“From the Western Spy”

Date

2-6-1812

Newspaper

Ohio Centinel

Page and Column

Page 1, Column 1 and 2.

Newspaper Location

Dayton, Ohio

Serial Number

1262

Abstract

Article from the Cincinnati Western Spy about the origin of earthquakes in relation to the December 16, 1811 earthquake.

Transcript

FROM THE WESTERN SPY With some considerable degree of pleasure and amusement, I read, in the Liberty Hall of the 1st January some Philosophical remarks on the cause and effects of the Earthquake signed "Indigens"-I heartily concur with him, in reprehending the tolerance and willful blindness of those, who with superstitious awe torture those natural Phenomena, into portentous omens of dire calamities, rather than investigate their causes or consider their effects; and who if they would give themselves leave to reason on the subject, must acknowledge, that an Earthquake is not so complicated or so extraordinary a production arising from natural causes as a thunder storm-only that in this part of the world 'its more uncommon-But I cannot so readily, subscribe to his opinion as to the cause; however, I do not now address him through this medium, for the sake of argument, but with the sole view of gaining information, and broaching and enlarging on new ideas, in the farther investigation of the subject and altho, I am fully sensible of my inability, and sincerely wish some abler hand had untaken the task, I cannot refrain from hazarding a few observations on my friend Indigena's Potstulatum.- Heattributes the cause of the Earthquake to the state of the atmosphere, this is to me a new idea, and would in my opinion, require some more feasible arguments to support it that have yet been advanced, and to remove some very strong objections that appear to strike me against this theory. This atmosphere, has been found by Philosophers, to press on the surface of our Globe, with a weight equal to that of a sea of quicksilver surrounding the world 29 inches deep or one of water 30 feet deep this pressure however is constantly liable to variation, which changes are exactly pointed out by the Barometer. It has also been ascertained, that the higher we ascend, the air becomes lighter, by regular, and exact gradation; if therefore, the absence of this pressure to a certain degree on the surface of a country, will cause vibration in the earth, we must believe that the earth has always a tendency from some latent cause to this unusual motion, and is only restrained, or prevented from constant vibratory motion by the weight of the atmosphere; and with every sudden change of the weather we should experience an Earthquake -for we cannot suppose that the Earth is possessed of that elasticity that would make it capable of being compressed by any external agent (even admitting it possible that the Atmosphere was capable of such extraordinary power) and of again expanding, on removal of such force-It also follows, that as the quicksilver in the Barometer, in ascending mountains, is found to sink about the 10th of an inch in the ascent of every 90 feet, which in a mountain of 3000 feet high would make 3.33 inches, the top of the mountain being eased of so much of the pressure usual in the valley, would keep in constant motion. Prior to the first shock taking place, there was not any remarkable change in the weather noticed; its true that night [16th Dec.] the air seemed much charged with vapours; but shook at different periods, and very different states of the atmosphere, we experienced the same effect; then surely not from this cause!-Let us now take a cursory glance round the known world, and enquire where thoseconvulsions are most common? and what is such place apparently be the cause?-We see they are not confined to any particular region, or climate, they have them in Iceland; and also in Peru, nearly under the line, they have them in Italy, one of the mildest climates in the world, and in the West India Islands, one of the most boisterous.-In the neighbourhood of volcanos they are common, and always invariably precede an explosion or eruption; but where a free, and copious discharge takes place, the Earthquake ceases; and on the other hand in regions remote from volcanos they are seldom or ever felt, and if any, in a very slight degree. We find the Earthquake which happened, in Sicily in the year 1663, and which destroyed 19,000 of the inhabitants and totally overwhelmed the city of Caranea-was sensibly felt in Germany, France, and England to a circumference of 2500 leagues-it is not then in the least extraordinary that we should here feel the vibrations of an Earthquake which might have taken place in the West Indies, up the Missouri, or in some other remote region-that the cause may possibly originate in our own country, several parts of the country west of the Allegheay mountains abound in Coal miners; some of which have been on fire, and constantly burning for upwards of 10 years, and if this combustion has been excited on any considerable mass confined in the bowels of the Earth, I should suppose an Earthquake a very natural consequence, tho' not attended as yet with an eruption. It is not necessary that external fire should actually be applied to Coal mine to cause inflammation, for when the Pyrites is very abundant in Coal, exhibiting yellow veins of the mineral, the coming in contact with air, or water will decompose them and produce combustion, in which case, if there is not sufficient vent for the quantity of vapours arising from and proceed by such inflamation, they will with amazing force, act on the obstructions and of effectually confined, and considerably radified and expanded by internal heat, will convulse the Earth-may shake it to its very centre:--this will not appear extraordinary, when we consider that it has been proven by actual experiment, that one drop of water converted into vapour, or steam and properly applied, is capable of raising one hundred tons weight. I submit those few cursory remarks for the present, in hopes to induce further enquiry into the origin, and cause of Earthquake. QUERITAS.

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