“Extract of a letter to the Editor...”

Date

2-6-1812

Newspaper

Boston Independent Chronicle

Newspaper Location

Boston, Massachusetts

Serial Number

166

Abstract

Felt report for the January 23, 1812 earthquake at West River, Maryland

Transcript

Extract of a letter to the Editors, dated West River, Jan. 23,1812. "This morning at about nine o'clock a friend of mine, captain Franklin, Miss Webster and myself, had just sat down to breakfast, when capt. F. observed, "What's that? An earthquake!" At the same instant, we felt as if we were in the cabin of a vessel during a heavy swell.-This sensation continued from one to two minutes, probably longer. For although I had the presence of mind to take out my watch I felt too sick to observe accurately its duration. The feeling was by no means tremulous, but a steady vibration. A portrait about four feet in length, suspended from the ceiling by a hook and staple, and about five eighths of an inch from the side wall vibrated at least from eighteen inches to two feet each side and so very steady as not to touch the wall-My next neighbor and his daughter felt the same sensation about the Earthquake. The father supposed it the gout in his head. The daughter got up and walked to a window; supposing the heat of the fire had caused what she considered a faintness. Two others that I have seen, mentioned to have felt the same, but none of them had thought of an earthquake. The two last seeing me,home and up late , mentioned that they were much alarmed at about 11 o'clock last night, by a tumbling, as they thought, in the earth, attended with several flashes of lightning, which so lighted their house, that they could have picked up the smallest pin-one mentioned that the rumbling and light was accompanied by a noise like that produced by throwing a hot iron into snow, only very loud and terrific, so much so, that he was fearful to go out to look what it was, for he never once thought of an earthquake. I have thrown together the above particulars supporting an extract may meet with corroborating accounts, and afford some satisfaction to your readers. P.S.-The lightning and rumbling noise came from the south__I have just heard of its being felt in several of the houses, but not any particulars more than related.--Fed. Rep.

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