Earthquakes in South America
The people of the New Madrid time period were aware that earthquakes occurred in other areas of North and South America. While the New Madrid earthquakes were happening newspapers published accounts of other earthquakes to give people a sense of what was going on. Although news was sparse there was some information from South America. From Peru came sporadic accounts of historic earthquakes. Here is an example:
“1797.
On the 4th of February, Peru, in South America, lost five towns by the shock of a neighboring mountain which was thrown to pieces, several other towns and villages were thrown down and upwards of 16,000 of the inhabitants destroyed.”
New Madrid Compendium Item 290,”Destruction by Earthquake” Louisiana Gazette, 2/13/1812, Page 3, Column 2.
Great!
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