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Cascadia Historic Earthquake Catalog, 1793-1929
Covering Washington, Oregon and Southern British Columbia

Provided by: The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network
About the Cascadia Historic Earthquake Catalog       One-line catalog format

1793-1849 .... 1850s .... 1860s .... 1870s .... 1880s .... 1890s .... 1900s .... 1910s .... 1920s .... 1930s (not complete) .... Other Cascadia Catalogs

  
Individual Event Report
Event #537 - Summary, and parameter estimates with source IDs                                           
Felt in Chilliwack,Vancouver,Victoria, Bellingham, Anacortes, Blaine, Port Angeles, Friday Harbor, Everett, and Seattle. This earthquake produced damage in several communties:
.Bellingham: brick walls cracked.
Anacortes: brick walls cracked, window(s?) broken.
Victoria: Fallen plaster, broken china.
Vancouver: A few bricks fell from the tops of chimneys.
Port Ludlow: water conduit to mill shaken down.

It is well-documented and well-cataloged. A lengthy note to the BSSA from F. Napier Denison, the seismologist at Victoria, lists damages in Bellingham and Anacortes and summarizes the effects (he reports no damage on Vancouver Island). Intensity V (RF) reports were received from weather observers in Forks, Clallam Bay and Anacortes. The location, felt area, and magnitude given here were taken from the dissertation of Garry Rogers. The data base includes a half- dozen reports from weather observers, and a quite a few newspaper articles.

The Anacortes American reports that two additional quakes (Jan 21 at 9 PM and Jan 22 at 2 AM) were recorded on the seismograph at Victoria, but not felt.
TIME LOCATION MAGNITUDE MAX. INTENSITY FELT AREA
YR MO DAY HR MIN AM/PM Time
Type
LAT(N) LON(W) DEP
(km)
MAG Mag
Type
Felt
Plc.
Felt
St.
Inten-
sity
Int.
Type
Felt
Area
Felt
Area
Int.
Felt
Area
Units
1920  23  11  12    48.60  123.00    5.50  MI  Northwestern  WA  VII  MM  70000.00    km2 
N-WA - 2324 GCR - 2330 - GCR - 2330 USEQS - 956 GCR - 2330

Underlying Source Material
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2265  Monthly Weather Review  1920  V. 48, p. 64 
Transcription: Date:January 24, 1920
Time (Greenwich Civil): 7:20
Location: Forks, WA
Latitude (deg., min.): 47 56
Longitude (deg.,min.): 124 20
RF Intensity: 5
Number of Shocks: 2
Duration (sec.): 60
Sounds: Faint rumbling
Remarks:Many awakened
Observer: Mrs. Ruth Johnson
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
7063  Consultant's Report, Greg Lange, 2004  2004   
Transcription: September 26, 1864 EVENTS

September 26, 1864 12:45 to 1:00 AM numerous sources
September 26, 1964 (Victoria) “between 5 and 6” AM (British Colonist September 27, 1964 p 3 col. 1)
October 29, 1864 (Victoria) about 6:55 AM (British Colonist October 31, 1864 p 3 col. 1 and November 3, 1864 p 3 col. 1 and November 7, 1864 p 3 col. 2)


Newspapers examined -
Puget Sound Herald (Steilacoom) - September 9, 1864 to October 24, 1864 (Issued every two weeks - complete) Note: No local news in November 7, 1864 issue
Pacific Tribune (Olympia) - September 10, 1864 to November 19, 1864 (Weekly - Missing October 29 else complete)
Washington Standard (Olympia) - September 10, 1864 to November 12, 1864 (Weekly - complete)
Statesman (Walla Walla) - September 23, 1864 to October 28, 1864 (Weekly - over half of text too light to read else complete)
Oregonian (Portland) - September 26, 1864 to October 10, 1864 (6 days a week - Oct. 1, 1864 missing else complete)
The Daily British Colonist (Victoria) - September 1, 1864 to November 11, 1864 (6 days a week - Missing November 10 else complete)
The British Columbian (New Westminster) - September 3, 1864 to November 23, 1864 (2 times per week - complete)
Statesman (Walla Walla) September 23 to October 28, 1864 (Weekly - most of text too light to read else complete)
*
Seattle Gazette - September, October, November 1864 issues are too dark to read on microfilm reel
____________________________________________________________________________________________

