“The Earthquake”

Date

12-19-1811

Newspaper

Ohio Centinel

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 2

Newspaper Location

Dayton, Ohio

Serial Number

1257

Abstract

Felt report for the December 16. 1811 earthquake from Dayton, Ohio. Time of the first quake was between two and three o’ clock am (local time). the effect was to wake most of the inhabitants of Dayton from their sleep. Some left their houses in fear while others were just terrified. Horses and cattle were alarmed and chickens fled their roosts. The ground shook constantly Monday December 16, and Tuesday December 17. A surveyor trying to conduct surveys on the day of the earthquake found it impossible to settle his compass needle to conduct surveys. He made an attempt on Tuesday and was unsuccessful again.

Transcript

The Earthquake. On Monday and Tuesday last, the inhabitants of this place were kept in continual alarm by repeated shocks of an Earthquake. The first, and by far, the severest shock, was felt between two and three o'clock on Monday morning. It was so severe as to arouse almost every person in town from his slumbers. Some left their houses in affright, and all were terrified at the unusual phenomenon. The horses and cattle were equally alarmed, and the fowls left their roost in great consternation. It was not preceded by the usual token of a rumbling noise. The Earth must have been in a constant tremor on Monday, and Tuesday. A surveyer went out on Monday for the purpose of surveying a road in the neighborhood of this place, but being unable to get the needle to settle, he was obliged to desist. He tried it again on Tuesday with the same effect.

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