The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-10-15
Shakes and Explosions in Deer
field, New Hampshire.
South Deerfeld, Rockingham co.,

Dedr SU: Yours OF the 10th instant j
have just received, and hasten to answer
Since | wrote to you on the Goth ult, | re.
celved several numbers of the " Municipal
Gazette" and one copy of the "New York
Farmer and Mechanic" in which there was
an account of the earthquake of the 25th Au-
gust last, and which / sent to Concord, n. H.,
to have published, but it has not yet appear
ed. In these papers | found much instruct
i've matter, and you will be pleased to accept
my thanks for them.
In regard to the several inquiries in your
last, l will answer as far as I am able. Since
writing to you on the Goth ult., | have made
inquiries i'll other towns and places, and find
that the explosions, about which l then
wrote, were more extensively heard and felt
than | mentioned in that letter. Instead of
five or six miles from a common centre-the
supposed location of their origin-I learn that
they have been frequently heard for one or
two years past in the town Of Lee, situate on
the Lamprey river, about sixteen miles north
east from this place, also in Epping, on the
same river, about twelve miles east, and at
Pittsfield, sixteen miles north of this on the
Suncook river, which empties into the Merri-
mack river, in Pembroke. Whether the
earth was shaken in these places as in Deer
field, and how long since they have been
heard in those places, / have not yet asccr-
tanned. / find that the shakes have not only
been heard, but felt within the last year much
farther than | had been informed, especially
in the neighborhood of the Lamprey river;
and that they have not been heard very far
from the rivers. The Lamprey is a very
small stream in Dcerfeld. There is a small
branch of this stream about one mile north of
the south road, where the explosions were
greater than elsewhere in November, 1915.
From all the information have obtained, the
explosions have been greater or heavier at
the junction Of this branch with the main
stream, about two miles from the south road,
than at any other point in Decrield. In the
town Of Gambia, through which another small
stream (whosc source is Martins Pond, in
Deerfield, runs one and a half miles from
the south road, and empties into the Lamprey
in Raymond. In the vicinity of this branch
the shakes have been heard and felt, but three
miles south from this little stream they are
seldom heard and neverfelt. 1t is now nine
years next month since these explosions were
first heard in Decrfield, not twelve years, as
mentioned in the Portsmouth journal" but
for several years they were not heard in 9th
err towns, The explosions however have be-
come more frequent, and are louder than for
merly, and might not have been noticed in
other places as they now are.
To your first enquiry, viz: whether the
explosion was in the night Of the first day of
July? I%cannot ascertain from any means
in my power. 1t was the first Of the month.
Second. Whether the town is healthy,
&c.? 1t is considered very healthy and con-
tains several aged people, three or four be-
ween 90 and 100 years, and many between 80
and 80 years Of age. The population of the
town is under 2000.
Third. There are not any electric fish in
the Lamprey river, unless Eels are SO call
ell.
Fourth. Whether the shakes affect the
water in the wells? l have never heard that
they have done so. Pumps are much in use
in Deerfeld.
Fifth. Whether the shocks felt at New
buryport in May, are the same as those felt
here? | do not know, nor cannot ascertain.
We nave explosions every month, and almost
every week.
.Sirh. No light has been discovered at or
about the time of the shocks.
Seventh. The average depth of our wells
on the south road, is about 25 feet, but on the
plains, and in the valley near the streams,
are much less. The wells do not generally
terminate in rock.
Eiqhh. As to the state of the atmosphere
or weather preceding or succeeding the
shocks | have never observed any matcri-
al change except in one shock, which took
place on the 18th of this month, between the
setting of the sun and dark, 1t was then ex-
tremely warm and cloudy, and the atmosphere
rather oppressive. This shake was the great
est we have had since the first of July. 1t
Jared some houses, and was heard at a great
distance. In Epping, about twelve miles east
erly, it was heard and felt by many of the in
habitants near Lamprey river. 1t was a con-
%tinuous rumbling sound, and of but short du-
ration, not more than two or three minutes.
This shake was not so great, or did not tear
the earth so much as the three other shakes of
which l informed you in my former letter
We have had numerous shakes which were
light, and not regarded by the people gener-
ally, being like or similar to blasting rocks in