June 20-27, 1869 EVENTS

June 20, 1869 (Olympia) “about” 4 PM (Olympia Transcript June 26, 1869 p 3 col. 1) Other sources state in afternoon or during day.
June 21, 1869 [sic June 22] (Olympia) “a few minutes before” 5 AM (Olympia Transcript June 26, 1869 p 3 col. 1)
June 22, 1869 (Olympia) 4:30 to 5:00 AM. (Weekly Pacific Tribune June 26, 1869 p 3 col. 2) (Territorial Republican June 28, 1869 p 3 col. 1) (Morning Oregonian June 23, 1869 p 2 col 3) (Olympia Transcript June 26, 1869 p 3 col. 1)
June 23, 1869 [sic June 22] (Olympia) “about 5” AM. (Washington Standard June 26, 1869 p 2 col. 1)
June 27, 1869 8:00 to 8:05 PM numerous sources.
June 28, 1869 (Olympia) midnight (Oregonian June 29, 1869 p 2 col. 4)



Newspapers examined -
Daily British Colonist (Victoria) June 19, 1869 to July 6, 1869 (6 days a week - complete)
Daily British Columbian (Victoria) June 19, 1869 to July 3, 1869 (6 days a week - complete)
Washington Standard (Olympia) June 12, 1869 to July 31, 1869 (Weekly - complete)
Weekly Intelligencer (Seattle) June 21, 1869 to August 2, 1869 (Weekly - complete)
Morning Oregonian (Portland) June 21, 1869 to June 24, 1869 and June 28, 1869 to June 30, 1869 (6 days a week - complete)
Weekly Pacific Tribune (Olympia) June 26, 1869 to August 7, 1869 (Weekly - complete)
Port Townsend Weekly Message July 7, 1869 (Weekly - only issue, June issue missing)
Olympia Transcript June 26, 1869 and July 3, 1869 (Weekly)
Western Star (Steilacoom) July 17, 31, 1869 (only two issues)
Territorial Republican (Olympia) June 21, 1869 to July 12, 1869 (Weekly - complete)
_______________________________________________________________

December 7-19, 1880 EVENTS


December 7, 1880 5:55 to about 6:00 PM numerous sources
December 7 to 13, 1880 (Olympia) “six shakes within a week, three of which occured [sic] in the space of five hours last night” (Morning Oregonian December 15, 1880 p 1 col. 5)
December 12, 1880 (Portland) about 8:00 PM “a few minutes before 8 o’clock several lively vibrations were felt … and about an hour later quite a heavy shock was felt…” (Democratic Press December 16, 1880 p 2 col. 2)
December 12, 1880 8:00 PM, 8:30 to 8:47 PM, 9:00 PM numerous sources
December 13, 1880 (Olympia) evening “three [shakes] … occured [sic] in the space of five hours last night” (Morning Oregonian December 15, 1880 p 1 col. 5)
December 13, 1880 (New Tacoma) Evening (Weekly Ledger December 17, 1880)
December 19, 1880 (Vancouver, W.T.) Evening (Vancouver Independent December 23, 1880 p. 5 col. 2)



Newspapers examined -
Puget Sound Weekly Courier (Olympia) November 26, 1880 to January 7, 1881 (weekly - complete)
Democratic Press (Port Townsend) November 25, 1880 to December 30, 1880 (weekly - complete) Note: January 6, 1881 issue of Democratic Press missing
Puget Sound Argus (Port Townsend) November 26, 1880 to January 7, 1881 (weekly - complete)
Weekly Tacoma Ledger November 25, 1880 to February 18, 1881 (weekly - February 11, 1881 missing else complete)
Vancouver Independent (W.T.) December 2, 1880 to December 30, 1880 (weekly - complete)
Yakima Record December 4, 1880 to January 8, 1881 (weekly - January 1, 1881 missing else complete)
Oregonian (Portland) December 7, 1880 to January 4, 1881 (6 times per week - complete)
Washington Standard (Olympia) December 4 [sic 3], 1880 to January 28, 1881 (weekly - complete)
Seattle Weekly Post December 3, 1880 to January 28, 1881 (weekly - missing December 10, 24, 1880 and January 7, 1881 else complete)
Walla Walla Union December 11, 1880 to January 1, 1881 (weekly - complete)
New Northwest (Portland) December 9, 1880 to December 23, 1880 (weekly - complete)
*
Statesman (Walla Walla) UW reel missing
Willamette Farmer December 1880 (issues missing/not published)
Olympia Transcript (issues missing/not published)
Seattle Daily Intelligencer (December 4, 1880 to June 8, 1881 issues missing/not published)
Weekly Intelligencer (Seattle) (issues missing/not published)
Puget Sound Dispatch (Seattle) (issues missing/not published)
Tacoma Herald (issues missing/not published)
Fair Words (Olympia) (issues missing/not published)
________________________________________________________________________

