“We have seen a letter...”
Date
2-12-1812
Newspaper
Louisiana Courier
Page and Column
Page 3, Column 2
Newspaper Location
New Orleans, Louisiana
Serial Number
960
Abstract
Short detailed description of damage at Little Prairie and New Madrid from the December 16, 1811 earthquake. Mentions that a mill on a lake had been transformed into dry land. Brick chimneys had been destroyed at New Madrid. Frequency of earthquakes was 3 shocks every day from December 15 to December 28. Plantations were swallowed up and many cattle killed.
Transcript
We have seen a letter from New-Madrid dated December 28th, which confirms the disastrous events of the Little-Prairie. An extensive lake on the banks of which a flour-mill had been established, now presents a dry ground intermixed with white sand, pyrites and sea-coal. Several brick chimneys have been destroyed at New-Madrid, and from the 15th to the 28th, nearly three shocks of an earthquake were felt for every 24 hours. Several plantations have been swallowed up; the loss sustained in cattle is very considerable. It was feared that the upper countries might have been exposed to greater disasters. The mail was expected at the departure of the letter.
Recommended Citation
"“We have seen a letter...”" (1812). New Madrid Compendium Far-Field Database. 933.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/cas-ceri-new-madrid-compendium/933