“An Earthquake”
Date
12-25-1811
Newspaper
Alexandria Herald
Page and Column
Page 3, Column 3
Newspaper Location
Alexandria, Virginia
Serial Number
1146
Abstract
Felt report for the December 16,1811 for Charleston, South Carolina. Time of the first quake was at “few minutes before 3 o’clock.” Duration was estimated at “between two and three minutes” Effect was noted as being severe with effects noted at the ringing of the St. Phillip’s steeple bell for 10 seconds. Clocks were stopped and water sloshed in wells. Aftershocks were felt a few minutes before 8:00 am(local time) and 8:10 am (local time) . Good felt report for Charleston.
Transcript
CHARLESTON, December 16. AN EARTHQUAKE! This morning, at a few minutes before three o'clock, a severe shock of an Earthquake was felt in this City. Its duration is supposed to have been between two and three minutes. For an hour previous, though the air was perfectly calm, and several Stars visible, there was at intervals of about five minutes, a rumbling noise resembling distant thunder; which increased in violence of sound, just before the shock was felt. The vibration of St. Philip's Steeple, caused the clock bell to ring about 10 seconds. Two other Shocks were felt this morning one a little before 8 o'clock, and the other 10 minutes after that hour; both slighter than the first, and of shorter duration; the vibration of the second lasted probably rather more than a minute; and of the last, 2 or 3 seconds. Many of the shocks were stopped; and the water in the different wells was much agitated. We have not heard of any damage having been done by these repeated Shocks; nor have we heard how far they have extended into the country; except that they were felt at Rantowle's. Such phenomena, until lately, were very rare. One is remembered to have happened on the 19th May, 1754, about 11 o'clock, A. M.; but it was very slight. Another slight one was felt on the 11th April, 1799, about 2 o'clock in the morning. In the year 1811, on the 18th January, another occurred, and was felt at Columbia and Granby in this state, and at Augusta in Georgia, but not in Charleston.
Recommended Citation
"“An Earthquake”" (1811). New Madrid Compendium Far-Field Database. 1099.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/cas-ceri-new-madrid-compendium/1099
