“Extract of a letter to the Editor...”

Date

2-14-1812

Newspaper

Boston Yankee

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 3 and 4

Newspaper Location

Boston, Massachusetts

Serial Number

851

Abstract

Letter from Wabash, Indiana, Approx. 30 miles southwest of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Letter dated January 5, 1812. Felt report for the December 16, 1811 earthquake. it is unclear if the letter is talking about damage at Wabash or some other location like New Madrid. Quite detailed account of cumulative effect of earthquakes on structures and chimneys. Does note that considerable damage was done at Little Prairie. If damage report is from Wabash then it is one of the most distant damage report for the New Madrid earthquake of December 16, 1811.

Transcript

EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO THE EDITOR, DATED "Wabash, Jan. 5, 1812. "The most alarming and distressful calamity to us is the continued and repeated Earthquakes which began on the morning of the 16th day of December, at 2 o'clock A. M. the first and second shocks wrecked the chimnies; the third and fourth, which were about 6 o'clock, brought them down, and many of the houses, with considerable other damage. We have alternately had repeated shocks ever since the first, and some very severe, frequently attended with a dead hollow rumbling noise, sulphurous smell and flaws of wind. The atmosphere assuming frequently a very dark, thick, cloudy appearance, and sometimes of a redish color. Several houses have been thrown down, but the most considerable damage we have yet heard of, is the total destruction of a little town on the Mississippi, called the Little Prairie, and about 15 or 20 acres swallowed up at the big Sandy river. As far as we have yet heard, it has been much the same as with us. What makes it still more alarming is the continuation of the shocks, and the trembling of the earth some time after; and in fact, it seems as though the earth has not been still since the first shock-the fourth shock was the most severe, which lasted fifteen minutes and some say twenty. This is the twentieth day since they began, and without cessation; we have had from one to four shocks per day, from what caused they proceed we know not. The course of direction, appears to be from W. and S. W. to E. and N. E. The final result of them we are fearful of; but trusting to the all powerful Being who has the sole control of all things, we have no right to consider it otherways than a wife dispensation of His providence."

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