“On the phenomenon and history of earthquakes”

Date

2-13-1812

Newspaper

Louisiana Gazette

Page and Column

Page 2, Column 1

Newspaper Location

St. Louis, Missouri

Serial Number

289

Abstract

Article from the Encyclopedia Britannic that details history of earthquakes and the theory of why they are formed.

Transcript

On the Phenomona and History of Earthquakes. Earthquakes have been felt in most countries of the world. There are, however, particular places which seems to be more subject to this dreadful calamity than others. of this does not seem to depend on (unreadable) circumstances, with regard to particular regions of the earth. It may be observed in general, that earthquakes are more frequent with (unreadable); but there are places within the torrid zone, which are more (unreadable) visited by earthquakes than some of the more temperate or even the colder regions of the earth. In the Island of the West Indies, and in some parts of the American continent which lie between the tropics, the earthquakes is more frequently felt than in most other regions of the earth. But the northern shores of the Mediterranean, the kingdom of Portugal, and some other places without the tropics, have (the scene of desolation, by the effects of the earthquake, it would appear that they are not limited to particular regions, on account of proximity to the equator or distance from it, on account of information or extent of continent. Particular islands, however, and particular parts of continents, have undoubtedly been oftener visited by Earthquakes than others. Of all the islands, of the West Indies, Jamaica has most frequently experienced their dreadful effects. Indeed, scarcely a year passes, without several shocks of an earthquake being felt on that island. Mexico and Peru in South America, are more subject to earthquakes than the other regions of the American continent. Portugal has been often shaken to the very foundations, by terrible earthquakes, while Spain, immediately adjoining or it may be said, including it, is comparatively, almost exempted from their effects. It has been observed that earthquakes have been less destructive in Italy than in Sicily, which are in the immediate vicinity of each other, and are both volcanic countries. Observations on phenomena so awful and terrible, can scarcely be expected to be very numerous. The operation of the causes which produce them is too rapid, the effects are too sudden and unexpected, to be rendered the subject of accurate or attentive philosophical investigation; or, perhaps, we might acknowledge an once that they are too extensive and too obscure for the powers of man. They are beyond the grasp of the human mind. It has been already observed, that earthquakes are more frequent in volcanic countries than many others. In these regions they are oftener dreaded and expected than in other places. Where a volcano exists, and when it has ceased to throw out fire and smoke for any long period, shock of earthquakes begin to be dreaded. This has been very generally the case with the principal volcanoes of the world, the event of whose history have been recorded. An earthquake is often the forerunner of an eruption, and the very first warning of its approach. Earthquakes are often preceded by long droughts. The earthquake however, does not immediately succeed the cessation of the drought, or the fall of rain. Some electrical appearances are observed to take place in the air, before the earthquake comes on. The aurora borealis is frequent and brilliant, and bright meteors are often seen darting from one region of the heavens to another, or from the atmosphere to the earth. The noise which accompanies the shock of an earthquake is sometimes like that of a number of carriages, driving along the pavement of a street with great rapidity. Sometimes it is like a rushing noise, similar to that of wind, and sometimes it resembles the explosions occasioned by the firing of artillery. The effect of earthquakes on the surface of the earth is various. Sometimes it is instantaniously heaved up in a perpendicular direction and sometimes assumes a kind of rolling motion, from side to side. Sometimes the shock commences with the perpendicular motion, and terminates with the other. Great openings or fissures are made in the earth by the shock, and these in general thrown out vast quantities of water, but sometimes smoke and flames are also emitted. Flame and smoke are often seen issuing through the surface of the earth, even where no chasm or fissure has been produced. The effects of an earthquake on the ocean are not less terrible than those on land. The sea swells up to a great height; its waters sometimes seem to be entirely separated, and from the place of separation, currents of air, smoke, and flame are discharged. Similar effects have been observed to take place in lakes, ponds, and rivers. Their waters are thrown into great agitation, and are some times swelled up. Places in which there was a considerable body of water have become dry land, and dry land has been converted into an extensive lake by the shock of an earthquake. The most terrible earthquake that has yet visited the earth, has never been felt over its whole surface. Their effects, however, extend to very distant regions, from the center or principal scene of desolation. The existence of an earthquake is indicated much more extensively by water than by land. Where its effects have not been at all perceived on dry land, the agitation produced on the waters in the ocean, or in lakes and rivers, has been often communicated to a very great distance. The duration of the shock of an earthquake rarely exceeds a minute, and perhaps very few continue for near that length of time. But the shocks are sometimes repeated in rapid succession; and perhaps from the effect on the senses, and the dread and alarm which are thus occasioned, it is supposed that their duration is much longer than it really is. But as no general account of the phenomena which accompany an earthquake, from the difficulty or [unreadable] of observation, can be complete, it will be rendered much more intelligible and interesting, if we enter a little more into the detail of the history of particular earthquakes; and in the account of some of them which we propose to lay before our readers, it will be found that most of the appearance and effects which have been enumerated, were observed. The first earthquake, the history of which we shall now detail, happened in Calabria, in the year 1638. This earthquake is rather to be considered as an exception to what was said with regard to their not taking place in the neighbourhood of a volcano soon after an eruption. The volcanoes in that vicinity had experienced violent eruptions a very short time before. Five years before, there had been an eruption of Mount Vesuvius, and two years only had elapsed from the time that a similar event had befallen AEtna. This mountain, indeed, at the very time, threw out a great body of smoke, which seemed to cover the whole island, and entirely concealed the shores from view. The air over the sea at a little distance was calm and serene, and the surface of the water was perfectly smooth. Seemingly without any cause, it began to be slightly agitated, as happens to the surface of water in a heavy shower or