“Extract of a letter from a lady of information...”
Date
5-4-1812
Newspaper
Virginia Herald
Page and Column
Page 4, Column 1
Newspaper Location
Fredricksburg, Virginia
Serial Number
1122
Abstract
Report from Natchez, Mississippi by a woman on the effects of the New Madrid earthquake on the river. Notes that it has made navigation of the river dangerous. Notes that islands have sunk. Notes islands sunk to treetop height and migrated on the river. Caused panic among the Indians who moved among the whites or retreated within their own borders. Unique account.
Transcript
Extract of a letter from a lady of information at Natchez, (Mississippi Territory) dated March 7th. "Since the date of your letter, we have had violent and repeated Earthquakes, which have rendered the navigation of the Mississippi river extremely dangerous. There have been instances of islands sinking, during those shocks. About Natchez, there was a body of land, thought to be 300 acres, totally sunk.-It is asserted by a gentleman of veracity, that during twelve days of perpetual motion (great part of which time he was on the river) an island sunk as effectually, that he floated over the tops of the trees. He likewise asserts, that an island on which he had landed, moved a considerable distance down the river during the night. Between this place and Tennessee, there has been charcoal thrown up in abundance. I think it truly alarming, both to the Christian and the sinner.-The Savages of the Southern clime appeared very much terrified; some of them having migrated among the whites hastily, retired within their own boundary."
Recommended Citation
"“Extract of a letter from a lady of information...”" (1812). New Madrid Compendium Far-Field Database. 1076.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/cas-ceri-new-madrid-compendium/1076
