“The Year 1811”

Date

5-12-1812

Newspaper

Lexington Kentucky Gazette

Page and Column

Page 1, Column 4

Newspaper Location

Lexington, Kentucky

Serial Number

237

Abstract

Synopsis of 1811 disasters, notes that they might be related

Transcript

THE YEAR 1811. In this year several events have occurred of no common character. A brief notice of them may not be unacceptable. In the month of September, a comet made its appearance in the northern part of the heavens, and passing across our hemisphere, disappeared at the south about the end of the year. On the 10th of September the city of Charleston, in South Carolina, was visited by one of the most tremendious hurricanes that ever devastated any country. On the 17th of September the sun suffered an annual and almost total eclipse. The day was remarkably serene, and the skies entirely clear of clouds, so that its appearance was the most solemn and the impressive that we cold conceive. On the 7th of November, the lives of many valuable Americans were lost in a battle with the Indians. On the 16th and 17th of December, the western and southern quarters of the United States were alarmed with several shocks of an earthquake. On the 26th of December, the Theatre at Richmond was consumed by fire, and a great number of the most respectable citizens of Virginia perished in the flames. In the summer months the heat was, in many places, the most intense that ever was known. In the principal cities several lives were lost by the indiscreet use of cold water. The crops in many parts of the United States were destroyed by drought and in many places immense damage was done by overwhelming torrents of rain. There are no common events, and without incurring the charge of superstition, they may be deemed portentous of still greater events. Surely so many extraordinary occurrences in the course of a few months, ought to excite something of meditation and reflection.

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