Compendium Under Construction

The New Madrid Compendium is currently undergoing some renovation work.  There will be intermittent outages of the databases as improvements are being made.
Sorry for any inconvenience that this might cause to readers.

Campbell Levee Bridge, South Fork of the Forked Deer River(Source American Memory, Library of Congress image)

A Halloween Post

Sometimes the effect of earthquakes are not just building damage and causalities but to uncover the misdeeds of people who attempted to conceal their crimes only to have the forces of nature expose them.

When the earthquakes struck central Kentucky it caused the inhabitants much consternation.  Notable among these inhabitants were two nephews of Thomas Jefferson, Lilburne and Isham Lewis.  Who lived in the Western part of Central Kentucky at the time of the New Madrid earthquakes.  The Lilburne with the assistance of his brother murdered a slave named George on the night of December 15, 1811 right before the first earthquake.  The motivation for the crime was that George had broken a ceramic pitcher that had belonged to their mother.  After the murder an attempt was made to cover up the crime by burring the body. The crime was committed in front of the other slaves they owned and they were coerced into burning the body.   Just as the body of the slave was being burned in a fireplace an attempt to cover up the crime the first of the earthquakes occurred collapsing the chimney on the house.   The brothers then forced the slave to rebuild the chimney with the remains of the slave concealed in the masonry.

The plan might have worked but the brothers did not take into account the succeeding earthquakes of January 23, 1812 and February 7, 1812.  The rebuild chimney crumbled in this seismic onslaught and the remains were exposed to the point a dog found the skull of the slave and deposited in public view, which sparked an inquiry into whom the skull belonged to.  This uncovered the murder and exposed the brothers to criminal charges  for  murdering a slave by torture.  They were arrested and while out on bail Lilburne committed suicide.  His brother fled and enlisted in the Army and would be killed in the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.

Source:  Boynton Merrill, Jefferson’s Nephews, A Frontier Tragedy(2004)

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slave_George

The Great Shake Out

Although this blog is about New Madrid history, present can intrude on appropriate occasions.  One of note is the The Great Shake Out.  It is an earthquake preparedness drill that his being conducted by a consortium of agencies under the lead of CUSEC a sister agency that concentrates on preparedness to mitigate seismic hazard in a multi state area.  CERI is helping in the drill under the lead of Gary Patterson. The drill will be held today at 10:17 am Central Standard Time today(October 17).  For more information: The Great Shake Out.

An Enigmatic Report

When a felt report is found for the New Madrid earthquakes the hope is that it will be informative with specifics like date, time and effect of the earthquake at that location.  Many times the report will only have one or two of those pieces of information that are needed to make it a totally useful felt report.

Here is an example that informs and mystifies at the same time;

This is one of the northernmost felt reports for the New Madrid earthquakes from Prairie Du Chein in Wisconsin.  At the time of the earthquakes is was an isolated trading post and on the far edge of American occupation of the Louisiana Territory.  The report lacks some crucial information.  For instance it does not give the date the earthquake was felt. One is left guessing which one of the three main earthquakes the author is talking about.  The other information is on effect and leaves the researcher wanting more information.  It relates that the earthquake was "severely felt" without defining what that would be.  No information on the specific effects is given meaning little can be done to quantify the report. It also mentions that the earthquake is noted in "several letters" holding hope that they might survive in some archival collection and provide more information.  Somtimes a hint like this can provide clues on finding more information on the earthquakes.  It give the researcher more incentive to dig for information.
(Source New Madrid Compendium, Far Field Catalog, Article "We Have Learned..." Worthington, Ohio, Western Intelligencer, March 27, 1812, Item Number 1205. ( Original Source St. Louis, Louisiana Gazette date unknown.

More on Felt Reports

In the previous post I mentioned the esoteric art of felt reports and tried to define what they were and how they were used.  In this post I will give an example of  New Madrid felt report and what can be learned from it.

Here is a brief example

New Madrid item 18121228_nmad_2_27

Our correspondent at Cape Girardeau has [unreadable] us with the following notice on the Earthquake.

Dec. [unreadable], 1811.

The concussions of the Earthquake which commenced at two o'clock on Monday morning still continue. We have experienced five severe shocks which split brick houses and damaged five brick chimneys in this place."

J.M.F.

