“More Earthquakes”
Date
2-8-1812
Newspaper
Western Spy
Page and Column
Page 3, Column 2 and 3
Newspaper Location
Cincinnati, Ohio
Serial Number
528
Abstract
Report of the February 7, 1812 earthquake at Cincinnati, catalogs shocks felt and their effect.
Transcript
MORE EARTHQUAKES. On Tuesday last between the hours of 4 and 5 P. M. we experienced to concussions of the earth in quick succession: the first was of considerable violence, a slight snow was falling at the time. The next morning, about 9, two others were felt, Indeed within every [unreadable] hours since (any thing in Liberty Hall to the contrary notwithstanding) one or more shocks have been sensibly felt. But yesterday morning, between 3 and 4 o'clock, this town was seriously alarmed by a convulsive throe far more violent than any before experienced, and which has occasioned damage to the walls and chimnies of some houses. The rear wall of the Court-House had been cracked in places by previous shocks. The concussion now under notice had added to the injury, by extending and enlarging some of the fissures, and rending the plastering of the Grand Jury room. This shock lasted with violence for several minutes, and a tremulous motion succeeded for many minutes more. It was accompanied with a loud noise; first, like the clashing of rocks together and next like the roaring of a furnace, or the passing of a tornado. In 30 minutes afterwards, this shock was succeeded by two others so quick succession, and slight. A little after sunrise a fourth shock took place-but it, too, was slight. When the first occurred, the night was calm and clear; the moon and stars shone bright-A haze afterwards pervaded the atmosphere. We here recur to another face-which on a few similar occasions has been noticed before as well in the Spy as in some of the distant papers-that is, a flash of light appeared in a north-western direction when the first violent shock, several persons were effected with nausea, and as tone gentleman, in particular, it excited vomiting. Similar effects were observed to proceed from former concussions. Two other shocks occurred last evening at 15 minutes past 8. About half past ten at night another took place, and lasted, with some severity, for nearly 2 minutes. This was preceded by three flashes of light in a W. S. Western direction, and which appeared to rise from the earth.
Recommended Citation
"“More Earthquakes”" (1812). New Madrid Compendium Far-Field Database. 519.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/cas-ceri-new-madrid-compendium/519
