MITCHILL ON THE EARTHQUAKES OF 1811, 1812, AND 1813. 289 



directions, generally ascending from the earth. Sometimes sounds 

 were heard, like wind rustling through the trees, but not resembling 

 thunder. 



The first earthquake was felt about a quarter of an hour after two in 

 the morning of the 16th. It roused persons from their sleep, by the 

 clatter of windows, doors, and furniture, in tremulous motion. There 

 was a rumbling distant noise, resembling a number of carriages passing 

 over a pavement. In a few seconds the motions and noises had con- 

 siderably increased. The sky was obscured by a thick and hazy fog, 

 without a breath of wind. The weather was moderate, with the mer- 

 cury about eight degrees above the freezing point. At forty-seven 

 minutes after two, a second shock was felt. At thirty-four minutes 

 after three, a third came ; which was as tremulous as the first, but not 

 followed by so much noise. A little after daylight, there was a fourth ; 

 at eight, a fifth ; and at half past eleven, a sixth ; several persons felt, or 

 imagined, others. They were of different lengths, from two minutes to 

 a few seconds. No lives were lost; some chimnics were thrown down; 

 and a few stone houses split. The morning was observed to be very 

 hazy, and unusually warm for the season. The houses and fences 

 seemed toj be covered with a white frost; but on examination, this 

 appearance was illusive. - A vapour hovered over every thing, and 

 shrouded the morning in awful gloom. 



At Lebanon, in Ohio, the alarm was so great, that many persons for- 

 sook their houses. The vibration of the shocks seemed to be from 

 east to west. 



At Circleville on Monday morning between one and two o'clock, 

 many of the inhabitants were considerably alarmed by a sudden and 

 violent trembling of their houses, which was a supposed to have pro- 

 ceeded from an earthquake. Many persons, affrighted, leaped out of 

 bed. Another was felt at eight ; but there was no explosion. 



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