1906 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



263 



swells burst, throwing up large vol- 

 umes of water, sand, and coal [lignite] 

 (Fig. i). When the swells burst, fis- 

 sures were left running in a northern 

 and southern direction and parallel for 

 miles." After the severest shocks a 

 dense black "sulphurous" vapor, due 

 to gases derived from long buried tim- 

 ber and vegetable muck and issuing 

 from the cracks, tainted the water for 

 many miles around. From the cracks 



The fowls and beasts cried ; trees fell." 

 Again speaking of a shock on Febru- 

 ary 7th, the same observer says : "At 

 first the Mississippi seemed to recede 

 from its banks, its waters gathered up 

 like mountains, leaving boats high 

 upon the sands. The waters then 

 moved inward with a front wall 15 to 

 20 feet perpendicular. * * * The 

 river fell as rapidly as it had risen and 

 receded within its banks with such 



Fig. 2 View in sunk Lands formed by New Madrid Earthquake southeastern 

 Missouri, showing old timber in foreground, mostly killed by submergence, 

 with young timber in background. 



there were also thrown out sand and 

 water which covered the ground over 

 large areas. The surface sunk in 

 places, giving rise to swamps and 

 lakes, while elsewhere it was uplifted 

 and its bayous drained. (Fig. 2.) 



The effect on the forests has been 

 described by many observers. One, 

 speaking of the first shock, says "the 

 affrighted inhabitants ran to and fro. 



force that it took with it the grove of 



cottonwood trees which hedged its 

 borders. They were broken off with 

 such regularity that in some instances 

 persons who had not witnessed the 

 fact could with difficulty be persuaded 

 that it was not the work of art." 



Another writer, speaking of the 

 cracks, says, "oak trees would be split 

 in the center and for 40 feet up the 



