“Earthquake”

Date

4-2-1812

Newspaper

Virginia Argus

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 2 and 3

Newspaper Location

Richmond, Virginia

Serial Number

1072

Abstract

Felt report from Augusta, Georgia felt report for the February 7, 1812. Notes felt reports from Augusta, and the region. Good detailed account. Reprint from Augusta newspaper.

Transcript

AUGUSTA, (Geo.) Feb. 13. EARTHQUAKE. Again we are bound to notice what is very justly considered as among the most astonishing and alarming phenomena in nature. On Friday last, at 20 minutes before 4 o'clock in the morning, another severe shock of an earthquake was experienced here, and throughout the country in every direction from which we have yet heard; and in most places we believe with more severity than any preceding shock, it continued between three and four minutes. About 20 minutes before 11 o'clock in the evening of the same day, a smart shock was also felt, and though considerably less severe, was to many more alarming than the former one-this might have arisen from apprehensions previously excited, and from the repetition of an occurrence so peculiarly calculated to create astonishment and terror. Indeed, since the settlement of this place, we venture to say, that a large proportion of our inhabitants, never lay down at night, with feelings similar to those they experienced when going to bed during the past week.-Light tremulous motions of the earth continued occasionally to be felt. By a gentleman from Jefferson we are informed, that on the plantation of Mr. Ephraim Ponder, near Brier Creek, about 18 miles from this place, a body of earth about 90 feet in circumference, sunk, and was supposed on Friday night last-that the earth being held on one side by the roots of a tree at the edge of the opening, sunk in a sloping direction, and that the lower part of it was covered with water, in which bottom was not found with a sixteen foot pole. The gentleman saw the opening, but does not know that any other attempt to find bottom was made, there being no pole at hand, when he was there, longer than the sixteen foot one. From the accounts we have received, we believe the earthquake on Friday morning last, was more severe in several parts of the country than in this place-at General Twiggs, about nine miles below this place, the agitation of the house was so violent as to break 60 squares of glass in the windows, and throughout the neighborhood the concussion created great alarm.

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