Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-10-27
From the St. Louis Republican, 9th inst. The Earthuuake Yesterday.

leSteruay morning the city was visited by one of those mighty convulsions of nature which set the world to thinking. Two distinct shocks of an earthquake were sersibly felt from the one end of our city to the extremest verge. Majestic edi6ces, reared by the labor of man, rocked upon their bases the earth moved from her accustomed rectitude and quaked beneath us. the river was raised in tumult, and many men shook with fear and trembling.
 The evening of Wednesday was calm, and the moon reflected extraordinary brlliancy up- on the city. Towards night slight humidity gathered over us, and later this increased to dense fog. Men went to their peaceful slum- bers and voted not whereof they awoke at early cock-crow. But so 1t was; at few min utes after four o'clock half the citizens of St. Louis were agog with their heads juttng from the windows of their apartments, or rushing in to the streets, en di,tabNe, terrified at the sud- den breaking of their rest, and at the confusion which they experienced, and which seemed to compass them. The fancied danger was soon over, and they returned to their comfortable couches, reiecting upon the causes which had produced their great discomfture. The cry of earthquake was heard, and then all became calm again; the fog soon cleared off, and we came to our business and talked of the event of the night.
 The first shock was distinctly felt. There were but few persons whose sumbers were so heavy that they did not experience it. From such persons as we conversed with, and from our seusations, we believe it was felt about ten minutes after four r. M., lasting about thirty seconds. Its first effect was not of great force but as it rolled along it grew gradually stronger, until In its heavings it seemed to be rocking the houses to and fro. Then people awoke as their windows rattle1 as thair baJS SUavaa op1 o, the light articles which mounted their mantel- pieces fell to the floor. There was grand rush to windows, and heads hung out, with alarm depicted upon the countenances which distin- gulshed them; other people found their way Into the middle of the streets, where they felt somewhat more secure until the thing was over second shock was felt shortly after. bit there are no two people who agree as to the length of time which elapsed between the two It was not very violent, the more especially as compared with the former quake; its force, how ever, was sufficient to make the still waking peo- pie feel the tremulous motion of their beds.
 The accompaniment of the shocks can be placed in but one aspect of resemblance as to ordinary noises. There was great rum bling, like the passage of heavy vehicle over our pavements, while the shock itself may be aptlv llkened to the effect produced by the working Of steam engine, which after laboring to bass the center lets itself gently down.
 We have not yet heard of any great amount of actual damage done. Some few small arti cles were broken in many hous es by falling. A three-story house occupied by Mir. Landry. on Wash street. cracked from top to bottom. Bells were rung in several houses. as for in stance, in that of Dr. McPh Pheeters, and some few people on their more natural waking had tenn oS for ,lo gentleman of the bar who, living near the coll leSe, could not with all his eyes discover the steeple.
 The shocks were distinctly felt, not only in the city, but all round. It seemed to come in Southerly, or, perhaps, south westerly direc- ton, extending, as we learn, for miles on either side ot us. The wide pralries of Illinois felt the Jar, the cities below Us experienced it's effect aud perhaps more forcibly than we.
 Since the year l0ll, no such powerful shock has been experienced in cur city, It may not here be out of place to revive a short account of the earthquake of that day. The first shock Was felt on the 18th of December 18l1 after winch time 1t was repeated at intervals, with decreasing violence. New Madrid was the inn mediate scene of suffering, although it extend- ed to St. LoulS. An eyewitness who was a little distance below the town first named. says that the agitation which convulsed the earth and the waters of the Mississippi filled every thing living with horror. At the time, there was danger apprehended from the southern In- dlans, It being soon after the battle of Tippeca- noe, and boats kept in company, for mutual de- lehse. heSe boats were shocked and ilrred so that the crews were all awakened. Birds hil then quietly resting in the eldes of the rFef, by loud screams, expressed their alarm Soon a and accompanied by violent agitation of the shores and by the boiling up of the water. Sand bars gave way, and islands was swallowed upin the tnmultuous bosom of the river The water of the sream the day before clear now put on a reddish hue and became thick with mud cast up from It's bottom. The earth on the shore open ed in wide Assures, and then closing again, threw the water, sand and mud in huge jets, high above the tree tops. The atmosphere was titled with thick vapor or gas, to which the h9ht lmparted purple hue. A few moments sulhced to ralse the rver which was heretofore at low stage-tve or six ieet-wheu it rushed forward with redoubed impetuosv, hurrving along the boats which had been cut loose from the shore, that the banks which threatened. might not fall upon them
 The late Hon. l.. F. Linn, in 1886, in letter to lion. MT. Davis, chairman of the committee on commerce, has given lucid sketch of this part ot Missouri, in which he refers tu this earthquake, and corroborates the statement above made
 In the midst of that terrible convulsion the hrst ot western steamers was pursuing her way toward the south. She reached Natchez at the close of the first week of January, 1872 after beng nearly overwhelmed by the mighty throes ot the earth.