The first thing you will notice is that the account in the original image is very hard to read.  It the reason the Compendium has transcripts of the felt reports to make them easy to read .Next you will notice that the account notes  the time that the first earthquake occurred on December 16, 1811.  Time in 1812 was not standard and so there is a variance in the stated times when earthquakes occurred.  Local time at each location can vary by 30 minutes or more depending on location.  Time was set at each location probably by noting when the sun reached noon then setting a clock accordingly.  The account goes on to note that there were five severe shocks but does not say if they were aftershocks or during the original earthquake on December 16.  And finally the account notes that the damage as being houses split and damage to chimneys.  This damage can be quantified  using a measurement called the Mercali Scale.  This scale will be the subject of another post.

A Close One

Sometimes earthquakes happen very close to Memphis. During the Labor Day weekend a small earthquake occured near Marion Arkansas which is north of West Memphis Arkansas.  The distance from Memphis was 14 miles northwest of the city.  It has been a while since we have had one this close to CERI as they are usually further north along the New Madrid Seismic Zone.
For more information: Marion Arkansas Earthquake

The Esoteric Art of Felt Reports

In the era before seismic instrumentation became available and reliable the only source of information on earthquakes were the written accounts left by eyewitnesses to the event.  In the modern short hand of seismology they are referred to as felt reports.  These reports  reflected the education and interests of the observers who recorded their observations.  To modern researchers these accounts are a gold mine of information if used properly. The sources of these reports are as varied as the persons who recorded them  They can be in diaries, letters, legal documents, and in almost any written record contemporary with the earthquakes.  One of the most prolific sources of felt reports are contemporary newspapers.  With the effort to catalog and preserve early newspapers came the preservation of vast amounts of written felt reports.  The problem is finding them in the ocean of the surviving printed words.  Many of the accounts that you have seen on the blog are from the effort to find New Madrid felt reports to help better understand the earthquakes.

Earthquake Near Hornbeak

On Monday evening at  an earthquake with the magnitude of 3.3 occurred south of Hornbeak, Tennessee in western Obion County.  The epicenter was east of Reelfoot lake and another reminder that the New Madrid Seismic Zone remains active.

As a historical note Hornbeak was founded long after the New Madrid earthquakes either during the Civil War or shortly thereafter.  It was named for its postmaster Frank Hornbeak.

For more information on the earthquake see  http://folkworm.ceri.memphis.edu/recenteqs/Quakes/nm081213e.html

And for the history of Hornbeak see http://tngenweb.org/obion/history/districts/hornbeak/

The Quake Stops Here.

Once again an earthquake has occurred in the area of the New Madrid seismic zone.  This time it occurred on Wednesday at 3:10 in the afternoon near Truman, Arkansas.  The magnitude was 3.2 and was followed by a smaller quake later in the evening for more information visit Recent Earthquakes in the Central United States for more information about it and find other background information.  Enjoy!

Henry Clay and the New Madrid Earthquakes

Sometimes the connection between the New Madrid earthquakes and famous people of the time can be convoluted.  There is no record of what Henry Clay experienced during the quakes but there are records of others who did corresponding with him and asking for help.

As a little bit of background some information on Henry Clay.  He was a representative from Kentucky to the United States Congress and went on to become a powerful politician who was best known for being the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  His career spanned from the 1811-1812-time period until the 1850’s.  His legislative skill would help hold the country together until sectional controversies unraveled the country prior to the Civil War.

As a representative Clay received correspondence from constituents or government officials who need his help in resolving problems, he would in turn respond and attempt to help them.   At the time of the New Madrid earthquakes the Louisiana Territory had no representation in Congress but many Kentuckian’s were in the area or were serving as government officials there.  One of these officials was Joshua Humphreys.  He was the Court Clerk and Notary at New Madrid being appointed in 1806.  His brother Charles wrote Clay to describe the conditions at New Madrid after the earthquakes and ask for help.

“Lexington May 4^th  1812

Sir:

My brother Joshua Humphreys at New Madrid informs me that they are in great distress there—The earth quake has ruined many of them—and many more have fled out of the country that in the event of an Indian War the are in danger of all being cut off-.  He is the only civil officer who has not fled the country-previous to the earth quakes  the population was 3000—now only about 400 remain and those are the most helpless-such as could not get away- He therefore requests that the troops at Massak where there is no settlement to protect, be sent to Madrid—or that some other troops be stationed there until the Indian war be over- “

The Indian war that Humphreys referred to was the unrest caused by the defeat of Tecumseh in the fall of 1811.  Indian tribes were still in turmoil and rumors of a war were rampant in frontier areas through the winter of 1811-1812.  So far no record has been found that troops were sent to New Madrid to fulfill this request.  However it is an early instance of requesting Federal government troops to help in a natural disaster.  This would be more commonplace in the 20^th century which was far in the future when this letter was written.

