“From the New York Evening Post”

Date

3-31-1812

Newspaper

The Clarion

Page and Column

Page 4, Col. 2-4

Newspaper Location

Nashville, Tennessee

Serial Number

48

Abstract

William L. Pierce account of the December 16. 1811 earthquake at Little Prairie.

Transcript

From the New York Evening Post. EARTHQUAKE. We have postponed a number of articles to make room from the following very interesting communication from an intelligent friend at New Orleans-It is, we presume, the most particular and satisfactory account of the earthquakes on the Mississippi which has yet been published; And Mr. Pierce being an ear and eye witness to the scene they describe, the authenticity cannot be doubted. To the Editor of the New York Evening Post. BIG PRAIRIE, Dec.25th. 1811. DEAR SIR, Desirous of offering the most correct information to society at large, and of contributing at some degree to the speculations of the philosopher, I am induced to give [unreadable] to a new remark, [unreadable] a phenomenon [unreadable] the most alarming nature through you, therefore, I take the liberty of addressing the world, and describing, as far as the inadequacy of my means at present [unreadable text], the most prominent and interesting features of the events, which have recently occurred upon this portion of the western waters. Proceeding on a tour from Pittsburgh to New Orleans, [unreadable] the Mississippi where it receives the waters of the Ohio, on Friday, the 13th day of this month, and on the 15th, in the evening, landed on the left bank of this river, about 116 miles from the mouth of the Ohio. The night was extremely dark and cloudy; not a star appeared in the heavens, and there was every [unreadable text] of a severe rain-for the three last days indeed, the sky had been continually over[unreadable], and the weather unusually thick and hazy. It would not be improper to observe, that these waters are descended in a variety of small craft, but mostly generally in flat bottomed boat, built to serve a temporary purpose and intended to float with the current, being supplied with oars, not so much to accelerate the process as to assist in navigating the boats, and avoiding the numerous bars, trees and timber, which greatly impede the navigation of this river, [unreadable text] boats I had embarked-and the more effectually to guard against anticipated attacks from the savages, who are said to be at present much exasperated against the whites, several boats had proceeded in company. Precisely at two o'clock on Monday morning the 16th [unreadable] we were all alarmed by the violent and convulsive agitation of the boats, accompanied by a noise similar to that which would have been produced by running over a sand bar-every man was immediately roused and rushed upon deck. We were first of opinion that the Indians, studious of some mischief, had loosed our cables, and thus [unreadable] we were foundering. Upon examination, however, we discovered that we were yet safely and securely moored. The idea of an earthquake then suggested itself to my mind, and this idea was confirmed by a second shock, and two others in immediate succession. These continued for the space of eight minutes [unreadable text] and general had been the convulsion, that a tremulous motion was communicated to the very leaves on the surface of the earth. A few yards from the spot where we lay, the body of a large oak was snapped in two, and the falling part precipitated to the margin of the river; the trees in the forest shook like rushes; the alarming clattering of their branches, may be compared to the effect which would be produced by a severe wind passing through a large [unreadable] brake. Exposed to a most unpleasant alternative we were compelled to remain where we were for the night, or subject ourselves to imminent hazard, in navigating through the innumerable obstructions in the river, considering the danger of running two-fold, we concluded to remain. At the dawn of day I went on shore to examine the effects of the shocks; the earth about 20 feet from the water's edge was deeply cracked, but visible injury of [unreadable text] fearing, however, to remain longer where we were, it was thought most advisable to leave our landing as expediously as possible; this was immediately done-at a few rods distance from the shore, we experienced a fifth shock more severe than either if the preceding. I had expected this from the lowering appearances of the weather; it was indeed most [unreadable] that we had started, for such was the strength of the last shock that the bank to which we were (but a few moments since) attached, was rent and fell into the river, whilst the trees rushed from the forests, precipitating themselves into the water with force sufficient to have dashed us into a thousand atoms. It was now light, and we had no opportunity of beholding in full extent all the horrours of our situation. During the four first shocks, tremendous and uninterrupted explosions, resembling a discharge of artillery, was heard from the opposite shore, at that [unreadable text] river banks.