336 Earthquake in Connecticut, ^''c. 



Some persons have been disposed to attribute this earthquake 

 to the explosion of a meteor. It is true that the explosion of 

 meteors does sometimes produce this effect, as happened Feb. 2, 

 1766, in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and at Charleston, 

 South Carolina, in" November of the same year, and remarkably 

 at Weston, Connecticut, December, 1807. But there is in the 

 present case no distinct evidence of the transit of a meteor, no 

 such body having been observed,* nor have any fragments been 

 reported as having fallen from the atmosphere. 



The great seat of American earthquakes being on the western 

 side of the continent, comparatively iew events of this nature 

 have been observed on the eastern side since Europeans have 

 become acquainted with the western hemisphere. 



An interesting account of the earthquakes of New England 

 was given to the American Academy of Boston by Prof. Williams, 

 in the volume of their Transactions for 1785, and the remarkable 

 facts described in it might well form the subject of a distinct 

 notice, for which we have not now room. What we have at our 

 disposition shall be devoted to a scene of local disturbance in Con- 

 necticut which has been observed ever since the settlement of the 

 country. The region is around East Haddam, on the Connec- 

 ticut river, a ie^^ miles below Middletown. The following mem- 

 orandum was by request communicated to the senior editor of 

 this Journal twenty five years ago, by the late Rev. Henry Chap- 

 man,! and it has been kept on file with the expectation of mak- 

 ing an investigation on the spot ; but, as that which has been so 

 long delayed may never be done, we are induced to give the 

 fragment on the present occasion. 



" In attempting to give an account of the circumstances attend- 

 ant on subterranean noises, so frequently heard at East Haddam, 

 perhaps it may be proper to mention the common opinion re- 

 specting them. 



" East Haddam was called by the natives Morehemoodus, or 

 place of noises, and a numerous tribe of cannibals resided there. 

 They were famous for worshipping the evil spirit, to appease his 

 wrath. Their account of the occasion of the noises is, 'that the 

 Indian god was angry because the English god intruded upon 



* The atmosphere was clear, and the sun shining bright, which might have 

 rendered a fiery meteor invisible, unless its ignition had been very intense, 

 t Who died in Arkansaw, as a missionary. 



