“An Earthquake”

Date

12-21-1811

Newspaper

The Supporter

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 1

Serial Number

559

Abstract

Felt report for the December 16, 1811 earthquake from Chillicothe, Ohio. Described as “three successive shocks..” that continued about 3 minutes. First shock was at 3:04 am local time. Duration was one minute. at 3:40 and 45 a slight movement was felt. At 7:16 “two pretty violent shocks which caused the water in the streets to lash from side to side.” Duration was “about 2 minutes”. At 8:05 there was felt “a tolerable hard shock.” At 8:10 a slight shock was felt. On December 17 at 11:30 am local time an aftershock was felt that was slight and short in duration. Very good felt report.

Transcript

AN EARTHQUAKE. On the night of the 16th instant, at 2 o'clock and 15 minutes, three successive shocks of an Earthquake were felt in this town. They caused considerable alarm. Their continuance was about 3 minutes, and were so violent as to make the houses shake as though they were ready to totter to the ground. At 3 o'clock and 4 minutes we were visited with another shock, preceded with a subterraneous sound, resembling that of distant thunder, but which was not quite so violent as the first shock. Its continuance was about one minute. Forty and forty-five minutes after 3, we had a slight movement of the earth. At 7 o'clock and 16 minutes we had two pretty violent shocks which caused the water in the streets to lash from side to side. Continuance about 2 minutes. At 8 o'clock and 5 minutes there was a tolerable hard shock. At 10 o'clock and 8 minutes-slight.-On the17th, at half after 11 o'clock, A. M. we experienced a slight shock which was of short duration. From the best information which we have had relative to the course from whence these shocks proceeded, and from personal observation of a small pond of water, (at 7 o'clock in the morning) which lay immediately opposite the office door, it plainly appeared to wave from East to West. There has been no damage done in this town, that has been heard of. We are informed, that the above shocks have been generally felt throughout this neighbourhood.

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