‘More of the Earthquakes”

Date

2-29-1812

Newspaper

National Intelligencer

Page and Column

Page 1, Column 1

Newspaper Location

Washington, D. C.

Serial Number

983

Abstract

Long account from Tennessee(possibly Nashville) containing a felt report for the January 23, 1812 earthquake and reports of damage in Arkansas and Little Prairie. Time of earthquake 3:00 am (local time) estimated. Noted that some small outbuildings had lost their roofs and one chimney was damaged. After the first shock several small ones followed and then at 4:00 am(local time) another shock was sensibly felt but lighter than the first. origin of the shock was south of due west in direction. It is followed by a report from Arkansas of Indians arriving at the mouth of the Arkansas river describing damage on that river. The description is accurate as to damage on the St. Francis river and notes a large lake, fissures, and fallen timber in the area that was three days up the river. The report states the Arkansas river but was probably the St. Francis. The other account is from Little Prairie where it is stated that the town was inundated by the earthquake(December 16, 1811) and that the inhabitants had to flee. No deaths were reported. It also notes that small lakes and rivers were converted into eminences(high ground) and fish were found there that were common to the area.

Transcript

WASHINGTON CITY. SATURDAY, FEB. 20, More of the Earthquakes.--The following interesting extract of a letter on these phenomena is from a gentleman in Tennessee to this friend in this city, dated January 23d, 1812. This morning we were again alarmed by a most tremendous concussion of nature's elements, equal, if not more terrifying than those of the 15th of last month. Its continuation was from 20 to 30 minutes-it shook off the top of one chimney in this town, and unroofed some small buildings in the neighborhood. It was succeeded by 3 or 4 small shocks, in the course of an hour. About 4 o'clock P. M. another was sensibly felt, but in a much lighter degree. The cause of all these phenomena appears to originate a little south of a due west course; which will render the information just received, still more probable. "A gentleman who was near the Arkansas river, at the time of the first shocks in December last, state, that certain Indians had arrived near the mouth of the river, who had seen a large lake, or sea, where many of their brothers had resided, and had perished in the general wreck; that to escape a similar fate, they had traveled three days up the river, but finding the dangers increase, as they progressed, frequently having to cut down large trees, to cross the chasms in the earth, they returned to the mouth of the river, from whom this information is derived. If this account is true, and the great unknown cause of this ever memoral paralised state of nature should extend from the Pacific Ocean to the Mississippi, would not a possibility justify the supposition that this globe might be so far wrecked out of its orbit as to lose its repellant force, and come within the attractive powers of some superior body. Monday evening. Since Thursday last we have felt 3, 4 and 5 shocks of a day & night, but not very severe. "I have just received authentic information from some places, where this desolating concussion of nature had its direful effects. At a place called the Little Prairie, on the other side of the Mississippi, about 30 miles form New Madrid, immediately after the shock on the 15 of last month, the inundation of water was so great as to compel the inhabitants to seek instantaneous refuge for the preservation of life-some houses were ingulphed in the chasms, but no lives lost as we have yet heard of. Small lakes and rivers were converted into sand eminences, and fish common to the country very plenty on the surface." Charleston, Feb. 12-On Monday afternoon, at one minute past four, a slight concussion of the earth was felt for a few seconds; and yesterday morning at 24 minutes after 6, there was another shock which continued about 30 seconds. A tremendous motion of the earth was distinctly felt through the whole of yesterday. Light pendulous articles vibrated frequently. The 18th of December at 55 minutes after 11 in the evening, a shock of an Earthquake was felt at Verona, which continued about 3 seconds. Fortunately no damage was sustained. On the 12th of December, at half past eight in the evening, two severe shocks of an Earthquake were felt at Marienberg, (Saxony.)

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