-This [unreadable] shock explained the real causes. Wherever the veins of the earthquake ran there was a volcanick discharge of the combustible matter to great heights, an incessant rumbling was heard below, and the bed of the river was excessively agitated, whilst the water assumed a turbid and boiling appearance-near our boat a spout of confined air breaking its way through the waters, burst forth, and with a loud report discharged mud, sticks, &c. from the river's bed, at least 30 feet above the surface. These spoutings were frequent, and in many places appeared to raise the very heavens. Large trees which had lain for ages at the bottom of the river were shot up in thousands of instances, some with their roots uppermost and their tops planted; others were hurlded into the air [unreadable] many again were only loosened, and floated upon the surface. Never was a scene more replete with terrible threatnings of death; with the most lively sense of this awful crisis, we contemplated in mute astonishment; a scene which completely beggars description, and of which the most glowing imagination in unadequte to form a picture. Here the earth, river, &c. torn with furious convulsions, opened in huge trenches, whose deep jaws were instanoneously closed; there through a thousand vents sulphureous stream gushed from its very bowels, leaving vast and almost unfathomable caverns. Every where nature itself seemed tottering on the verge of dissolution. Encompassed with the most alarming dangers, the manly presence of mind presence of mind and heroick fortitude of the men were all that saved them. It was a struggle for existence itself, and the [unreadable] to purchased was our lives. During the day there was with very little intermission, a continued series of shocks, attended with innumerable explosions, like the rolling of thunder, the bed of the river was incessantly disturbed, and the water boiled severely in every part. [unreadable text] ourselves us having been in the greatest danger from the numerous instances of boiling directly [unreadable text] boat; fortunately for us, however, they [unreadable text] with eruptions.-----One of the spouts which we had seen rising under the boat would inevitably have sunk it, and probably have blown it into a thousand fragments; our ears were constantly assailed with the crushing of timber, the banks were instantaneously crushed down, and fell with all their growth, into the water. It was no less astonishing than alarming to behold the oldest trees of the forest, whose firm roots had withstood a thousand storms, and weathered the sternest tempests, quivering and shaking with the violence of the shocks, whilst their heads were whipped together with a quick and rapid [unreadable] many were torn from their native soil, and hurled with tremendous force into the river; one of these whose huge trunk (at least three feet in diameter) had been much shattered, was thrown better than a hundred yards from the bank, where it is planted in the bed of the river, there to stand a terror to future navigators. Several small islands have been already annihilated, and from appearances many others must suffer the same fate. To one of these, I ventured in a skiff, but it was impossible to examine it, for the group sunk from my tread, and the force applied to any part of it seemed to shake the whole. [unreadable text]and dreading the high banks, we made for an island which evidenced several marks of the earthquake; here we fastened to some willows, at the extremity of a sunken piece of land, and continued two days, hoping that this scene of horrors was now over-still, however, the shocks continued, though not with the like frequency as before. On Wednesday in the afternoon I visited every part of the island where we lay, it was extensive and partially covered with willow. The earthquake had rent the ground in large and numerous gaps, vast quantities of burnt wood in every stage of alteration, from its primitive nature to stove coal had been spread over the ground to very considerable distances; frightful and hideous caverns yawned on every side, and the earth's bowels appeared to have felt the tremendous force of the shocks which had thus risen the surface. I was gratified with seeing several places where those spouts which had so much attracted our wonder and admiration had arisen, they were generally on the beach, and have left large circular holes in the sand formed much like a tunnel. For a great distance around the [unreadable] vast quantities of coal have been scattered, many pieces weighing from 15 to 20 lbs.were discharged 16 [unreadable] measured [unreadable]. These holes were of various dimensions, one of them I observed most perpendicularly, it was 16 feet in perpendicular depth and 63 feet in circumference at the mouth. On Thursday morning the 19th, we loosed or cables, with hearts filled with fervent gratitude to providence whose protection had supported us through the perils to which we had been exposed. As we descended the river every thing was a scene of ruin and devastation, where a short time since, the Mississippi rolled its waters in a calm and placid current, now, subalterranean forests have been ushered into existence and raise their heads hard and black as