The
first of the New Madrid earthquakes occurred on December 16, 1811. This quake was felt across a wide swath of
the United States and was felt on the Atlantic Coast. One of the locations that
noted the earthquakes was Charleston South Carolina. Charleston at the time of the event was the
fifth largest city in the United States in 1810 with a population of 24, 711.[1] It was a center of culture with several
newspapers like the Times and the Charleston Courier. These newspapers would provide a vital source
of information for accounts of what was experienced when the earthquake shook the city. These accounts give in great detail the
effects of the December 16, 1811 earthquake in the far field.
The Month of December 1811 was
remarkable in that the Comet of 1811 was visible in the sky of Charleston
throughout the month. [2]The
night of December 15-16 in Charleston
was clear with a light wind and some clouds to the northwest of the city.[3]
Another observer noted that “For an hour previous the air was perfectly calm and several stars visible.”[4]
The onset of the earthquake was
announced by a sound resembling the “rattling of a carriage on pavement.”[5] The time noted for the first quake was “5
minutes before 3:00 am. As the
earthquake continued shaking the city a most dramatic effect was noted .” The
vibration was so great as to set the house bells and the bell of St. Phillip’s
Church ringing, and the furniture in motion some of which in several houses was
thrown down. The pendlums of house
clocks stopped, and in some house the glasses in the pictures which were
hanging against the wall were broken”” The effect on people was dramatic with
individuals experiencing nausea from the motion of the earthquake. The duration of the first quake was noted as
being a minute and a half. [6]
Another account notes that the bell ringing at St. Phillips was the clock bell. [7]
Aftershocks soon followed with one
occurring at “as the clocks were chiming 3” of twenty seconds duration and
slighter than the first were felt and third and fourth were felt around 8
oclock and of a very brief duration. With the third one being described as
severe. [8] Another curious effects noted was the water in wells being
agitated. It was unknown at the time how
widespread the earthquake was felt but it was noted to be felt at Rantoule’s in
the local area.[9]
Another quake was felt that evening at 11pm and again on December 17th
at 9:20 am and on the 20th a final quake for the month was felt at 3
minutes before 12. ”[10]
The earthquakes caused speculation
as to their cause with publication of a catalog of previous earthquakes to give
the citizens of Charleston some perspective. Slight earthquakes were noted in
September 1754. April 1799 and the last in January 1811 that was felt in the region but not at Charleston. [11]
[2]
“Meteorological Oobservations at Charleston(S. C.) for December 1811”.
Charleston Courier, January 8, 1812, Page 3. Column 2, New Madrid Far Field
Number 308.
[3]
Extract of a Letter..” Charleston, The Times, December 18, 1811 Page 3, Column
1, New Madrid Far Field Number 95
[4] “An
Earthquake” Lexington KY, Reporter January 11, 1812, Page 3, Column 1. New
Madrid Far Field Number 258
[5]
“Meteorological Observations at Charleston(S. C.) for December 1811”.
Charleston Courier, January 8, 1812, Page 3. Column 2, New Madrid Far Field
Number 308.
[6] “An
Earthquake” The Times, Charleston South Carolina, December 16, 1811, page 3,
Column 1, New Madrid Far Field Number 92.
[7] “An
Earthquake” The Times, Charleston South Carolina, December 16, 1811, page 3,
Column 1, New Madrid Far Field Number 92.
[8]
“Earthquake,” Charleston Courier, December 17, 1811, Page 3, column 1, New
Madrid Far Field Number 79.
[9] “An
Earthquake” The Times, Charleston South Carolina, December 16, 1811, page 3,
Column 1, New Madrid Far Field Number 92.
[10]
“Meteorological Observations at Charleston(S. C.) for December 1811”.
Charleston Courier, January 8, 1812, Page 3. Column 2, New Madrid Far Field
Number 308.
[11] “An
Earthquake” The Times, Charleston South Carolina, December 16, 1811, page 3,
Column 1, New Madrid Far Field Number 92.
