“Earthquake”

Date

12-24-1811

Newspaper

National Intelligencer

Page and Column

Page 2, Column 5

Newspaper Location

Washington, D. C.

Serial Number

968

Abstract

Felt report from Washington D. C. for the December 16, 1811 earthquake. Notes that it was sensibly felt there by many persons. It is followed by a long synopsis article of reports from across the country on the effect of the earthquake. Reports from the Alexandria Herald, Richmond Enquirer, Norfolk Ledger, Charleston Times, and from Georgetown, South Carolina.

Transcript

Earthquake.--The agitation of the earth described in the subjoined articles was sensibly felt; about the same time as is mentioned below, by many persons in this city, though not so violent as it is stated to have been in other places: From Alexandria. Alexandria, Dec. 18. On Monday morning last two shocks of an earthquake were sensibly felt in this town, the first between 2 and 3 o'clock, the latter about 8. We do not find it was attended with any peculiar circumstances of portention or effect; but being a circumstance of that rare kind with us, it excited as much curiosity in the inquisitive and wonder in the credulous, as did the stranger's nose in Strasbourg, so satirically related by Sterne. There appeared to be but one shock each time, and its undulations might have continued nearly 30 seconds. It has force enough to shake the furniture in houses and move doors upon their hinges, and we have hear some instances of clocks being stopped by its throwing their pendulums out of their regular course of vibration. Herald. From Richmond. A Card.--A little after eight this morning, I thought I perceived signs of an earthquake in every object about me. Still I mistrusted the testimony of sensations so often illusive. Upon [unreadable] this to others, I hear that not only at the above time, but in the course of last night, similar symptoms of a general concussions have manifested themselves. If you think it worth worth while, enquire into this phenomenon, which, perhaps, you have yourself remarked. Yours very respectfully. December 16. L.H.G. We understand that this phenomenon was witnessed by many people in the city; that about three o'clock in the morning there were three successive shocks; another about 6; and again about 8. Several persons were under a persuasion that thieves had broken into their houses; and in one of the most elevated houses of the city, the bells, both above and below, were set a ringing. Enquirer. From Norfolk This morning 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 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 on Commerce street. Before our next we expect to obtain some further particulars respect this (in our climate) unusual convulsion of nature. Ledger From Charleston An Earthquake!--This morning, at a few minutes before three o'clock, a severe shock of an earthquake was felt in this city. Its duration is supposed to have been between two three minutes. For an hour previous, though the air was perfectly calm, and several stars visible, there was at intervals of about five minutes, a rumbling noise, resembling distant thunder, which increased in violence of sound, just before the shock was felt. The vibration of St. Phillip's Steeple caused the clock bell to ring around 1 seconds. Two other shocks were felt this morning, one a little before 8 o'clock, and the other 10 minutes after that hour; both slighter than the first, and of shorter duration; the vibration of the second lasted probably rather more than a minute; and of the last, 2 or 3 seconds. Many of the clocks were stopped; and the water in the different wells was much agitated. We have not heard of any damage having been done by these repeated shocks; nor have we heard how far they have extended into the country; except that they were felt at Rantowle's. Such phenomena, until lately, were very rare. One is remembered to have happened on the 19th May, 1754, about 11 o'clock, A. M. but it was very slight, Another slight one was felt on the 11th April, 1799, about 2 o'clock in the morning. In the year 1811, on the 13th Jan. another occurred, and was felt at Columbia and Granby in this state, and at Augusta in Georgia, but not in Charleston. Times. From Georgetown, South Carolina. Several shocks of an earthquake were experienced in this Town between the hours of three and eight o'clock on Monday morning. Great indeed was the consternations of the inhabitants, on the awful accession. So severe were shocks that the parade ground of the fort settled from one to two inches below its former level. A tub of water sitting on a table in the barracks was upset by the jarring of the building. Another severe shock was felt yesterday 13 o'clock.

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