“Earthquake”

Date

12-21-1811

Newspaper

Louisiana Gazette

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 2

Serial Number

77

Abstract

Very complete account of the effect of the December 16, 1811 earthquake at St. Louis. First shock was felt at 2:15 am on Monday December 16. Duration was 1 minute 45 seconds. Quake was preceded by a rumbling noise “reselling a carriage passing over pavement”. The second shock was felt at 3:34 am “nearly as tremulous as the first, but without as much noise.” It’s duration was 50 seconds and “a slight trembling continued at intervals for some time after”. “Past daylight” another shock of “nearly one minute.” Another shock was at “about 8 o’clock” and “was almost as violent as the first” and was accompanied by noise. another shock was felt at 11:30 am and another at 11:30 am on Tuesday, December 17. Eyewitnesses claimed that other shocks were felt between the main ones. Damage to St. Louis was not described. “Since writing the above, several slight shocks were sensibly felt to the number of ten or twelve.”

Transcript

ST. LOUIS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21. On Monday morning last, about a quarter past two, St. Louis, and the surrounding country, was visited by one of the most violent shocks of earthquake that has been recorded since the discovery of our country. As we were all wrapt in sleep, each tells his story in his own way, I will also relate my simple tale. At the period above mentioned, I was roused from sleep by the clamor of windows, doors and furniture in tremulous motion, with a distant rumbling noise, resembling a number of carriages passing over pavement-in a few seconds the motion and subterraneous thunder increased more and more; believing the noise to proceed from the N. or N.W. and expecting the earth to be relieved by a volcanic eruption. I went out of doors and looked for the dreadful phenomenon. The agitation had now reached its utmost violence. I entered the house to snatch my family from its expected ruins, but before I could put my design in execution, the shock had ceased, having lasted about one and three fourth minutes. The sky was obscured by a thick haze fog, without a breath of air. Fahrenheits thermometer might have stood at this time at about 35 or 40. At forty-seven minutes past two, another shock was felt without any rumbling noise, and much less violent than the first, it lasted near two minutes. At thirty four minutes past three, a third shock nearly as tremulous as the first, but without as much noise, it lasted about fifty seconds, and a slight trembling continued at intervals for some time after. A little after day light a fourth shock was felt, but with less violence than any of the others, it lasted nearly one minute. About 8 o'clock a fifth shock was felt; this was almost as violent as the first, accompanied with the usual noise, it lasted about half a minute; the morning was very hazy and unusually warm for the season, the houses and fences appeared covered with a white frost, but on examination it was found to be vapour, not possessing the chilling cold of frost; indeed the morn was enshrouded in awful gloom. At half past eleven a slight shock was felt, and about the same hour on Tuesday last; a smart shock was felt-several gentleman declare, they felt shocks at other intervals. No lives have been lost, nor has the houses sustained much injury, a few chimneys have been thrown down and a few stone houses split. In noticing extraordinary events, perhaps no attendant circumstance should be deemed unimportant: This is one of that character, and a faithful record of appearances in such cases as these, may form data for science. Viewing the subject in this way, it may not be amiss to notice the reports of those who have explored the extensive plains and mountains of the West. On the margin of several of our rivers pumice and other volcanic matter is found. At the base of some of the highest of the black mountains, stone covers the earth, bearing marks of the violent action of the fire. Within 30 miles of the great Osage village, on the head waters of their river, and 180 miles from this town, it is said, that a volcano had ceased to burn for the last three years, and it is thought to have broken out in some quarter of our country. Upon the whole, this has been an uncommon year; the early melting of snow to the north raised the Mississippi to an unusual height. The continued rains in the summer and the subsequent sickness amongst the inhabitants, rendered that period somewhat distressing.-Autumn, to this time, has been unusually mild, and health pervades the land, in every quarter. Since writing the above several slight shocks were sensible felt to the number of ten or twelve. Editor

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