"On Monday morning a very severe earthquake was experienced at this place and Maysville, but much more severely and oftener at the latter place, from whence two or three families have removed.-- Those successive shocks continued until yesterday evening.  On Tuesday, a large quantity of black matter was seen floating down the river which upon examination, was found to resemble soot and charcoal finely powdered.  It was then supposed that an eruption had taken place on Sandy,--and on the same day a person arrived at the point, and stated he had been informed as he passed the mouth of Big Sandy that about 12 acres of the coal hill, 3 or 4 miles above the mouth had fallen in."

Made possible by the Rivers Institute and the
History Department of Hanover College.

 

How to cite this article:  "Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in Washington (Ky)," Western Sun (Vincennes, Indiana Territory), 4 Jan. 1812, p. 1, available at http://history.hanover.edu/texts/1811.