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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



which began on December 16, 1811, continued almost unceasingly for 

 several months, while for more than a year they recurred at frequent 

 intervals. Even at the present time there is probably not a year goes 

 by without a distinctly recognizable shock. 



In San Francisco few of the better class of buildings were de- 

 stroyed, and in Charleston, although the damage was great, few build- 

 ings collapsed completely, and the cabins were seldom more than 

 shaken from their foundations. In the New Madrid region there were 

 no high buildings, one story log or frame houses being the rule, but 

 notwithstanding this many are said to have been shaken to pieces by 

 the relatively intense shock. 



Again, no progressive wavelike undulation of the surface of any 

 magnitude was recognized at the time of the shock at San Francisco, 

 but at both Charleston and New Madrid the surface rose and fell in 

 waves several feet in height. In Charleston the forests were but little 

 affected, but at New Madrid the trees were often thrown together upon 

 the ground in confused heaps or snapped sharply off near the ground 

 as by an axe. 



The streams in the vicinity were little affected by the San Francisco 

 shock, and even at Charleston few if any permanent changes resulted 

 from the earthquake, but in the New Madrid region the effect of the 

 disturbance was very marked. The courses of some of the streams were 

 changed — the water following new cracks instead of the old channels. 

 Others were deflected by warpings of the surface, and still others by 

 sharp uplifts or faults, giving rise to swamps or bodies of open water. 



f 6. Earthquake Crateblet near Charleston, S. C, as it appeared immediately after the 



shock. 



