“This morning...”

Date

12-24-1811

Newspaper

Edenton Gazette

Page and Column

Page 3, column 3

Newspaper Location

Edenton, North Carolina

Serial Number

864

Abstract

Felt report for the December 16, 1811 earthquake from Norfolk, Virginia. Original source newspaper is the Norfolk Ledger. Time that the earthquake occurred was about 3:00 am local time. Effect was to awaken sleepers and shake beds. Other effect was to stop several clocks. It was described as being “at tow very short intervals” and continued “about a minute” The second shock was at about 8:00 am ( local time) Effect was described as being violent. Only damage noted was the throwing a pipe(barrel) of wine off its skids in a warehouse on Commerce street.

Transcript

This morning [Monday, Dec. 16,] says the Norfolk Ledger, two distinct shocks of an Earthquake were felt in this place: The first (and according to most accounts) the most violent, was about 3 o'clock. It was so severe as to awaken a number of persons out of their sleep. The shock at two very short intervals might have continued about a minute. The shaking of the beds is described, as if a strong man had taken hold on the posts, and shook them with all the violence in his power. Several clocks were stopped. The houses were shaken with great violence. Again about 8 o'clock another shock was felt, by a greater number of persons, as many had risen, this was also very violent. The most sensible effect produced by this that we have yet learned, was that of throwing a pipe of Wine off the skids, in a warehouse in Commerce-S't. Before our next we expect to obtain some further particulars respecting this (in our climate) unusual convulsion of nature.

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