April 30, 1882 EVENT and week following

April 30, 1882 10:40 PM to 11:05 PM numerous accounts
May 1-6, 1882 (Olympia) “Two or three slight shocks have also been felt during the week.” ( (Olympia Transcript May 6, 1882 p. 3 col. 1)
May 10, 1882 “Portland had three distinct shocks of an earthquake last Wednesday.” (Seattle Daily Chronicle May 15, 1882 p. 3 col. 2) NOTE: Check Portland papers to verify




Newspapers examined -
Olympia Transcript - April 22, 1882 to June 3, 1882 (Weekly - complete)
Washington Standard (Olympia) - April 21, 1882 to June 2, 1882 (Weekly - complete)
Seattle Daily Chronicle - April 21, 1882 to May 22, 1882 (6 days a week - complete)
Weekly Ledger (Tacoma) - April 21, 1882; April 28, 1882; June 2, 1882 (Wkly - only available issues)
Puget Sound Weekly Courier (Olympia) - April 21, 1882 to June 2, 1882 (Weekly - complete)
Seattle Post Intelligencer - April 20, 1882 to May 20, 1882 (6 times per week - complete)
*
Seattle Daily Herald (issues missing/not published)
Weekly Herald (Tacoma) (issues missing/not published)
________________________________________________________
March 7, 1891 EVENT

March 7, 1891 7:35 to 7:54 PM numerous sources

Newspapers examined -
Seattle Telegraph February 26, 1891 to April 9, 1891 (weekly - complete)
Tacoma Weekly News March 6, 1891 to March 20, 1891 (weekly - March 6, 1891 missing)
Tacoma Daily News March 9, 1891 to March 19, 1891 (6 times per week - complete)
Tacoma Morning Globe March 8, 1891 to March 13, 1891 (daily? - complete)
Tacoma Daily Ledger March 8, 1891 to March 11, 1891 (daily - complete)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer March 8, 1891 to March 17, 1891 (daily - complete)
Ellensburgh Capital March 5, 1891 to April 2, 1891 (weekly - complete)
Ellensburgh Localizer March 7, 1891 to March 28, 1891 (weekly - complete)
Snohomish Daily Sun March 2, 1891 to March 18, 1891 (6 times per week - complete)
*
Steilacoom News UW microfilm reel missing
Buckley Banner (issues missing/not published)
Tacoma Evening Call (issues missing/not published)
Tacoma Herald (issues missing/not published)
___________________________________________________________
November 24 to 29, 1891 EVENTS

November 24, 1891 (North Bend, Snoqualmie Pass) night (Seattle Telegraph November 28, 1891 p 3 col. 1)
November 29, 1891 (Seattle) “about 9” AM (Seattle Post Intelligencer November 30, 1891 p 8) NOTE: Only one witness
November 29, 1891 3:13 to 3:20, 3:35 PM numerous sources

