“Extract of a Letter”
Date
2-14-1812
Newspaper
The Times
Page and Column
Page 2, Column 2 -4
Newspaper Location
Charleston, South Carolina
Serial Number
400
Abstract
Extracted letter from New Orleans dated January 16, 1812 relating the arrival of the steamboat at New Orleans. Notes that it took 273 hours to get to New Orleans. Letter also notes damage at Little Prairie, that 500 acres had sunk and that there was extensive damage on the river with several islands sunk. Note the quake was felt as far south as Baton Rouge. “The shocks were felt slightly, so low down as Baton Rouge, 120 miles above this city.”
Transcript
EXTRACT OF A LETTER To a Gentleman in this city dated "NEW-ORLEANS, JANUARY 18 A great change is about to take place in our inland navigation, by means of Steam Boats. The first of that kind arrived a few days ago from Pittsburgh and was for more than 273 hours actually under way, though much longer on her voyage) a distance of 2400 miles. She is burthen 400 tons. "The western and southern parts of this country have been visited by a severe Earthquake. Several Islands of the Mississippi have totally disappeared; and at a place called Little Prarie, about 500 acres have sunk, leaving a lake where they formerly were. The shocks were felt slightly, so low down at Baton Rouge, 120 miles above this city."
Recommended Citation
"“Extract of a Letter”" (1812). New Madrid Compendium Far-Field Database. 393.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/cas-ceri-new-madrid-compendium/393
