“For the Western Spy”

Date

2-22-1812

Newspaper

Western Spy

Newspaper Location

Cincinnati, Ohio

Serial Number

534

Abstract

Theory on how earthquakes occur.

Transcript

FOR THE WESTERN SPY. MR. EDITOR, The following concise account of the appearances preceding and attending earthquakes generally, extracted from Dr. Wallich, may have been read by many of your subscribers, and others it may be acceptable. The efficient cause of earthquakes mentioned by the Dr. although it is frequently so, is not the only one. If you deem this worth publishing I had not regret copying it, and will, if you wish send for some other opinions of experiences of philosophers, as to the proximate cause, effects, and damages of earthquakes generally. Earthquake is a violent & sudden percussion in the earth, which is generally attended with uncommon noise, both in the air and underground; in consequence of which whole cities have been at once leveled as well as lands in the course of rivers alter and the [unreadable] dreadful devastation have been occasioned-There is no phenomena in nature more calculated to impress the human mind with awe, than an earthquake, but has not fully been investigated with philosophical precision and the history of these events still remains very incomplete-of the observations which indefatigable naturalis have been able to detect, the following are the principal--1 where there are any volcanoes, or burning mountains, earthquakes may naturally be expected to occur more frequently than in other countries. 2 Earthquakes are in general preceeded by long droughts; but they do not always happen immediately after them. 3 They likewise frequently indicated by certain electrical appearances in the atmosphere, namely the Aurora-Borealis, the falling stars &c. The short time previous to the shock the sea swells with a loud noise, fountains are disturbed and become muddy; and the irrational fowls appear frightened, as if conscious of approaching calamity. 5 The air at the time of the shock is in general very calm and serene, but afterwards becomes dark and cloudy. The concussion (or undulatary vibration) comes with a rumbling noise, similar to that of engines, a rushing sound resembling wind, sometimes heard; at others explosions, not like the firing of cannons; and the ground is moved in differing directions, a single shock that exceeds a minute in its duration; but frequent concussions succeed each other in short intervals for a considerable length of time. 7 During the shock chasms are perceptible, and though the Abysses formed in the earth are in general not extensive, yet in violent earthquakes, the have been so large, as to bury whole cities. 8 The water of the ocean is on such occasions, affected still more than the land, the sea now rising to a considerable height now diving to a considerable depth, & emitting great quantities of air flames and smoke. Lastly the effects of earthquakes are not confined to one particular district or country, and frequently extded to very distant regions; though there is no instance of the whole Globe having been convulsed at the same time. The Cause of earthquakes or the theory of this tremendous phenomenon is but imperfectly understood, (among other causes.) It is however certain, they arise from the confinement of air within the bowels of the earth, where it is generated by sulphuric vapours, acting on different metallic ores, the principal, and most copious of which, appears to be iron. In confirmation of which theory we shall only observe that artificial earthquakes may be easily produced, by buying equal quantities of iron filings and sulphur mixed in a moist state, and confined in a vessel, so as to exclude the access of external air, and prevent the escape of the inflammable gas thus generated. In a few days (and if large quantities be employed in a few hours) this composition grows remarkable hot, and will explode with a violence and impetuosuity resembling the natural phenomenon; but we do not advise our junior readers to attempt such dangerous experiments-an ample account of the latest and most awful earthquakes which have happened in the memory of man, may be found by the inquisitive, in 73 vol. Philosophical of the Royal Society for 1753.

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