“The Earthquake!”

Date

2-18-1812

Newspaper

The Times

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 1-2.

Newspaper Location

Charleston, South Carolina

Serial Number

399

Abstract

Very long article detailing the extent that the December 16, 1811 earthquake was felt in the United States. Extensive theory on what occurred.

Transcript

THE EARTHQUAKE! To satisfy the minds of those persons who may feel desirous of receiving information relative to the great and alarming Phenemenon which has visited our Country, the following brief detail of facts is offered the Public, communicated to us by a gentleman who arrived this morning from the Western Country: "The late Earthquake has extended through a great portion of our Union, and has, in many places, been attended with the most portentous appearances. It ranged from Alexandria, in Virginia, through the interior of that State; thence striking the Ohio River, and running in numerous veins throughout Indiana, Tennessee, and the Indian Nations. What was the exact direction of the veins, which were numerous, it is almost impossible exactly to state; the one which was accompanied with the greatest injury, appeared to proceed in a due course from W. to E. marking, with dreadful impressions, the country through which it proceeded. The writer had an opportunity of seeing the injuries made on the Mississippi, when they were not only most extensive, but most severe-he was descending that river, and when almost 106 miles from the confluence of the Ohio, at about 2 o'clock in the morning of the 16th December, several shocks of an Earthquake were felt-the appearances of the weather had been for several days alarming, and we had every indication of severe rains. It was generally remarked that the aspect of the heavenly bodies was singular, the comet was unusually hazy, and the western horizon very glowing. The banks of the Mississippi have been sunken in many places for hundreds of acres, the bed of the river was constantly agitated, the very bowels of the earth appeared to feel the severity of the shocks, and from numerous orifices sticks and stones were ejected into the air for at least 50 feet. It extended directly on the river about 700 miles from the mouth of the Ohio, several boats were destroyed from the falling in of the banks; much timber, which for ages had been washed into the river, and matted at the bottom, was raised; yet, though violent were the shocks, few material injuries were instanced-the greatest part of them providentially occurred in the wildest, and most uninhabited parts. It appears also to have extended up the Mississippi, almost to its source, and through all the large tributary streams. At Louisville and Lexington, in Kentucky, the inhabitants were much alarmed, but no injuries of moment were sustained. The inhabitants in the different small villages, bordering the Mississippi, were much alarmed, and fled in every direction. Very few lives were lost, and those mostly upon the waters. It is singular, that in many places, the country 40 miles back from the river, was sensible of no shocks when those more immediately in its vicinity, felt them severely. Whilst, at the same time, a few miles higher or lower, the whole country on the river banks, and for unheard of distances back, was shaken with violence. This proves that the shocks were partial, that the Earthquake ran in veins; which, though apparently the most severe, are really less injurious than a general convulsion. Indeed, from every circumstance attending this phenomenon, much less danger is to be apprehended from it, than is generally imagined. On the Mississippi, the last shock was felt on the 23d December, thus making its continuance exactly one week; in which space of time, were felt, upwards of 300 shocks, many of which were violent enough to have shattered to atoms, the firmest edifices, but the sensible injuries which followed, were by no means commensurate.

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