ebony, above the surface of the water, whose [unreadable] has been so wonderfully increased, that strength and skill are equally baffled. Our boat was bourn down by an irresistible impulse, and fortunately escaped uninjured. We passed thousands of acres of land which had been cleft from the man shore and crumbled into the water, leaving their growth waving above the surface. In many places, single trees and whole brakes of cane had slipped into the river. A single instance of this kind peculiarly attracted my observation, a large sycamore had stripped from its station on the bank and has so admirably preserved its equilibrium, that it has been left standing erect in the water immersed about 10 feet, and has every appearance of having originally grown there. The shocks I conceive were most sensibly experiences upon the islands, and [unreadable] of them have been much shattered, for I observed where [unreadable text] earth was fairest, it did not [unreadable] but undulated excessively. At fort Pickering, on the extremity, the fourth Chickasaw bluff, and 242 miles from the mouth of the Ohio, the land is strong and high there, however, the earth was extremely agitated, and the block house which is almost a solid mass of hewn timber, trembled like the aspin leaf. The obstructions in this river, which have always been quite numerous, are now so considerably encreased as to demand the utmost prudence and caution from subsequent navigators, indeed I am very apprehensive that it will be almost impassable in flood water, for until such time it will impossible to say where the currents will hereafter run, what portion (if any) of the presently embarrassments, will be destroyed, and what new [unreadable text], &c. they yet be caused by this pretentious phenomenon. Many poor fellows are undoubtedly wrecked, or buried under the ruin of the banks. Of the loss of our tour boats I am certain. It is almost impossible to trace at present the exact course of this earthquake or where the greatest injuries have happened. From numerous inquiries however, which I have made of persons above and below us at the time of the first shock, I am induced to believe, that we were very nearly in the height of it, the rum, immediately in the vicinity of the river, is most extensive on the right side in descending. For the first two days the veins appeared to run a due course from W. to E., afterwards they became more variable, and generally took a N.W. direction. At New Madrid, 70 miles from the confluence of the Ohio and on the right hand, the utmost consternation prevailed amongst the inhabitants, confusion, terror and uproar presided, those in the town were [unreadable text] refuge to the country, [unreadable] those in the country fled with like purpose towards the town. I am happy however to observe that no material injury has been sustained. At the Little Prairie, 100 miles from the same point, the shocks appear to have been more violent, and were attended with severe apprehensions, the towns were deserted by its inhabitants, and not a single person was left but an old negro man, probably too infirm to fly, every one appeared to consider the woods and [unreadable] most safe, and in these confidences was reposed, distressing however, as are the outlines of such a picture, the latest accounts are not calculated to encrease apprehensions, several chimneys were destroyed and much land sunk, no lives, however, have been lost. A little below Bayou river, 130 miles from the spot where we lay, the rain begins extensive and general. At Long Reach, 146 miles, there is one continued forest of roots and trees which have been ejected from the bed of the river. At and near Flower Island, 174 miles, the destruction has been very great, and the impediments in the river much increased. At the Devil's Race Ground, 198 miles, an immense number of very large trees have been thrown up, and the river is nearly impassable. The Devil's Elbow, 214 miles, is in the same predicament, below this, the [unreadable text], and, indeed, no material traces of the earthquake are discoverable. The western country must suffer much from this dreadful scourge, its effects will I fear, be more lasting than the [unreadable] hopes of the inhabitants in this section of the union may at present conceive. What have already been the interiour injuries I cannot say. My opinion is, that they are inferior to extent and affect. The continuance of this earthquake must render its conspicuous in the pages of the historian, as one of the longest that has ever occurred, from the time that the first shock was felt at 2 o'clock on the morning of the 16th, until the last shock on the morning of the 23d, was 168 hours. Nothing could have exceed, the alarm of the aquatick fowl, they were extremely noisy and confused, flying in every direction, without pursuing any determinate course. The few Indians who were on the banks of the river, have been excessively alarmed and terrified. All nature indeed seemed to sympathize in the commotion which agitated the earth. The sun rarely shot a ray thro' the heavens, the sky was clouded, and a dreary darkness [unreadable] over the whole face of creation; the stars were encircled with a pale light, & the comet appeared hazy and dim; the weather was incessantly varying from oppressive heat to severe cold, and during many of the shocks some rain fell. I subjoin the ensuing table of the shocks, with the exact order of the time in which they occurred, as extracted from my minutes. 