Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-06-14
MEMPHIS IN 1s4s.


The writer has q few copies OF
the Weekly American Eagle, pub
lished in Memphis by F.S Latham,
Esq. The Eagle was first issued as
a weekly in Fort Pickering in
January, lS42; a few months sub
sequent the Office was "removed to
South Memphis, in the row of new
brick buildings, two doors east of
Howard's" (known afterward as
Howard's Row. The few copies
referred to are of the early part Of
1S43-Weekly Eagles, although a
prospectus in it states that ''it will
be issued also tri-weekly." From
this paper Of Friday, January 6,
1843, we note various items. The
most important "local" referred to
the alarming earthquake" which
visited Memphis and the surround
ing country as far at fernando,
Holly Springs and Pontotoc, Mis-
sissippi, Florence, Alabama, Somer-
vile, Brownsville, Covington and
jackson, Tennessee. 1t occurred
on the evening of the 4th of Janu-
ary, about half-past eight. The ed
itor commented a half column on
the event and remarks that "the
shock lasted about two minutes and
reached its most agitating period at
the end Of the first half minute,
when 1t gradually died away in a
dismal rumbling sound, apparently
moving to the southeast, and pro-
ceeded from the northwest. = =
The tops of several chimneys were
shaken down, the bricks falling in
side, and with the reeling of the
houses and quaking Of the earth,
frightfulIy alarming the inhabi-
tants. = + + At our auction
houses, which were filled with
people, SO alarming and pre-
cipitate was the rush into the
street that many people were
crushed and trampled upon by the
! affrightened crowd. The power of
the Almighty was fearfully and SEN
sibly demonstrated in the shaking
of the gigantic earth, as if but a
mere leaf of the tremulous aspen.
! Our city rocked and reeled as if on
! the verge of falling to pieces, and
the horror-Stricken people tremb-
lingly rushed from their tottering
houses for safety into the streets,
I with the awful impression paralyz-
ing their senses that the earth was
eonvulsed with one Of those dread
| full throes that cause her to open
and swallow up cities" In another
notice he says the earthquake "was
not felt below ON the river by steam
ers, but was up the river. At New
] Madrid the shock was severer than
any they have felt since 1911"
i Memphis enjoyed a regular theater
at that time; the "staF " was A. A.
4 Addams, in tragedy, and Dan Mar
BILE in comedy. This theater was
located near the southwest corner
of Main and Washington streets,
! on the lot now occupied by the
Webster block. It was a frame
+. building, previously used as livery
stable, but reftted up with stage,
auditorium, etc, making quite a
snug theater, at least considered SC
by Memphians in those ancient
times. John s. Potter was the
manager.
In the columns of the Eagle
find numerous advertisements Of
the enterprising merchants, all o1
whom we're located around Ex'
change Square (no Exchange build,
ing was then built) and on Front
row, as far north as Winchester
! street and south to Union. Not {
store on Main street then.
Among the commission houses
were Goodman & Means, Walker
g. Greer, f. A. & M. Owen, Levi
. o. Trezevant, J. F. Montgomery q
Co., Henry & Avery and Thoma
FL. Allen. The grocery merchant
were Ginn & Co., Carter & Walton
, Dry goods: G. N. Oandee, William
Cunningham & Co., James Seawell
Drug stores: Hugh Horab y %.
= j. W. Fowlkes & Co., II. f. Farms
: worth & Co. Clothing: John Wal
berger. Merchant tailors; Chase (