“Earthquake”

Date

12-27-1811

Newspaper

Raleigh Minerva

Page and Column

Page 2, Column 3 and 4

Newspaper Location

Raleigh, North Carolina

Serial Number

673

Abstract

Detailed felt report for the December 16, 1811 earthquake, from Charleston South Carolina. Notes ringing of St. Phillips church bell and other effects. Source. Charleston newspaper.

Transcript

CHARLESTON, Dec. 17, 1811. EARTHQUAKE. Yesterday morning four shocks of an Earthquake were felt in this city. The first and most severe, occurred at five minutes before 3 clock, and was a minute and an half in duration. It was preceded by a noise resembling the rattling of a carriage over a pavement. The air was calm and cold, and the atmosphere cloudy. The vibration was so great as to set the house bells and the bell of St. Philop's Church, ringing, and the furniture in motion, some of which, in several houses, was thrown down The pendulum of the house clocks stopped, and, in some houses, the glasses in the pictures which were hanging against the wall, were broken. In many persons the motion produced nausea at the stomach. The second shock was felt while the town clocks were chiming three. This was slighter than the first, and continued about 20 seconds. The third shock was felt at three minutes before, and the fourth at ten minutes after 8 o'clock. The first was severe but both were only of a few seconds duration. The three last shocks were unaccompanied by any noise. We have not heard that any damage has been sustained, nor how far it has extended into the country. It was felt 23 miles from town. The vibratory motion was East and West Wind N. N. E. Atmosphere hazy and dark. The thermometer at 8 o'clock the previous evening was 50 and the Barometer 30, 45. Yesterday morning at 8 o'clock the Barometer continued the same, but the mercury in the Thermometer had sunk to forty six. December 18 A slight shock was felt at 11 o'clock Monday evening, and another yesterday at 20 minutes after 12. They continued but a few seconds. We have now had six of these awful visitations in two days.

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