk, Virginia. Time of the earthquake was 9:22 am (local time) effect was that it was felt by all the inhabitants. houses trembled and people left them. Duration was 8 seconds. People complained of nausea for several minutes afterward possibly from more subtle earth movement.
Transcript
NORFOLK, January 24. Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Suffolk. "SUFFOLK, 23d Jan. 1812. "This morning at twenty-two minutes past nine, the shock of an Earthquake was felt very sensibly by all the inhabitants of Suffolk. The writer of this was sitting by the fire with his face to the south, and the emotion which the undulation gave, was by wavering his body on the chair from the West, to East. Starting up, he exclaimed, "the house shakes," and moved into the street with three other persons who were to the room. The duration of this terrifying convulsive power did not exceed eight seconds of time, and all those who felt it complained of a kiddiness for some minutes after the tremor of the Earthquake ceased."
Recommended Citation
"“Extract of a Letter”" (1812). New Madrid Compendium Far-Field Database. 1027.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/cas-ceri-new-madrid-compendium/1027