16th December-the first shock followed by 3 others at 2 o'clock in the morning. 7 A.M. happened a very severe shock-8, nine shocks in quick succession-9, three more shocks-10 minutes after 11, one shock-25 after 11, another-5 after 12 a violent shock-25 after 1 P.M. another-31 after 1, along and violent shock-42 after 1, a shock-10 after 5, very severe shock-42 after 5, a shock-10 before 6 d0-15 of 7 do-35 after 7 do-10 of 8 do-5 of 8 do- 5 of 9 do-25 of 9 do-20 of 10 do-15 of 10 do-10 of 10 do-13 to 20 of 11, three do-12 of 11 great shock-28 after 11, severe shock- 17th December, 30 minutes after 5 a shock-5 in the morning, a great and awful shock followed with three others-5 after 12 meridian, a long and dreadful shock, appearances extremely threatening-18 after 11 P.M. 2 severe shocks-24 after 11 a shock-26 after 11 do-35 after 11 do-48 after 11 do-18 December, 17 minutes of 3 A.M. a shock-17 after 3 do-30 after 3 do-5 of 4 do-10 after 4 do-10 after 5 do-35 after 5 do-very severe-5 after 6 do-45 after 6 do-7 of 8 do-20 after 12 meridian- 10 after 1 P.M. do. 25 after 2 do severe-30 after 2, five shocks in succession-3 o'clock a shock 15 minutes after 3 do severe-43 after 4 do-9 after 10 do-10 after 11 do very severe-19th December, 30 minutes of 5 A.M. 4 sh. In succession-17 of 9 severe sh.-30af. 1 P.M., a sh.-17 of 9 do-30 af 8 do-30 af 9 do-30 af 11 do-20th December, 30 minutes after 9 A.M. a sh. 10 af. 11, a long & tremendous sh.-21st December several reports of sh. Or dist. Thunder was heard-22nd Dec. 11 o'clock A.M. a slight sh.-23d Dec. at 2 in the morning a very severe shock. Thus we observe that there were in the space of time mentioned before, eighty nine shocks-it is hardly possible to conceive the convulsion which they created, and I assure you I believe that there were many of these shocks which had they followed in quick succession were sufficient to shake into atoms the firmest edifices which art ever devised. I landed often, and on the main shore as well as on several Islands found evident traces of prior eruptions, all which seem corroborative of an opinion that the river was formed by some great earthquake-to me indeed the bed appears possess every necessary ingredient, nor have I a doubt but that there are at the bottom of the river strata upon strata of volcanic matter. The great quantities of combustible materials, which are undoubtedly there deposited, tend to render a convulsion of this kind extremely alarming, at least however, the beds of timber and trees interwoven and firmly matted together at the bottom of the Mississippi are tolerably correct data from which may be presumed the prior nature, &c. of the land. The trees are similar to the growth upon the banks, and why may not an inference be drawn that some tremendous agitation of nature has rent this once a continued forest, and given birth a great and noble stream. There are many direct and collateral facts which may be adduced to establish the point, and which require time and investigation to collect and apply. It is a circumstance well worthy of remark that during the late convulsions the current of the river was almost instantaneously and rapidly increased. In times of the highest floods it rates at 4 to 5 knots per hour. The water is now low and when we stopped on the 16th inst. at half after 4 P.M. we had then run from that morning 52 miles, rating at 6 knots generally. This current was increased for two days and then fell to its usual force. It is also singular that the water has fallen with astonishing rapidity. The most probable and easy solution of this fact, which presented itself to my mind, was, that the strength of the Mississippi current was greater than the tributary streams could support. Either this must have been the case or some division of waters above has occurred, or destruction below has created some great basin or reservoir for the [unreadable] of the main body of water. The latter presumption I apprehend cannot be correct as our progress towards the mouth of this river, is marked with little or no injury. Thus, my dear sir, I have given you a superficial view of this awful phenomenon; not so much to convey instruction upon a very interesting subject as to satisfy the curiosity of the public relative so remarkable an event. At some more convenient season it is my intention from [unreadable] which I had the opportunity of collecting, to canvass the subject more in detail, you are therefore at liberty to make whatever use you please of this brief sketch and publish the whole or extract such parts as you may deem best adapted. Should other interesting circumstances occur relative to this phenomenon, I will do myself the pleasure of making you another communication. With much respect, I am, sir, Your obedient servant. WILLIAM L. PIERCE.

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