The Nczc Madrid Earthquake. — Broadhcad. 85 
7. The stronger shocks of this great series were felt in every part 
of the United States ; and their violence generally in inverse ratio of 
their distance from the focus. Earthquakes were experienced, during 
the same years, but not on the same days, in Europe, the West Indies 
and South America. 
8. As the time is different in different places, of solar and mean 
time, it is difficult to determine the precise date of any of the shocks, 
but their absolute time in every part of the United States was 
nearly the same. Shocks were felt in June, 1812, at Shawneetown, 111., 
at Kaskaskia and on the Wabash, 40 miles from its mouth. 
About the time of the New Madrid earthquake J. J. Audubon, the 
celebrated ornithologist resided at Hendersonville, Ky. In November, 
1812.* while riding in western Kentucky he heard a noise like distant 
thunder, on which he spurred up his horse, but he stopped and planted 
his feet, with caution, on the ground, then he fell to groaning piteously, 
hung his head, spread out his four legs, as if to save himself from 
falling, and stood stock still continuing to groan. The ground rose and 
fell in successive furrows, like the ruffled waters of a lake. It all lasted 
but a few minutes, and the heavens brightened as quickly as they had 
become obscured, and the horse brought his feet to their natural posi- 
tion, raised his head and galloped off. Shocks succeeded almost every 
day for several weeks gradually diminishing into mere vibrations. At 
a friend's house on the occasion of a wedding, the company retired 
after frolicking awhile, but near morning the shock of an earthquake 
was felt and all hurriedly rushed outside in great terror, and almost 
nude, men and women. The earth waved like a field of corn before the 
breeze, but it was soon over. 
AVetmore, in his Gazetteer of ^Missouri, 1837. mentions a 
^Ir. Walker being- accompanied by a Frenchman on a trip 
near New Madrid when the first great shock was fek. The 
trees tossed to and fro, the earth rocked, he fell to the ground 
and called the Creator to protect him. The Frenchman 
exclaimed, "Alonsieur Walkare, no time for pray ! Sacre 
Dieii ! gardez-vous le branch/' and a shower of limbs fell. 
Sir Charles Lyell in Principles of Geology. A'ol. I, p. 453, 
speaks of the "sunk country" ten miles west of Xew Mad.rid, 
and says that it extends along White Water and its tributaries 
for seventy or eighty miles north and south and thirty mi'es 
east and west. Throughout this area are innumerable sub- 
merged trees, some standing leafless, others prostrate. In 
Alarch, 1846, he skirted the borders of this district nearest to 
Xew r^Iadrid and noticed many submerged trees, also c(vant- 
less rents in the adjoining dry alluvial plains, formed in 
1811-12, but still open although much changed by rains and 
*Life of Audubon; G. P. Putnam. Xew York, 1879. He speaks of time being 
1812; if so, it is one of the later shocks. 
