On Tuesday the 4th inst. about 5 o’clock,
p.m. a moderate shock of an earthquake was experienced
by our citizens generally. Its duration was
between one and two minutes. In the course of the
following night, some slight tremors were perceptible,
and on the next day, Wednesday the 5th, at least two
shocks, of inconsiderable force, were observed by
several persons. On Thursday the 6th, none seem to
have been felt; but on the morning of the 7th, at 32
minutes past 3 o’clock, apparent time, a strong
vibration occurred and was followed without intermission
by two others; the whole occupying, according to the
best observations that were made, about six
minutes.
They raised those sides of houses which face S.S.E.
and W.S.W. One of them threw a plum, hung by a
line 7 feet long, three inches to the N.N.W. from the
point over which it ordinarily rested. This was
not only the strongest vibration that occurred at that
time, but by far the most powerful that has been
experienced here. It, however, did
less damage than was expected by those who witnessed
it. It threw down part of the top of one chimney
in town and of two in the vicinity of the town.
It also widened the cracks that previously existed in
some brick houses and is said to have injured the
Courthouse. As that building, however, was
already cracked over several of the arches from the
bad execution of the masonry, it is altogether
uncertain to what extent it was injured by this
shock.
These strong vibrations are said, by some,
to have been preceded by a light and noise, but others,
who were awake and collected in mind and senses,
observed neither.
About 8 o’clock the same morning,
another (but short and feeble) shock was
perceived. During the remainder of the day several
gentle tremors were noticed. At 14 minutes past 8
o’clock in the evening a moderate vibration occurred,
continuing nearly a minute. It was succeeded at 2
minutes past 10 o’clock by another of two minutes
duration and of considerable force. These two were
preceded by a faint rumbling noise, apparently from the
SW of a few seconds duration. From the termination
of the last of these shocks, till noon on Saturday the
8th, the earth seems to have trembled gently and
steadily with an occasional moderate heave. On
Sunday the 10th, about 4 o’clock p.m. several of our
citizens observed an additional vibration; and about one
o’clock on Tuesday morning, another gentle shake was
felt which was succeeded about six o’clock by a
vibration somewhat stronger and more generally noticed.
The state of the weather during these
shocks will be noticed next week.