Newspapers examined -
Sunday Herald (Tacoma) November 22, 1891 to December 6, 1891 (weekly - complete)
Tacoma Daily Ledger November 20, 1891 to November 30, 1891 (daily - complete) Note December 1891 issues missing/not published
Tacoma Daily News November 20, 1891 to December 3, 1891 (6 times per week & Thanksgiving on November 26, 1891 not published - complete)
Tacoma Morning Globe November 20, 1891 to December 4, 1891 (daily - complete)
Tacoma Evening Call November 20, 1891 to December 2, 1891 (6 times per week & Thanksgiving on November 26, 1891 not published - complete)
Seattle Telegraph November 20, 1891 to December 9, 1891 (6 times per week - complete Note: portions of December 5 too dark to read)
Ellensburg Capital November 19, 1891 to December 10, 1891 (weekly - complete)
Everett News December 11, 1891 to December 25, 1891 (weekly - complete) Note December 4, 1891 missing
Anacortes American November 19, 1891 to December 17, 1891 (weekly - complete)
Anacortes American December 5, 7, 11, 1891 (daily - only issues)
Seattle Press Times November 21, 1891 to December 12, 1891 (6 times per week - complete)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer December 20, 1891 to December 8, 1891 (daily - complete)
Anacortes Progress December 11, 1891 (weekly - only issue) Note December 4 & 18, 1891 missing/not published
*
Snohomish Daily Sun (issues missing/not published)
Snohomish Weekly Sun (issues missing/not published)
Port Townsend Leader (issues missing/not published)
Island County Times (issues missing/not published)
Ellensburg Localizer All issues missing/not published during November and December 1891)
______________________________________________________________________________
February 25, 1895 EVENTS

February 14, 1895 (no time) (Silver Creek, Lewis County) (see below)
February 25, 1895 4:30 to 4:50 AM numerous sources
February 25, 1895 (Fulton, east Lewis County) 4:45 AM (initial shock at 4:30 AM “followed by a slight shock fifteen minutes later” (Chehalis Bee March 1, 1895 p 2 col. 3)

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES
Feb 14, 1895 “Silver Creek, Lewis Co.: Slight earthquake shock on the 14th.” (Washington State Weather Service. Monthly Meteorological Report and Summary of the Washington State Weather Service Volume 4 #8 February 1895 p. 1)
Feb 25, 1895 “An earthquake shock was quite generally noticed in Western and Central Washington on the morning of the 25th about 4:30 o’clock.” “Ashford, Pierce co: Quite a severe earthquake occurred here on the twenty fifth at 4:27 A.M.” “Centerville, Klickitat Co: Feb. 25th, at half past four A.M., two earthquake shocks were felt very distinctly, one following immediately after the other. The first was stronger than the second.” (Washington State Weather Service. Monthly Meteorological Report and Summary of the Washington State Weather Service Volume 4 #8 February 1895 p. 1)

Newspapers examined -
Washington Standard (Olympia) February 22, 1895 to March 8, 1895 (weekly - complete)
Chehalis Nuggett February 22, 1895 to March 8, 1895 (weekly - complete)
Chehalis Bee March 1, 1895 to March 22, 1895 (weekly - complete)
People’s Advocate (Chehalis) February 22, 1895 to March 8, 1895 (weekly - complete)
Oregonian (Portland) February 18, 1895 to March 1, 1895 (daily - complete)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer February 26, 1895 to February 28, 1895 (daily - complete)
Sumner Herald (Pierce County) February 22, 1895 to March 22, 1895 (weekly - missing March 8, 22, 1895 else complete)
White River Journal (Kent) February 23, 1895 to March 9, 1895 (weekly - compete)
Aberdeen Herald February 21, 1895 to March 7, 1895 (weekly - complete)
Tacoma Herald February 16, 1895 to March 9, 1895 (weekly - complete)
Seattle Press Times February 25, 1895 to February 27, 1895 (daily - February 26, 1895 missing/not published else complete)
Palladium (Olympia) February 20, 1895 to March 20, 1895 (weekly - complete)
Snohomish County Tribune (Snohomish) March 1, 1895 to March 29, 1895 (weekly - complete)
*
Washingtonian (Hoquiam) UW microfilm reel missing
________________________________________________________________
March 13 to 16, 1903 EVENTS


March 13, 1903 6:21-6:40 PM numerous sources
March 16, 1903 (Tacoma) evening (Tacoma Semi Weekly News March 17, 1903 p 4 col 2) NOTE: Need to confirm by looking at other Tacoma newspapers.