Source: Letter from Charles Humphreys to Henry Clay, May 4, 1812 Papers of Henry Clay Volume 1, 1797-1814.  University of Kentucky Press , 1959.  Pages 651-652.

John C. Calhoun and the New Madrid Earthquakes

Continuing on the theme of famous Americans and their reaction to the New Madrid earthquakes here is what John C. Calhoun thought of the earthquakes
Writing from Washington he related:
"How unusual our earthquakes-we had several shocks last night. In what will they terminate. No doubt you keep your attention directed on this unusual Phenomenon.  If you made any observations do communicate them."(note the fractured grammar is a direct quote from the letter)
Calhoun was writing to Dr. James Macbride of Pineville South Carolina.  Macbride must have heeded the request as his information was noted by Samuel L. Mitchill the Congressman from New York who collected New Madrid earthquake accounts.
Mitchill noted that:

"It was observed, by Dr. Macbride of Pineville, (S. C.) that the earthquakes terrified the inhabitants exceedingly it was accompanied  by several appearances  that countenances the theory of this phenomenon which brings the agency of electric fluid. 1. The unfrequency or absence of thunder storms: that is, they were much less frequent this year than usual, especially in the autumn. 2. Immediately before the earthquake, a red appearance of the clouds, which had darkened the water for twenty-four hours immediately before  the shock: and 3. The loudness of the thunder, and the number of the peals within twenty-four hours after the first shock, and but a few hours before the last, which was felt before he wrote.  Such thunder was very unusual at that season."


Macbride was an early South Carolina Physician.  He was a native of Williamsburg County, South Carolina and practiced at Pineville on the Santee River.  He was also a botanist who contributed articles to the Transactions of the Linnean Society.  He died of yellow fever in 1818.
Source Robert L Merriwether, editor, The Papers of John C. Calhoun, Volume 1, 1801-1817(1959), Page 90.
Samuel L Mitchill, A Detailed Narrative of the Earthquakes... (1814) Page. 236
Albert E. Sanders and William D. Anderson, Natural History Investigations in South Carolina from Colonial Times to the Present.(1999) Page 38.

Andrew Jackson and the New Madrid Earthquakes Part 2

By early 1813 the United States was in the midst of a conflict with Great Britain called the War of 1812.  This conflict spanned from the oceans where American ships traded to the frontiers that were threatened by British inspired unrest among Native American tribes coupled with threats to invade and block American expansion westward.  Andrew Jackson was a General in the Tennessee militia and the militia formed the backbone of military strength on the American frontier of that time period.
Early in 1813 Tennessee troops were called upon to defend the country and were mobilized to move south and defend the Gulf Coast from possible invasion. Part of the army were to go overland to the south and officers and a detachment of men were to proceed by boat down the Mississippi river to New Orleans.  This movement of officers and men would bring Jackson through the  epicentral area of the New Madrid earthquakes and observe conditions there a year after the earthquakes occurred.
An anonymous staff officer kept a diary of the journey and observed conditions in the New Madrid area.

" The Terror and consternation produced by the late Earth quakes  on the Mississippi has nearly subsided.  Most of those who inhabited the margins of the River fled from their homes.  Some few of them have returned, but most of their habitations are deserted and sinking into decay..."

Jackson's expedition passed New Madrid in early February but it is unknown if they stopped and landed there to observe the condition of the town.  It is unknown what his reaction would have been to the destruction he saw there but it would be interesting to know what his reaction was to it.
Source:John Spencer Bassett, Correspondence of Andrew Jackson,(1926) Volume 1, Page 263.

The Inside Story of Jared Brooks

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One of the better eyewitnesses of the New Madrid earthquakes was Jared Brooks.  Brooks was an engineer living at Louisville.  Brooks compiled a list of the earthquakes, as they were experienced at Louisville and constructed primitive seismic instruments to measure their effects.  He tabulated his results and noted the weather conditions that were occurring when the earthquakes happened. His was one of the more extensive records of the earthquakes and is still referred to by researchers today. 

