“The Earthquake”

Date

1-18-1812

Newspaper

Western Spy

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 3 and 4

Newspaper Location

Cincinnati, Ohio

Serial Number

523

Abstract

Letter from Chickasaw Bluffs detailing the December 16, 1811 earthquake on the river and it’s aftershocks. Also notes aftershocks at Cincinnati

Transcript

The Western Spy CINCINNATI, January 18, 1812 We hear from Lexington, that sometime last week, Mr. Hunt's extensive rope manufactory was consumed by fire, supposed to be set on fire by some incendiary-property destroyed supposed to be worth 15,000 dollars. THE EARTHQUAKE Was again felt in this town late on Sunday night last (the 12th inst.) or else very early on Monday morning; for the hour was not precisely noticed. The shock lasted some minutes, accompanied with a noise like that of an approaching storm, as heard in a forest; and was so violent as to agitate the houses, and awake many persons who were sound asleep. Since our last [unreadable] information has reached us, concerning this very extraordinary earthquake, as felt in various different places; but, from the similarity of particulars to others before published, and as no material injury had caused, except in one instance, we shall confine our notice to the latter. We are persuaded it will excite a lively interest in all who read it-A gentleman, on his passage, in a barge from Cincinnati to N. Orleans, has addressed to his correspondent here a long letter (now before us) describing the phenomenon as experienced on the Mississippi: It is dated, Chickasaw Bluffs, 21st December. From this it appears the concussions there were truly alarming, and in their effects disasterous. From the 13 to the 20th December, inclusive, in fewer than 40 shocks were distinctly noticed, besides many others not particularly enumerated. The first shock happened on the 16th ult. at half after 2 A. M. the writer's then at anchor, in 15 feet water, about 17 miles below N. Madrid; it lasted, with violence, about 40 seconds, and set the barge adrift as if rubbing hard on a shoal, or running over a floating log at the rate of 6 miles an hour. The hands on board immediately sounded, but found no bottom! Fifty [unreadable] of cable were next [unreadable] out, before she could be brought up. We are told, that the bed of the river, on which she was anchored, had sunk; that the current was increased to thrice its former velocity; and that the crew of a boat, in shore, informed the writer the water has risen 6 feet; that, a few minutes past seven A. M. there was a second [unreadable] threw up sand and logs from the bed of the river, and tumbled down large portions of the banks--Logs that had probably [unreadable] for ages beneath the river's bed, [unreadable] bolted upright; one end firmly [unreadable] bed, the other appearing above water [unreadable] planted together, as to render the navigation [unreadable text] N. O. Boats. At the Little Prairie the inhabitants all fled to the highlands, and the only brick chimney in the place was thrown down. From the eastern shore the barge was [unreadable] by some hunters, who said the earth had been cleft in hundreds of places, at the Bayou river, with fissures sufficiently large to swallow up a man, and that they were vomiting up [unreadable] of water. An island a short distance above this river was most violently, agitated and [unreadable] every direction with [unreadable]. At [unreadable] Point two boats laden with [unreadable], the property of a Mr. Joseph Atwell, were, in the twinkling of an eye, destroyed; the [unreadable] shattered to pieces, the [unreadable] fortunately, the crews were saved. Thus was a [unreadable], industrious man, [unreadable] all. The writer appears to have been deeply impressed with a belief N. Orleans is destroyed, and the mouth of the Mississippi changed-but letters in town, both from Natchez and N. Orleans of date, [unreadable] to the earthquake make no mention of it. It seems there were twenty shocks [unreadable](exclusive of the two already mentioned) with intervals between them. In the morning of from 10 to 20 minutes; in the afternoon, they were from, 30 to 35 minutes; in the evening, and during the night, from one to two hours. On the 17th, shocks were elt as follows: at 30 minutes past 2; at 6 o'clock; at 40 minutes past 11 A. M. The shock was nearly as violent as the second, and continued [unreadable] seconds. There were several other shocks which happened during the night. On the 18th, at 7 min. past 8, and at 30 min, past 11, A. M.j-at 6 o'clock, and at 5 min past 6, P. M. Three other shocks at night. On the 19th at 7 o'clock A. M.-at 41 min. past 12 P. M. at 45 min. past [unreadable]; at 35 min. past 10, and at [unreadable] min. past do besides several slight shocks during the night. On the 20th at 20 min. past [unreadable] at 35 and 40 past 11, A. M. at 7 P. M. and at 9. The earth continued to tremble the day on which the letter was written-and from the long continuation of the earthquake with us, there are strong grounds for believing it was not sooner over on the Mississippi. The letter adds, that the lake waters were forcing their way into the river, and that on the 16th during the whole day, the feathered tribe, such as swans, geese and ducks, could find no place whereof they dared to rest; and were therefore constantly on the wing. It is also added, that for three days previous to the earthquake, the weather was very hazy, and the air strongly scented with sulphur. We are still in anxious expectations of soon hearing from the Missouri.

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