ADDITIONAL ENTRY
Mar 13, 1903 Earthquake Shocks - Centralia, Grand Mound, Olympia, Seattle (Weather Bureau, US Department of Agriculture. Washington Section of the Climate and Crop Service of the Weather Bureau (Seattle, Weather Bureau) volume 6 #10 March 1903)


Newspapers examined -
Snohomish County Tribune (Snohomish) March 6, 1903 to March 27, 1903 (weekly - complete)
Washington Standard (Olympia) March 13, 1903 to April 17, 1903 (weekly - complete)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer March 14, 1903 to March 17, 1903 (daily - complete)
Port Orchard Independent March 7, 1903 to March 21, 1903 (weekly - complete)
White River Journal (Kent) March 7, 1903 to March 21, 1903 (weekly - complete)
Kitsap County Herald (Poulsbo) March 13, 1903 to March 20, 1903 (weekly - complete)
Tacoma Semi Weekly News March 13, 1903 to March 24, 1903 (2 times per week - complete)
Willapa Harbor Pilot (South Bend) March 20, 1903 to March 27, 1903 (weekly - complete)
*
Everett Herald UW microfilm copy very dark, unable to read
Index Miner (issues missing/not published)
Issaquah Independent (issues missing/not published)
Daily News Searchlight (Bremerton) (issues missing/not published)
Chehalis Bee Nugget (issues missing/not published)
Peoples Advocate (Chehalis) (issues missing/not published)
Olympia Chronicle (issues missing/not published)
Weekly Capital (Olympia) (issues missing/not published)
Spectator (Tacoma) (issues missing/not published)
Tacoma Times (issues missing/not published)
Union Record (Tacoma) (issues missing/not published)
Tacoma Daily News (issues missing/not published)
____________________________________________________________

September 5 to 11, 1903 EVENTS


September 5, 1903 (Castle Rock) “morning” (Tacoma Daily News September 12, 1903 p 2 col. 4) (Seattle Post-Intelligencer p. 1 col. 4)
September 11, 1903 3:30 to 3:50, 4:20 PM numerous sources

ADDITIONAL ENTRY
Sept 11, 1903 Earthquake Shocks - La Center at 3:50 p.m., South Bend at 3:30 pm (Weather Bureau, US Department of Agriculture. Washington Section of the Climate and Crop Service of the Weather Bureau (Seattle, Weather Bureau) volume 7 #4 September 1903)



Newspapers examined -
Skamania County Pioneer (Stevenson) September 3, 1903 to September 24, 1903 (weekly - complete)
Oregonian (Portland) September 12, 1903 to September 14, 1903 (daily - complete)
Willapa Harbor Pilot (South Bend) September 11, 1903 to September 25, 1903 (weekly - complete)
Kitsap County Herald (Poulsbo) September 11, 1903 to September 25, 1893 (weekly - complete)
Seattle Times September 12, 1903 only
Kitsap County Review (Bremerton) November 14 & 21, 1903 (weekly)
White River Journal (Kent) September 5, 1903 to September 19, 1903 (weekly - complete)
Tacoma Semi Weekly News September 8, 1903 to September 18, 1903 (twice a week - complete)
Port Orchard Independent September 12, 1903 to September 19, 1903 (weekly)
Tacoma Daily News September 11, 1903 to September 14, 1903 (6 times per week - complete)
Washington Standard (Olympia) September 11, 1903 to September 18, 1903 (weekly)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer September 12, 1903 to September 15, 1903 (daily - complete)
Buckley Banner September 11, 1903 to September 25, 1903 (weekly - Sept 18 missing else complete)
Aberdeen Herald September 14, 1903 to September 21, 1903 (2 times per week - complete)
*
Weekly Chronicle (Olympia) (issues missing/not published)
Weekly Capital (Olympia) (issues missing/not published)
Tacoma Times (issues missing/not published)
Sumner Index (issues missing/not published)
Sumner Herald (issues missing/not published)
Olympia Chronicle (issues missing/not published)
Issaquah Independent (issues missing/not published)
Chehalis Bee Nugget (issues missing/not published)
Daily Spectator (Tacoma) (issues missing/not published)
People’s Advocate (Chehalis) (issues missing/not published)
_________________________________________________________________

