“This morning two distinct shocks...”
Date
1-11-1812
Newspaper
Reporter
Page and Column
Page 3, Column 1
Newspaper Location
Lexington, Kentucky
Serial Number
257
Abstract
Felt report of the December 16, 1811 earthquake at Norfolk, Virginia. First shock was felt at about 3 o’clock and was considered the most violent. Force shook sleepers from their beds “ as if a strong man had taken hold of the post, and shook them with all the violence in his power.” Clocks were stopped and houses were “shaken with great violence”. The shock at “about 8 o’clock” was felt by more people because they were awake. It was described as “very violent” the only specific damage noted in the quakes was “of throwing a pipe of wine off the skid, in a warehouse in Commerce Street.” From the newspaper the Ledger.
Transcript
From Norfolk. This morning two distinct shocks of an earthquake were felt in this place: The first, (and according to most accounts) the most violent, was about 3 o'clock. It was so severe as to awaken a number of persons out of their sleep. The shock at two very short intervals might have continued about a minute. The shaking of the beds is described, as if a strong man had taken hold of the posts, and shook them with all the violence in his power. Several clocks were stopped.-The houses were shaken with great violence. Again about 8 o'clock another shock was felt, by a greater number of persons as many had risen; this also very violent. The most sensible effect produced by this, that we have yet learned, was that of throwing a pipe of wine off the skids, in a warehouse in Commerce street. Before our next we expect to obtain some further particulars respecting this (in our climate) unusual convulsion of nature. (Ledger.
Recommended Citation
"“This morning two distinct shocks...”" (1812). New Madrid Compendium Far-Field Database. 250.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/cas-ceri-new-madrid-compendium/250
