MITCHILL ON THE EARTHQUAKES OF 1811, 1812, AND 1813. 285 



For an hour previous, though the air was perfectly calm, and several 

 stars visible, there was, at intervals of about five minutes, a rumbling 

 noise like that of distant thunder; which increased in violence of sound 

 just before the shock was felt. The vibration of St. Philip's steeple 

 caused the clock bell to ring about ten seconds. Two other shocks 

 were felt afterwards, one a little before eight, and the other about a 

 quarter of an hour after. Both these were slighter and shorter than 

 the first. Many of the family clocks were stopped by the concussions. 

 In many wells the water was considerably agitated. From another 

 source it was related that Charleston was shaken by an earthquake 

 severely, at the time before specified. This was preceded by a noise 

 resembling the blowing of a smith's bellows. The agitation of the 

 earth was such that the bells in tne church steeples rang to a degree 

 indicative of an alarm for fire. The houses were so much moved that 

 many persons were induced to rise from their beds. The clocks gene- 

 rally stopped. Another slight shock was experienced about fifteen 

 minutes after ; and yet another at eight o'clock. This last one pro- 

 duced a considerable rattling among glass, china, and other furniture. 

 A looking-glass hanging against a west wall was observed to vibrate two 

 or three inches from north to south. 



The ingenious writer of the meteorological observations for Charles- 

 ton during December, 1811, has noticed these occurrences in a manner 

 too interesting to be omitted. According to his remarks, there were 

 seven shocks during the month, having a vibratory motion from east to 

 west. In many persons the motion produced nausea. All the shocks, 

 except the three last, were preceded by noises resembling the rattling 

 of a carriage over a pavement. There had been less thunder during 

 the preceding season than usual. The days of thunder amount annually 

 to about sixty; but this year they were no more than thirty-eight. 