Brooks also made a map of Louisville that is contemporary with the earthquakes.  It shows the town and the falls of the Ohio.  The falls made it difficult for boats to navigate up and down the Ohio River and Brooks had been part of the effort to build a canal to bypass the hazard and make the river a highway of commerce.  Brooks also had another job and that was that of editor of the Louisville Western Courier, the local newspaper.  Unfortunately little is known of the newspaper outside of scattered issues and as a source of New Madrid earthquake information its value is unknown. 

The notes that Brooks took on the earthquake were published in 1819 as part of a book entitled Sketches of Louisville and its Environs… published by Henry McMurtrie.  This book was a compendium of information about Louisville and its political and natural history.   The interesting story is the publisher; McMurtrie was a scientist and lecturer of some renown in the 19^th century.  After his work on Louisville he would publish a dictionary of scientific terms  and become a lecturer at a school in Philadelphia until dying in 1865.

A New Madrid Documentary

Its been a very busy week of blogging to say the least,  It came to my attention that the docmentary that Kentucky Educational Television filmed on the New Madrid earthquakes is now been aired.  I had the chance to go with their film crew as they explored the New Madrid area and  told the story of the great earthquakes.  It was an opportunity for me to tell others the New Madrid story and to explore the earthquake zone in some spots that I had not seen before.  It was interesting expedition and met some good people in the process.  Also the co-host is Toby the dog who is an excellent ambassador for the Kentucky Life series
For the video go to New Madrid documentary

Here I am at the far right with the KET crew and Toby in the middle.  Photo was taken near Tiptonville on the  Mississippi river.

The February 7th Earthquake/The Great Shakeout

On the two hundred and first anniversary of the greatest of the New Madrid earthquakes, several government agencies that CERI works with are holding an earthquake preparedness drill called the The Great Shakeout.  This drill is being held to both raise awareness of the earthquake risk in the Central United States and test preparedness in case an event such as a major earthquake were to occur.  People are encouraged to participate in the drill as a way to enhance their awareness of the possiblity of earthquakes occurring in the area and hone their preparedness skills.  One simple idea is drop conver and hold on.  As exemplified by this simple graphic, if an earthquake occurs  individuals would drop to the ground, cover themselves and hold on until the quake ceases.

  There are many ways to participate so go to the web site and see what you can do!
As a bit of reminder here is a eyewitness account for the February 7, 1812 earthquake at
"Between the hours of 3 and 5 on the morning of Friday last, a shock of the Earthquake was felt in this place, much more violent and alarming than any which have hitherto been experienced. It was also of greater duration and accompanied with a rumbling noise and flashes of light from the N. W. The bricks on the houses were in some places, removed from their positions. The buildings were violently agitated, and the walls are known in some influences to have been cracked. At Louisville the gable ends of houses have tumbled down, and at Frankfort we hear that the penitentiary has partially suffered." Report for the February 7, 1812 earthquake from Vincennes , Indiana  From the Western Sun, 02/22/1812 18120222_nmad_10_130.

George Washington Feels an Earthquake.

In honor of Washington's birthday here is the story of when one of our founding fathers felt an earthquake.  In 1783 at the close  of the American Revolution, Washington was in New York City  shortly after the British evacuated the town as part of the terms of peace between the British empire and the new republic.  Washington was staying at the historic Fraunces tavern( or the Queens Head tavern) when on the night of November 29 the town was shaken by a series of seismic shocks.  These were generated by an earthquake centered in New Jersey that was estimated to be 5.3 on the Richter scale and was the largest earthquake in New Jersey history. Washington, living up to his reputation of being cool under fire was not stirred by the quakes while others fled from their houses.
Source:  Washington, A Life(2010), by Ron Chernow, Page 451.
For further information on the quake: Historic Earthquakes in New Jersey

We Get Mail!

In the midst of working on the New Madrid Compendium we sometimes get feedback from readers and researchers.   One of these letters was from the intrepid Canadian researcher Alan Ruffman.  In his letter he goes into a detailed correction of one of the felt report transcripts about earthquakes in Canada. Its feedback from readers who catch errors  that helps to make the Compendium better and Alan is one of the most diligent  readers we have. Thanks!