Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-10-03
A SHAXY COUNTY.
How County in Missouri Has Been
Torn Up by Earthquakes.
St. Louis Republican

st. Louis RepuDl1Can
The recent slight shake in the vicinity
of New Madrid, Mo-, has stirred up WV
id memories Of the convulsiocs there of
1S11-1912. The "oldest inhabitant,"
who recollects the sickening sensation
of the heaving earth and the subsequent
desolation perfectly we'll, is giving in his
experience to the local paper and reviv-
ing old history, which is always news
when it is repeated upon sufficient
provocation According to this author
ity, the first great shock of the historic
earthquakes of New Madrid was felt at
2 o'clock on the morning Of the 10Th of
December, 1911. After this there came
a succession Of lesser shakes, until the
Sc ond great shock came, on the 9TH
day of January, 1912. Then there we're
subterranean bellowings and commo-
tons at intervals, until the last great
shock came on the 18th day Of January,
1912. For several months after this the
country seemed to have chills and fever,
which gradually passed over, and there
has been no recurrence of the earth
quaky conditions until recently. But
the development and destiny Of the re-
gion were materially changed by these
phenomena which TRANSPORTED the face
of the country Many of the people
suffered the loss of their houses and
lated locality. The lands fell into the
hands of spectators, which was almost
as destructive as the earthquakes had
been. Only lately, after the foundations
had been tested by sixty-five years quiet,
was full confidence restored and the
wrecked region seemed about to adj
vance in general movement to catch
up with the surroundings. We are told
that the New Madrid country which was
swamped by the convulsions Of nature,
and came to deadlock in earthquake
shocks, is moving now. The assures
are filled, the swamps have dried up,
and new productive soil has crusted
over the wet lands The whole trouble
with the country appears to be the lack
of a volcano to carry off the superfluous
steam generated in the under world, or
probably hot springs like those of Ark
ansas would have answered the purpose
of safety-valves. The New Madrid
chronicler Of events Of 1Sl1-12 states in
relation to the first succession of shocks,
after describing the terrors of the night
and the conditions at o'clock in the
morning: "Seven o'clock came, and
with it distant rumbling noise was
heard approaching from the southwest,
not unlike the sound of distant thunder,
or the firing Of heavy artillery a long
way off. The earth began to tremble,
then to heave and rock sosviolently that
neither man nor beast could stand or
walk. Presently it began to roll in
waves, the undulations being plainly
visible,-the depressons between clearly
burst, discharging vast quantities of
water, sand, and species of coal in
crusted with sulphur" The assures
opened by these swells were of various
lengths and depths. Some Of the most
extensive were five miles in length, re-
naming after the commissions were
over from four to six feet in depth and
an average Of ten feet in width. In
places where no long rents in the earth
occurred there were large openings like
wells, from which issued water, sand,
and burning cinders which by the force
of escaping gases were thrown high IN
the air. So great was the volume Of
water thrown up that all the lower por-
tons Of the country were completely
inundated The inhabitants had to take
flight to the higher ground, or climb
trees until the water subsidized. Several
personal incidents of the danger and
terror of the scene were recalled Evi-
IDENTIFY the New Madrid country needs
vaccination with a volcano Or boiling
springs as a safeguard against such
eruptions on its physical features.