July, 1887.] ELLIOTT SOCIETY. 153 



Prof. L. K. Gibbes reports bis observations as follows :* 



I. Before proceeding to the consideration of these observations let us recall, 

 as far as possible, the earthquake-shocks' which have occurred in our State in 

 the preceding 75 years : 



1. The great earthquake of the winter of 1811-12, which produced such re- 

 markable effects in the region West of the Mississippi River, was distinctly felt 

 in this State, both in Charleston and Columbia ; the shocks being sufficiently 

 strong to crack brick buildings, and to throw off chimney tops. There are 

 doubtless a few persons still living who can remember these effects and give 

 some account of them. 



2. In one of th& j^ears 1832-35, a sharp shock occurred in Columbia, which I 

 distinctly felt. I cannot now determine the precise year, nor the month and 

 day, but think that it was in early Spring or near the end of Winter. I was 

 then Tutor in Mathematics in the So. Ca. College, and at the same time study- 

 ing Medicine with Dr. Thomas Wells of that City. I was standing in his office 

 (a small brick building of two stories,) about 1 p. m., in front of the shelves 

 containing a number of bottles of the drugs required in his daily practice, two 

 other students being also present. Without warning that we could perceive, 

 the building received a blow, apparently nearly Yertically upwards, which 

 made every bottle rise a few tenths of an inch from its shelf and fall again. 

 No injury was done, but the startling crash was immediately attributed by 

 some one of us to the fall of a heavy log put by Dr. W. on the fire in his room 

 just above, when his door was quickly opened and he called out "what are you 

 doing down there? " We returned his question, and gave our supposition, and 

 his reply immediately came, "it is an earthquake shock," and such we were en- 

 tirely satisfied it was. I do not think the occurrence attracted much attention 

 in Columbia, as the duration was barely a second, but on returning to the Col- 

 lege, our Librarian, Mr. Edward W. Johnston, (a relative of Gen. A. S. John- 

 ston,) informed me that he was alone in the Library, and not only felt the 

 shock distinctly but heard a low rumbling sound precede and follow it, coming 

 apparently from the West, and passing off in the East. 



3. On Saturday, the 19th December, 1857, an earthquake agitation was dis- 

 tinctly perceived in this City, some account of which I pubhshed in the Courier 

 of Monday the 21st, and also a somewhat more extended account in theProceed- 

 ings of the Elliott Society, Vol. 1, p. 288, t This disturbance was felt in George- 

 town, S. C. and in Savannah, but apparently not in Columbia nor in Augusta. 

 On the 17th, two days before, occurred the earthquake which proved so de- 

 structive in Naples, and of which Mallet has given so excellent an account. I 



* It is proper to state tHat the following Report was written In detacHed portions, 

 as.the observations were made, and read at successive meetings of tlie Society, as in- 

 dicated in its " Proceedings ". 



t Of this earthquake, Prof. McCrady also gave an account in the Proceedings of the 

 ElUott Society, Yol. II, p. l. 



VOL. n. 20 Published Dec, 188T. 



