“From the Savannah Republican”

Date

12-26-1811

Newspaper

The Times

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 2

Newspaper Location

Charleston, South Carolina

Serial Number

108

Abstract

Felt report from Savannah, Georgia on the December 16, 1811 earthquake. Also included is a long explanation on origins of earthquakes. Date of report December 23, 1811.

Transcript

FROM THE SAVANNAH REPUBLICAN. Mr. Evans--The repeated shocks of Earthquakes, which have been felt in this place since the morning of the 16th a.m. having drawn forth some speculations and hypothesis from the scientific, I shall take the liberty of giving as perfect an account of the Phenomena as they occurred, as my own observation, assisted by that of others, will enable me to do. About 8 o'clock, of the morning of the 16th, a shock was felt, which produced an ascillating movement of the homes, and lasted for nearly a minute. It was not preceded by any noises which usually portend this phenomenon, nor was its approach enhanced by any other appearance, than a great severity in the atmosphere. An hour afterwards another shock was felt, but a shorter continence than the other; and a person then up, has said, that he observed at the same time a tremulous stimulating motion of the earth like the rolling of waves. At 8 o'clock, a noise resembling distant thunder was held, and was soon after followed by a shock which appeared to operate vertically, that is to say, by a heaving of the ground upwards-but was not sufficiently severe to injure even furniture, or glasses. This shock was succeeded by a thick haze, and many people were affected by giddiness, and nausea. Another shock was experienced about 9 o'clock at night, but so slight as not to be generally felt-and at half past 12 o'clock the next day, (the 17th) another shock was felt, which lasted only a few seconds, and was succeeded by a tremor which was occasionally observed throughout that day, effecting may with giddiness. At half past 6 o'clock, a very thick haze came on, and for a few minutes a sulphureous smell was emitted. At 9'oclock last night, another was felt, which continued four or five seconds, but so slight, as to have escaped the observation of many who had not tho't of attending particularly to the operations of this phenomenon. At 1 o'clock this morning, (the 23d) another shock took place of nearly equal severity with the first of the 16th: Buried in sleep, I was not sensible of this; but I have derived such correct information on the fact, that I have no reason to doubt it: but I have observed since 11 o'clock this morning, frequent tremors of the earth, such as usually precede severe shocks in other parts of the world. It is something extraordinary; that these shocks so numerous, should not be attended with more formidable effects, or that they should not have been encreased in their severity. There is nothing extraordinary in their frequency; but as in other countries, not so much subject to the influence of the Sun, as this is, such frequent shocks usually have ended in mischief, and desolation; we ought to have calculated upon similar effects from similar causes. The mildness of these we have felt, can be attributed only to the distance of the cause by which they have been produced. On this subject, of the cause of earthquakes, there are numerous, and discordant opinions from the ancient philosopher Phaxagoras, to Sir William Hamilton or Mr. Dolomica. According to the hypothesis of some, Earthquakes are occasioned by subterraneous fires, throwing down the arches or vaults of the earth. According to others, the rarefaction of the abyss waters, interior combustion, and fermentation; volcanic operations. And lastly, by the electric fluid. The latter hypothesis seems to be the most accredited, as it evidently is the most rational. The instantaneous effects of some Earthquakes prove, beyond doubt, that electricity must be the principle agent in this alarming and terrible phenomemon. Whether, according to D. Stukely, this electricity is superficial, or is buried in, and pervades the bowels of the earth, as is supposed by others, is among those arcana of Nature, which human wisdom may be never able to ascertain. The most rational hypothesis to me, seems to be, that Earthquakes are produced by an union of Terrestrial and Atmospherical electricity; as by the former, the heaving of the ground upwards is easily explained, as the corruscations and explosions which sometimes precede and accompany Earthquakes, may be accounted for by the influence of the other. Volcanic operations may have their influence in the production of Earthquakes, by giving an extraordinary impulse to the electric matter which every where pervades the interior of the earth; and as no bounds can be fixed to the progress of that subtle fluid, the impulse which may be given by a Volcano of the ANDES, would reach us in the course of an hour, or sooner, in proportion to the quantity of electric fluid affected by the contact. The celebrated Earthquake in 1755, appears, from all the facts as they have been carefully compiled, to have traveled four millions of square miles in about 70 minutes. From the nature, quality, and direction of the shocks felt in this city, I am induced, from a variety of circumstances, to suppose, that they may be traced to some of the Volcanic operations of the Cordilleru de los Andes--and in the hasty remarks, which I now do myself the pleasure of submitting, are deemed sufficiently interesting for publication, the subject will be renewed with more method and reflection. A. SUBSCRIBER. Savannah, December 23d, 1811.

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