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



a chimney which had been previously broken by the first shock; he 

 found, on inquiry, that the motion was considerably greatest near the 

 large water courses. The court-house at Carthage is a large brick 

 edifice, and was cracked to its foundation, and considerably damaged. 

 Several chimnies had been cast down, by the shock of the 16th of 

 December. Everywhere it was stated to him by those who witnessed 

 the motions, that they were from the south of west, to the opposite 

 point, or vice versa. In the county of Christian, (Kentucky,) a fine 

 and fresh spring of water was observed to run very muddy for several 

 hours. On examining it, after the feculence had settled, he found it to 

 be strongly impregnated with sulphur; so much so that it was spoiled 

 for domestic uses; indeed, it had been converted to one of the strongest 

 brimstone springs he ever met with. 



But considerable as these operations were, they were surpassed by 

 others which took place along the river Mississippi ; indeed, the strata 

 underlying the bed of this stream appear to have been the principal 

 seat of the commotion, or, at least, the place where it was most con- 

 siderable. The phenomena were described in the most fearful and 

 alarming strains by several writers. Much exaggeration was inter- 

 woven with some of the narratives. Some, indeed, were tinctured with 

 fable and burlesque. Among the various recitals it became exceedingly 

 difficult to find out the true, or even the most probable, account. 

 Five or six witnesses, who seem to have been wholly unknown to each 

 other, agree in so many particulars, that their united evidence may be 

 considered to approach as near to the truth as we can expect to arrive. 



First, the writer of a letter from the Chicasah Bluffs, dated Decem- 

 ber 21st, to his correspondent in Cincinnati, stated many particulars 

 from his personal observation. The first shock happened at thirty 

 minutes after two, on the morning of the 16th, and was followed by 

 many more within a few days. The boat was acted upon by the water 



