“Important Arrival”

Date

2-12-1812

Newspaper

The Courier

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 1 and 2

Newspaper Location

Norwich, Connecticut

Serial Number

821

Abstract

Account of the arrival of the steam boat New Orleans at Natchez. Account includes information on the New Madrid earthquakes as experienced on the boat. Account included damage reports for New Madrid, Little Prairie and Louisville

Transcript

IMPORTANT ARRIVAL. ARRIVED here on Monday last, the Steam-boat from Pittsburgh, which had on account of low water been some time detained at the falls of the Ohio; and is destined to run between this place and New-Orleans as a regular trader. She was only 221 hours under way from Pittsburg to this place a distance of near two thousand miles. No very satisfactory account of the shock of Earthquakes, and their effects, which have lately happened, could be expected; that received from the gentlemen on board, is rather more so than we anticipated. The shake or jar, produced by the powerful operation of the engine, rendered the shocks imperceptible, while the boat was under way.-While at anchor five or six shocks were felt, two or three more severe than the rest. On enquiry at New-Madrid, a small town about 70 miles below the mouth of the Ohio, they found the chimnies of almost all the houses were thrown down, and the inhabitants considerably alarmed. At the little Prairie, 30 miles lower down, they were brought to by the cries of some of the people, who thought the earth was gradually sinking; but declined to take refuge on board without their friends, whom they wished to collect. Some distance below the little Prairie, the bank of the river has caved into a considerable extent, and two islands has almost disappeared. We also understand that letters have been received from Louisville, Falls of Ohio, which state, that the houses have suffered considerable damage in that place.

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