“Earthquakes”

Date

2-10-1812

Newspaper

Louisiana Gazette

Page and Column

Page 2, Column 3

Newspaper Location

New Orleans, Louisiana

Serial Number

921

Abstract

Article on earthquake theory as seen from New Orleans. Article thinks origins of the earthquakes are in the mountains west of the Mississippi between latitude 36 and 38.

Transcript

EARTHQUAKES Have been so frequent latterly, that some observations on the causes that produce those tremblings of the earth may not be uninteresting at the present moment. The eastern parts of North America have never felt the effects of earthquakes before this winter; at least we can find no record that mentions such an event.-Traditions say that earthquakes have been frequent in New Mexico, near the Pacific Ocean. It appears that Volcanic mountains have some connection with the sea; for they are generally in its neighbourhood, witness Etna and Vesuvius. On the top of those mountains are hollows like an inverted cone, called the crater, through which the lava generally passes; but sometimes it bursts out of the sides and runs a red hot river of matter or lava. These eruptions are frequently attended with thunder and lightning; hence, the opinion that the electric fluid sometimes bursts from the earth as well as from the clouds. For some time previous to those eruptions light shocks of earthquakes are felt near those mountains. In 1779 the lava of Mount Vesuvius almost destroyed the town of Torre del Greco, the inhabitants of which scarcely had time to save themselves. From the continual fire and immense quantity of matter thrown up at different times, without diminishing their apparent bulk, it is reasonable to conclude that the fires are reasonable to conclude that the fires are an immense distance below the common surface of the earth. Probably the explosion and eruption of the melted matter arise from water coming in contact with the fire, then being converted into an elastic vapour or steam the force of which is well ascertained to be infinitely greater the gun powder. This, then, gives us some idea of earthquakes. If the superincumbent weight be too great for the force, and no eruption takes place, heavy and severe shocks of the adjacent earth must be the consequence. The melancholy fate of the city of Lisbon in 1755, we think is strong proof in favour of the reasons here offered. This memorable earthquake was felt all over Europe; but the elastic vapour or steam was most probably produced by the sea breaking into some subcuteraneous fire immediately under that unfortunate city. When eruptions take place, the substances ejected are water, ashes, pumic stones, stones that have undergone no fusion, Phlogisticated and inflammable air, and lava.-Instances have been of stones of a large diameter being ejected with great force. We have little doubt, as we observed some days ago, but that the cause of the recent earthquakes are in the mountains west of the Mississippi, between lat. 36 and 38.-In the history of earthquakes we find none north of 40. Nearer the equator, in mountainous countries, we find them more frequent.

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