rain. A dreadful noise succeeded, and the smell of sulphurous vapours was perceived. The noise, like the ratting of chariots, grew more frequent and loud, and the shock at last was terribly felt, when the earth was heaved up, or rolled in the form of waves. This earthquake is particularly described by Kircher, the celebrated geographer. On the 24th of March, (says he) we departed in a small boat from the harbour of Messina in Sicily, and the same day arrived at the promontory of Pelorus. Our destination was for the city of Euphemia in Calabria, but unfavourable weather obliged us to remain at Pelorus three days. We tried at length with delay, we determined to proceed on our voyage, and although the sea seemed unusually agitated, yet it did not defer us from embarking. As we approached the gulf of Charybdis, the water seemed whirled round with such violence, as to form a large hallow in the centre of the vortex. Turning my eyes to Mount AEtna I saw it throw out huge volumes of smoke, which entirely covered the island. This awful appearance, with the dreadful noise, and the sulphurous stench which is accompanied it, filled me with strong apprehension that some terrible calamity was approaching. The sea itself exhibited a very unusual appearance its agitation resembling that of the waters of a lake which is covered with bubbles in a violent shower of rain. My surprise was will increased by the calmness and serenity of the weather; not a breese stirred, not a cloud obscured the face of the sky, which might be supposed to produce these dreadful commotions, I therefore warned my companion that the unusual phenomenon which we observed, were the forerunners of an earthquake. Soon after we stood in for the shore, and landed at Tropaca, but we had scarcely arrived at the Jesuits college in that city, when a horrid sound, which resembled the ratting wheels of an infinite number of chariots driven furiously along stunned our ears. Soon after a terrible shaking of the earth began; the ground on which we stood seemed to vibrate as if we were on the scale of a balance which continued waving. The motion soon grew more violent; I could no longer keep my legs, but was thrown prostrate upon the ground. After some time had elapsed, when I had recovered from the consternation; and finding that I was unhurt amidst the general earth, I resolved to make the best of my way to a place of safety, and running as fast as I could, I reached the shore. I soon found the boat in which I had landed, as well as my companions; and leaving this scene of desolation, we prosecuted our voyage along the coast. Next day we arrived at Rochetta, where we landed, although the earth still continued in violent commotion. But we had scarcely reached the inn when we were again obliged to return to the boat. In about half an hour we saw the greatest part of the town, as well as the inn where we had stopped, leveled with the ground, and most of the inhabitants buried in its ruins. As we proceeded onward, we landed at Lopezim, which is a castle about half way between Tropaea and Euphemia, to which we were bound, and, here, wherever I looked, nothing but scenes of ruin and horror presented themselves. Towns and castles were leveled with the ground, and Stromboli at the distance of 60 miles threw out an immensity of fumes, accompanied with a noise which could be distinctly heard. But our attention was quickly drawn from more remote to present danger. The rattling sound which immediately precedes an earthquake, again alarmed us; every moment it seemed to grow louder and louder, and to approach nearer the place on which we stood. A dreadful shaking of the earth now began, so that being unable to land my companions and I caught hold of whatever shrub was next us, to support ourselves. After some time the violent commotion ceased, and we stood up, and proposed to prosecute our voyage to Euphemia, which lay with sight, but in the meantime while we were preparing ourselves. I turned my eyes towards the city, but could see nothing but a thick, black cloud, which seemed to rest on the place. This appeared an extraordinary circumstance, as the sky all round was calm and serene. We waited till the cloud passed away and then turning to look for the city it was totally sunk, and where it formerly stood, nothing remained but a dismal and putrid lake ." But of all the earthquakes, the history of which is on record that which happened at Lisbon in the year 1755, was by far the most extensive in its effects, and from its recent occurrence will probably be deemed the most interesting. In the year 1750; several shocks of earthquakes had been sensibly felt. The four following years were remarkable for excessive drought. The springs which for formerly yielded abundance of water, were totally dried up and mostly the winds which chiefly prevailed were from the north and north east. During this period also there were slight tremors of the earth; the seasons in 1755, were un[unreadable] wet and the summer, as the consequence of this, proved unusually cold. But for the space of 40 days before the earthquake happened, the sky was more clear and serene. On the last day of October the face of the sun was considerably obscured and a general gloom prevailed over the atmosphere. The day following (the 11th of November) a thick fog arose, but it was found disipated by the heat of the sun. Not a breath of wind was stirring the air was perfectly calm, and the heat of the weather was equal to that of June or July in this country. At 35 minutes after nine in the morning without any previous warning excepting the rattling noise resembling that of distant thunder. The earthquake came on with short, quick vibrations and shook the various foundations of the city so that parts of the [unreadable] completely fell. A [unreadable] which was [unreadable]. The houses were then [unreadable] from side to side like the motion of a wagon driven quickly over ragged stones. It was the second that which had laid a great part of the city in ruin, and as might be expected, great numbers of the inhabitants were destroyed at the same time. The whole duration of the earthquake did not exceed six minutes. When it began, some persons in a boat, at the distance of a mile from the city, and in deep water, thought the boat had struck on a rock in consequence of the motion which was communicated to it. At the same time they perceived the houses falling on both sides of the river. The bed of the Tagus was in many places raised to the very surface of the water, ships were driven from their anchors or moorings, and were tossed about with great violence; and the persons on board did not for some time know whether they were afloat or aground. A large new pier with several hundreds of people upon it, sunk to an unfathomable depth, and not one of the dead bodies was ever found. The bar of the river was at one time bone dry from tide to tide; but suddenly the sea came rolling in like a mountain, and in one part of the river the water rose in an instant to the extraordinary height of 50 feet. At noon another shock happened; the walls of some housesthat remained were seen to open from top to bottom, near a foot wide, and were afterwards so exactly closed, that hardly any mark of the injury remained.

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS