“This morning two distinct shocks...”
Date
12-16-1811
Newspaper
Norfolk Ledger
Page and Column
Page 2, Column 1
Newspaper Location
Norfolk, Virginia
Serial Number
1078
Abstract
Felt report for the December 16, 1811 earthquake from Norfolk, Virginia. Time of first quake was “around 3 o’clock.” am (local time) The effect was to awaken many people from their sleep. Beds were shaken violently and clocks stopped. Second quake was felt at “about 8 o’clock” am (local time). This was felt more extensively due to more people being awake. Noted effect was to throw a pipe(barrel) of wine off of its skids in a warehouse on Commerce street.
Transcript
MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 16, 1811. This morning two distinct shocks of an earthquake were felt in this place: The first (and according to most accounts) the most violent, was about 3 o'clock. It was so severe as to awaken a number of persons out of their sleep. The shock at two very short intervals might have continued about a minute. The shaking of the beds is described, as if a strong man had taken hold on the posts, and shook them with all the violence in his power. Several clocks were stopped. The houses were shaken with great violence. Again about 8 o'clock another shock was felt, by a greater number of persons, as many had risen, this was also very violent. The most sensible effect produced by this, that we have yet learned, was that of throwing a pipe of Wine off the skids, in a warehouse in Commerce-Street. Before, our next we expect to obtain some further particulars respecting this (in our climate) unusual convulsion of nature.
Recommended Citation
"“This morning two distinct shocks...”" (1811). New Madrid Compendium Far-Field Database. 1045.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/cas-ceri-new-madrid-compendium/1045
