The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-11-04
Personal RecOlIectiOns-.NO. 9S.
BY D. MACKLEx.


The writer falls into some errors. he
appears to think that the shocks did
not extend east of Cincinnati, to any
considerable degree, But he is mlstak-
en- in this. My father and family then
resided on the Kanawha river, some
ten or twelve miles above Point Pleas
ant. | have heard them many times
talk about the great earthquakes. They
were felt during many months in the
Kanawba valley. The people there
were very much alarmed. They had
few books except the Bible. In this
they read that when they heard of wars
and rumors of wars, and there were
earthquakes in divers places, that the
end Of the world was approaching.
From the time of Braddock's defeat
at Fort Du Quesne, (now Pittsburgh),
in the year 1855, to the time of the bat
tie of Gen. Lewis with the Indians at
Point Pleasant, in the year l774, the
Revolutionary war, the Indian wars Of
the succeeding years, in which Gems.
St. Clair, Wayne, Harrison and others
bore so conspicuous part, and then
the war of18l2 about 10 commence, the
people in The Kanawha Valley had
heard of nothing all their lives but wars
aud rumors of wars, Aud then the
earthquakes came on in manner which
fully convinced the brayest ofthem that
the end ofall things was at hand, The
earthquakes on the Mississippi contin-
usd during period Of fourteen months,
and the most exaggerated. accounts
were brought up the river on the keel
boats. There were then no steamboats,,
telegraphs Or newspapers, and it was
not strange that the frightened people
told fearful stories Of whole districts o.
country being sunk.
| have often heard my father AMI
mother tell about the earthquakes
They described the shocks as continu
ing four or five minutes. The bed
steads would strike against the wall
and the dishes would clatter upon th'
cupboard. The trees would sway tc
and fro, and the tops switch agains
each other as if moved by a high wind
The waves in tho Kanawha and Ohic
rivers would rise high, roll up th'
banks and burst in "white caps" o
foam against the banks, And all thi
from the swinging motion Of the earth
when there was not a breath of wine
stirring.
have only felt two shocks Of earth
qake in my life One must have beer
either in the summer Of 1895 or 1926
All of our folks were at a neighbor'
house at q fax pulling. 1t must have
been in the last of June. We resided
ip log cabin quarter of mile soutl
east Of where Jefferson Furnace is nov
situated The earthquake consisted o
only one shock, accompanied with
loud noise, Just as the shock passe'
a tame pigeon few against the house
as though it had been driven by
mighty wind. 1t was terribly fright
ened 1t was the first tame pigeon tha
l had ever seen, and where it had com,
from we never knew,
The next earthquake occurred IN th,
summer also, and think it must hav'
been in the year 1888 or 1882 It wa
just after dark, aud was much like tn,
other, only the noise was louder On,
of my sisters who was married resided
a half mile from fathers house, He
husband was absent and she and th'
girl who was with her came to on
house, much frightened.
When | remember what a fearful
thing those single shocks was, d,
not wonder that a succession Of shock
should be considered frightful, Th
noise attending these shocks was no
exactly like any sound that | ever heard
II was something ike thunder, but
seemed to be much nearer 1t appear
ed to pass through The very house itself
II sounded a little IKE The falling of
succession Of loose boards or planks.
think 1t was caused by the sudden Vi,
bratiohs Of The earth, tho same as III,
sounds caused by the vibrations Of th'
strings Of musical instruments. It ap
peared TO come from the west, and pas
on eastward. The noise aud shocl
were simultaneous, and did not las
longer than ten seconds " 'F
My parents said that there was ne
sound accompanying the earthquake
ofisli, except the sound Of the wave,
on the river. ana the clashinn N IN,