“The Earthquake, A Hasty Sketch”

Date

12-31-1811

Newspaper

Louisiana Gazette

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 2

Newspaper Location

New Orleans, Louisiana

Serial Number

903

Abstract

Highly detailed felt report for the December 16, 1811 earthquake at Natchez, Mississippi. Time of the earthquake was 2:10 a. m. ( local time) The next was felt at 6:30 a. m. ( local time) Then one on December 17, 1811 at 11:15 a. m. (local time). Notes effects such as stopped clocks. broken plaster, agitation of the water on the river, trees and bushes swaying violently. Objects swaying and a cow bell ringing. It was noted as being felt at Vidalia, Louisiana, Big Black(probably Mississippi) Rapidie, Louisiana, Washington, Mississippi. Source is the Natchez Weekly Chronicle.

Transcript

THE EARTHQUAKE-A hasty Sketch. Natchez, Dec. 18t, 1811. SIR, Having made a few observations with respect to the Earthquake, which has drawn the attention of the citizens of this place and its vicinity within a few days past, I present them to you, thrown together in a hasty way, for publication, if you think so, under the impression that they will not be uninteresting to your readers. On the morning of Monday last the 16th inst. several shocks were felt-four have been ascertained by an accurate observer to have been felt in this city. The principal one, as near as can be collected, was about ten minutes past two o'clock, A. M. There was no noise heard in the atmosphere but in a few instances in certain situations-The shock was attended by a tremulous motion of the earth and buildings-felt by some for about one and a half minutes; by others about five; and my own impression is, that I am conscious of its lasting at least three, having been awakened from my sleep. Several clocks were stopped at two or about ten minutes after. Several articles were thrown off the shelves; crockery was sent rolling about the floor; articles suspended from the ceiling of the stores vibrated rapidly without any air to disturb them, for about nine inches; the plastering in the rooms of some houses was cracked and injured; the river was much convulsed, so much that it induced some of the boatmen at the landing, who supposed the bank was falling in, to cut [unreadable]. The shocks in the morning were about six or half after, one of them considerable. The vibration of suspended articles was, wherever room would admit from east to west. Accounts from Louisiana state, that the first shock was felt about ten minutes past 2, A. M. at Black river, thirty miles distant, and at different places on the road to Rapide, where the trees were violently agitated. It was also felt on the river at a considerable distance above and below Vidalia.-The shock was also felt as far up as the Big Black, and at the different intervening towns; in the vicinity of Washington the trees were observed to be much convulsed, nodding their heads together as if coming to the ground. Another shock was experienced yesterday at fifteen minutes past eleven o'clock, A. M. The houses in several instances shook considerably, and the suspended articles in the stores were violently convulsed. Some clocks were again stopped, and in one of the stores a cow bell was heard to tinkle. AN OBSERVER.

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