Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-09
The 1927 Earthouake,


The New York Tribune prints some old
letters showing that the same kind of
earthquake phenomena, witnessed at
Charleston and vicinity. were witnessed
at NewbUryport. Mass, 159 years ago.
If, therefore, there is an impression that
the Charleston phenomena were the first
Of the kind on the Atlantic coast it is
erroneous.
There is a record COMPLIED by the Rev.
Matthias Plant, who was rector OF the
Protestant Episcopal church at New
buryport, dated Oct. 90. 1927, in which a
brief but graphic account of the first OF
the series of earthquake shocks occurring
at that time is given. The record is as
follows:
Being the Lords day. at 40 minutes past
1C the same evening there was a most
terrific, sudden and amazing earthquake,
which did damage to the greatest part of
the neighbOrhood, shook and threw down
tops Of chimneys and in many places the
earth opened foot or more. 1t continued
very terrible by frequently bursting and
shocking our houses. and lasted all that
week, the first being the loudest shock,
and eight more that Immediately followed,
louder than the rest that followed. some
times breaking with loud claps six times
or ottener in day, and as often in the
night until Thursday in the said week,
and then somewhat abated. Upon Fri
day IN the evening. and about miung ht,
and about break of day, and on Saturday
there were three very loud claps. We
also had it on Saturday, the Sabbath, and
Monday morning about 10. tho much
abated N the noise and terror.
According to the record the shocks con-
tinued about two weeks, though most OF
them were barely perceptible. In just
about month, however, on Nov. 10, there
were two more quite noticeable shocks,
and they appear to have been the last.
In connection with these manifesto
tions were phenomena much like those
noticed at Charleston and vicinity. Fis-
sures were made in the earth through
which sand was forced. One writer
speaks of the ground having been broken
and from nfteen to twenty loads of sand
thrown out of the assure. Springs ap-
viously. These springs, however, soon
disappeared, and the holes from which
the water flowed filled up.
Even more remarkable in some respects
than the Charleston and Newburyport
earthquakes was the New Madrid, Mo-,
earthquake in 1912, to which attention
has been called quite frequently lately.
1t is a matter Of history that at the time
of that earthquake shocks of earthquake
were felt In South Carolina. The New
Madrid earthquake was one of almost in.
cessant quaking of the ground for several
| months. In that respect IL has had,
perhaps, no parallel. The surface
of the country in the vicinity OF the
centre of disturbance underwent some
extraordinary changes. Lakes and
islands appeared to the establishment OF
the people-some Of the lakes being as
much as twenty miles in extent. While
lakes were created, some already in ex.
istence disappeared. The bank OF the
Mississippi for many miles sank eight
| feet, and giant forest trees were twisted
out of shape.
So far as the Charleston earthquake is
concerned, there is no reason to doubt
that the shocks are about over. Ii there
should be any others they will, in all
! probability, he of such minor character
that they will not be generally noticed.