The Second Great Quake

On this day 205 years ago the second of the New Madrid earthquakes occurred.  Near the epicenter eyewitness accounts were confused and scattered probably due to the numerous aftershocks of the December 16, 1811 earthquake. But at a distance away from the epicentral area eyewitnesses noted it as a distinct event. Here is an account from Coshockton Ohio:

"This morning, at seventeen minutes past eight o'clock, a severe shake of a earthquake was felt in this place. It lasted nearly a minute; it shook so as to nearly half empty a bucket, standing on the floor, full of water; and the river being frozen over, it caused the ice to crack considerably. A stone chimney in the house of col. Williams in this place, seven by five feet square, solid and well built, was so severely shaken as to cause it to crack in several places; and one or perhaps more brick chimneys in this place have been considerably injured by the shock. I have been informed that several houses in the neighborhood of this place were so shook that much of the chinkin dropt out; and the commotions of the trees and bushes was so great as to cause persons I the woods to observe the phenomenon. The shock was succeeded by a thick haze, and several people were affected with giddiness, although the air was quite serene at the time of the shock. The course of the above shock was from S.W. to N.E. nearly.

A. JOHNSTON." Boston Independent Chronicle February 17, 1812, Page 1, Column 1, New Madrid Compendium Far Field item Number 37 The A. Johnston is no relation to our Arch Johnston, but Arch appreciated the reference from the past that shared his name.