Electronic Supplement to
Reverberations on the Watery Element: A Significant, Tsunamigenic Historical Earthquake Offshore the Carolina Coast

by Susan E. Hough, Jeffrey Munsey, and Steven N. Ward

Table S1. Accounts of the 8 January 1817 earthquake.

Courier, 1/22/1817 (Savannah, GA)

The shock of an Earthquake, of about four seconds duration, was felt in Georgetown, S.C., on the 8th instant, between 4 and 5 o’clock in the morning. In Savannah it was felt for at least half a minute a little after 3 o’clock.

City Gazette, 1/14/1817 (Raleigh, NC)

Earthquake—a slight shock of an Earthquake, was felt in this city, on Wednesday morning last, the 8th instant. Its duration was very limited.

Philadelphia Gazette, 1/20/1817 (Philadelphia, PA)

We are informed, by a gentleman, who witnessed the phenomenon, that on the 8th of this month, about 11 o’clock, a sudden agitation of the river Delaware took place, to such a degree that vessels at the wharves were violently tossed about, and the tide swelled upwards of 12 inches. The gentleman who made this remark, observes, that as an Earthquake was experienced to the southward on the same day, it is most probable the effect on the Delaware was the reverberation or concussion of the earth operating on the watery element.

Southern Patriot January 8, 1817 (Charleston, SC)

This morning between the hours of 4 and 5, was experienced in this city a severe shock of an earthquake. It lasted about 30 seconds, and came, apparently, from the Northward. From the distinctness and length of the undulation which was felt throughout the Peninsula, and which, in this low country, could only have been the echo of some other shock, we conceive a severe earthquake must have been experienced in the more mountainous parts of the State.

City Gazette, January 9, 1817 (Charleston, SC)

Earthquake - On Wednesday morning, about half past 4 o’clock, a pretty smart shock of an earthquake was experienced in this city. It continued about thirty seconds.

Southern Patriot, January 13, 1817, (Charleston, SC)

The shock of an earthquake felt here on the 8th inst. was also experienced about the same time in Georgetown and Savannah.

American Beacon, 1/16/1817 (Norfolk, VA)

Earthquakes! The following memoranda of the Earthquakes which occurred this morning, were made by two gentlemen, who handed them to us for publication:--

“Two shocks of Earthquake were felt in this city, this morning: one at 23 and the other at 25 minutes after four. The first was a smart concussion; the second, a vibratory motion East and West. They were unaccompanied by any noise, and continued but a few seconds—Weather calm.”

“This city experienced two violent shocks of an earthquake at 20 minutes past four this morning—The two shocks, including an interval of 2 seconds, lasted about 50 seconds—The vibration was East and West.—At the moment of the first shock, the noise in the atmosphere had the effect of a sudden squall of wind—It was perfectly calm before and after the shocks.” (story reported from Charleston, S.C. January 8)

City Gazette, January 13, 1817 (Charleston, SC)

A severe shock of an earthquake was felt here [Savannah, GA] yesterday morning a few minutes after three o’clock. It was forcible and continued for at least half a minute. Its direction, by some, is supposed to have been east and west; by others, south and north east (story reported from Savannah Republican Jan. 9)

American Beacon, 1/14/1817 (Norfolk, VA)

EARTHQUAKE. Three distinct shocks of an earthquake were felt in the neighborhood of this city, twenty-six minutes before five o’clock this morning, the duration of the tremulous motion of each shock was apparently about ten seconds, and the interval between them about six or eight seconds. The appearance of the heavens last evening was very unusual.—About ten o’clock, several remarkable black clouds were observed, which were succeeded by a clear sky and flashes of lightning. At the time of the shocks there was not the least wind. (Story reported from Baltimore, January 8).

Georgia Journal, 1/14/1817 (Milledgeville, GA)

The shock of an earthquake was felt in this place [Milledgeville, GA] on Thursday morning, a little after four o’clock. The bell in the cupola of the State-House struck several times from the violence of the concussion.

Boston Recorder, 1/21/1817 (Boston, MA)

A shock of an Earthquake was felt at Fredericksburg, Virginia, on the morning of the 9th inst. The motion was from east to west, accompanied with noise. The same shock was felt at Baltimore.

Boston Daily Advertiser, 2/3/1817 (Boston, MA)

The late Earthquake (says the Charleston City Gazette of the 22d inst.) as far as we have learnt, was very sensibly felt through the country. In Milledgeville, (Geo.) it was so severe, as to cause the bell in the State House, to strike several times. The shock was also felt in Newbern, N.C., where it was slight.

City Gazette, 1/11/1817 (Fredericksburg, VA)

Earthquake—A shock of an Earthquake was sensible felt in this town on Wednesday morning, a short time before day. The motion was from east to west, and was accompanied with a noise resembling thunder, or the passage of a heavy carriage over pavement.

Providence Gazette, 1/25/1817 (Providence, RI)

“EARTHQUAKES.” The Gazettes of a few days past have made mention of numerous agitations of the earth, which all have been called by the appaling name of Earthquake.—Two are reported to have been felt in Canada; two in Charleston (S.C.) both on the 30th of December, and one of thirty seconds continuance. One at Richmond, and three in Baltimore, on the 8th inst, one preceded by lightning! These agitations appear to have been confined to small limits. After a very dry season, succeeded by heavy rains, and after the rapid succession of warm and freezing weather, there will frequently be local tremblings of the ground, from the confinement of air in its cavities, but they seldom are attended with serious effects.

North Carolina Recorder, 1/10/1817 (Raleigh, NC)

A slight but sensible shock of an earthquake was felt at this place on Thursday morning last, at half past 4 o’clock (story reported from Washington, N.C.)

American and Commercial Daily Advertiser, 1/24/1817 (Richmond, VA)

EARTHQUAKE. The papers in Charleston and Baltimore have already announced an earthquake happening during the present month. It was not until yesterday, that we were told by a gentleman whose information is entitled to the fullest belief, that on Tuesday morning, the 8th of this month, 25 minutes after 4 o’clock, he was awakened by an earthquake, which communicated a gentle motion to his bed, and caused the curtains of the windows to lap to and fro for half a minute—This occurred at almost the same time period with the same phenomenon observed in Baltimore and Charleston.

Augusta Herald, 1/10/1817 (Augusta, GA)

A smart shock of an Earthquake, was felt in this place, about 3 o’clock, on Wednesday morning last—some persons were awakened by it—and several who were awake at the time it happened, were sensibly affected by the tremulous motion of the houses in which they lodged. The shock, we understand, was also felt at the Sand-Hills.

Charlotte NC Bulletin (no date) (Charlotte, NC )

Felt by some.

(Included in complication of McCarthy, 1957: primary account not found)

Winston Salem Journal, August 23, 2011 (Salem, NC)

In the fifth hour of the morning a slight earthquake was noticed in various places in town, and also in the neighborhood. In the fourth hour of the morning two or three earthquake shocks were felt by some of the residents of the village, who were awakened by them. (Story reported from Salem, NC, on 8 January 1817).

Salem, NC, MacCarthy, 1957

Felt.

City Gazette, January 17, 1817 (Charleston, SC)

Earthquake - On Wednesday morning last, a smart shock of an Earthquake (unintelligible) in this town [Wilmington, NC], between 4 and 5 o’clock (unintelligible) lasted from 20 to 30 seconds. (Unintelligible) paper, Jan. 11 (Story reported from Wilmington, NC)

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