January 11 to February 8, 1909 EVENTS


January 11, 1909 3:30 to 4:30 PM Numerous sources
January 11, 1909 (Lopez) First tremor 4:30 PM Second tremor 20 minutes later (4:50 PM) (Friday Harbor Journal Jan 14, 1909 p 8 col. 4)
January 11, 1909 (Olga) First tremor 3:40 PM. Second tremor 40 minutes later (4:30 PM) (San Juan Islander January 16, 1909 p 8 col. 2)
January 11, 1909 (Friday Harbor) 10 PM (San Juan Islander January 16, 1909 p 1 col. 6)
January 11-12, 1909 (evening) (East Sound) “During the night there was a succession of light shocks …” (San Juan Islander January 16, 1909 p 8 col. 1)
January 12, 1909 (Friday Harbor) 12 midnight (San Juan Islander January 16, 1909 p 1 col. 6)
January 14, 1909 (Lopez) night “distant tremor … felt Thursday night” (Jan 14) “Several [tremors] have been reported since Monday.” (Friday Harbor Journal Jan 21, 1909 p 8 col. 6)
January 16, 1909 (East Sound) 7:25 PM (Friday Harbor Journal Jan 21, 1909 p 8 col. 4)
January 29, 1909 (West Sound) 3 AM (Friday Harbor Journal Feb 4, 1909 p 8 col. 3) (Lopez) 3:30 AM (Friday Harbor Journal February 4, 1909 p 8 col. 5)
February 4, 1909 (Lopez) 1:40 AM (Friday Harbor Journal February 11, 1909 p 8 col. 5)
February 8, 1909 (West Sound) Monday (Feb 8) night (Friday Harbor Journal February 11, 1909 p 8 col. 4)


ADDITIONAL ENTRIES
Jan 11, 1909 Earthquakes - Anacortes, Baker, Bellingham, Blaine, Coupeville, East Sound, Granite Falls, Olga, Olympia, Port Townsend, Vashon Island (Weather Bureau, US Department of Agriculture. Washington Section of the Climatological Service of the Weather Bureau (Portland Oregon, Weather Bureau) volume 13 #1 January 1909)
Jan 21, 1909 Earthquakes - Lakeside, Rex Creek [Chelan County] (Weather Bureau, US Department of Agriculture. Washington Section of the Climatological Service of the Weather Bureau (Portland Oregon, Weather Bureau) volume 13 #1 January 1909)

Newspapers examined -
San Juan Islander (Friday Harbor) January 7, 1909 to February 12, 1909 (weekly - Jan 30, 1909 missing else complete)
Friday Harbor Journal January 7, 1909 to March 4, 1909 (weekly - complete)
Anacortes American January 7, 1909 to February 11, 1909 (weekly - complete)
American Reville (Bellingham) January 10, 1909 to January 30, 1909 (6 times per week - complete)
Everett Herald January 11, 1909 to January 18, 1909 (6 times per week - complete)
Arlington Times January 16, 1909 to February 13, 1909 (weekly - complete)
*
Island County Times (Coupeville) (issues missing/not published)
Blaine Journal (January 1909 issues missing/not published)
_________________________________________________________

July 29, 1913 EVENT


July 29, 1913 (Mt Rainier) 8:15 AM (Tacoma Daily News July 29, 1913 p 1 col 1; July 30, 1913 p 2 col 4) (Tacoma Tribune July 30, 1913 p 1 col. 1) (Buckley Banner Aug 1, 1913 p 3 col 2)

Newspapers examined -
Puyallup Herald August 1, 1913 to August 15, 1913 (Weekly - complete)
Buckley Banner July 25, 1913 to August 15, 1913 (Weekly - complete)
Sumner Index July 25, 1913 to August 8, 1913 (Weekly - complete)
Washington Standard (Olympia) August 1 & 8, 1913 (Weekly)
Tacoma Daily News July 29, 30, 1913 (Daily)
Tacoma Tribune July 29, 1913 & July 30, 1913 (page 1 only)
*
Lewis County Clarion (Centralia) (July-August 1913 issues missing/not published)
Tacoma Times (July-August 1913 issues missing/not published)
Tacoma Daily Ledger (July-August 1913 issues missing/not published)
Olympia Chronicle (July-August 1913 issues missing/not published)
Washington Saturday Review (July-August 1913 issues missing/not published)
Morton Mirror (issues missing/not published)
________________________________________________________
November 21, 1916 EVENT


