“Earthquake”

Creator

James Fletcher

Date

2-15-1812

Newspaper

Western Sun

Page and Column

Page 1 Col 1 and 2

Newspaper Location

Vincennes, Indiana

Serial Number

28

Abstract

Account of the December 16, 1811 earthquake as felt at Little Prairie, Missouri

Transcript

Nashville, January 21, 1812. EARTHQUAKE. From Mr. James Fletcher, in whose statement we place the utmost reliance, we have received the following narrative "at the Little Prairie" on the 16th of December last, about 2 o'clock A.M. we felt a severe concussion of the earth, which we supposed to be occasioned by a distant earthquake, and did not apprehend much danger. Between that time and day we felt several other slighter shocks; about sun rise another very severe one came on attended with a perpendicular bouncing that caused the earth to open in many places-some eight and ten feet wide, numbers of less width, and of considerable length-some parts have sunk much lower than others; where one of those large openings are, one side remains as high as before the shock and the other is sunk; some more, some less; but the deepest I saw was about twelve feet. The earth was, in the course of 15 minutes after the shock in the morning nearly entirely inundates with water. The pressing of the earth, if expression be allowable, caused the water to spout out of the pores of the earth, to the height of eight or ten feet! We supposed the whole country sinking! and knew not what to do for the best. The agitation of the earth was so great that it was with difficulty any could stand on their feet, some could not. The air was strongly impregnated with a sulphureous smell. As if by instinct we [unreadable] as soon as we could from the river, dreading most danger there; but after trembling about two or three hours, about two hundred gathered at Capt. Francis Lecuer's, where we encamped until we heard that the upper country was not damaged, when I left the camp (after staying there twelve days) to look for some other place, [unreadable] was three days getting about thirty miles from being obliged to travel round those chasms. "Previous to my leaving the country I heard that many parts of the Mississippi river are caved in; in some places several acres at the same instant. But the most extraordinary effect produced that I saw was a small lake below the River St. Francis. The bottom of which is blown up higher than any of the adjoining country, and instead of water it is filled with a beautiful white sand. The same effect is produced on many other lakes as I am informed by those who saw them; and it is supposed they are generally filled up. A little river called Pemiscoe, that empties into the St. Francis runs parallel with the Mississippi the distance of about twelve miles from it is filled also with sand. I only saw it near its head, and found it to be so and was informed by respectable gentlemen who had seen it lower down, that it positively was filled with sand.-On the sand that was thrown out of the lakes and rivers, lie numerous quantities of fish of all as common to the country. The damage to stock was unknown.- I heard of only two dwelling houses, a granary, and smoke house, being sunk. One of the dwelling houses was earth; the other the top was about even with the surface. The granary and smoke house was entirely out of sight; we supposed sunk and the earth closed over them. The buildings through the country are much damaged.-We heard of no lives being lost, except seven Indians who were shaken into the Mississippi. This we learned from one who escaped.* *Previous to the shocks coming on we heard a rumbling noise like that of thunder. They continued until I left the country-some very severe. I cannot tell how many there were.

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