November 21, 1916 (Everett, Anacortes) 11:30 AM numerous sources



Newspapers examined -
Arlington Times November 16, 1916 to November 30, 1916 (weekly - November 16, 1916 missing)
Concrete Herald November 18, 1916 to December 6, 1916 (weekly - complete)
Everett Herald November 21, 22, 1916 (daily)
Oak Harbor News November 24, 1916 to December 1, 1916 (weekly)
Anacortes American November 16, 1916 to December 7, 1916 (weekly - complete)
Friday Harbor Journal November 23, 30, 1916 (weekly)
*
Skagit News (Mount Vernon) (issues missing/not published)
Mount Vernon Herald (issues missing/not published)
Mount Vernon Argus (issues missing/not published)
Skagit County Times (issues missing/not published)
Guemes Beachcomber (issues missing/not published)
___________________________________________________
January 23 to 24, 1920 EVENTS


January 23, 1920 (Victoria, BC) 9:00 PM Recorded on Victoria seismograph (unknown if felt by residents) (Anacortes American January 29, 1920 p 1 col. 5-6)
January 23, 1920 11:00 to 11:12 PM numerous sources
January 24, 1920 (Victoria, BC) 2:00 AM Recorded on Victoria seismograph (unknown if felt by residents) (Anacortes American January 29, 1920 p 1 col. 5-6)



Newspapers examined -
Friday Harbor Journal January 29 & February 5, 1920. Also March 1920 weather summary in March 4, 1920 issue (weekly)
Anacortes American January 22, 1920 to February 12, 1920 (weekly - complete) February 19, 1920 page one only (rest of issue missing)
Port Townsend Weekly Leader January 29, 1920 to February 19, 1920 (weekly - complete)
Oak Harbor News January 16, 1920 (weekly - last issue)
Island County Farm Bureau News (Oak Harbor) January 23, 1920 to February 13, 1920 (weekly - complete)
*
Port Angeles Daily Herald (issues missing/not published)
Mount Vernon Daily Herald (issues missing/not published)
Bellingham American (issues missing/not published)
Stanwood News (issues missing/not published)
_________________________________________________________-
December 4, 1926 EVENT

December 4, 1926 5:55 to 5:57 AM numerous sources



Newspapers examined -
Friday Harbor Journal December 2, 1926 to December 30, 1926 (weekly - complete)
Anacortes American December 9, 1926 to December 23, 1926 (weekly - complete)
Port Townsend Leader December 3, 1926 to December 17, 1926 (weekly - complete)
Bellingham American December 4, 1926 only issue examined
*
Anacortes Daily Mercury (issues missing/not published)
Olympic Tribune (Port Angeles) (issues missing/not published)
____________________________________________________________
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
6040  Port Angeles Evening News  1968  Monday, Feb. 19, 1968 
Transcription: (This article is regarding a 1920 EQ)

West End earth cuts still area mystery

There is still the old story about the cowboy who, many years ago, came unexpectedly to the rim of the Grand Canyon, took one look and exclaimed: "Boy something must have happened here!"

There's a little of that same feeling when you walk 50 or so feet into the woods from the Eagle Point road west of Sekiu and come upon a sudden, sharp gash in the earth running several hundred yards north to the Strait.

It's no grand canyon, but neither is it just a happenstance of soil erosion or a gully cut by run-off.

Something surely happened there.

John Cowan, current head of a pioneer family in the area, and his mother, Mrs. Helma Cowan, claim it's the result of an earthquake which struck the area about 1920 to1922.

Mrs. Cowan, who came to the area as a child 75 years ago, says the quake to which the gash is attributed occurred a year or so after her family took up residence in 1919 on the farm she and her son now operate on the Lake Ozette road.

A CHECK ON SEISMOLOGY records at the University of Washington reveals no record of a quake in those years.

Norm Rasmussen, seismologist at the university, says a check list shows only two quakes in the general area of the Eagle Point gash. One on Feb. 6, 1896, had an intensity of 6, a strong shock, and was pinpointed somewhere just west of Cape Flattery. Another on Jan. 6., 1932, a very weak shock, occurred near Pysht.

The Eagle Point crevice cut abruptly in to the forest floor, gives no warning of its presence until you stand on it very rim, It measures approximately 15-20 feet in width and plunges straight down between its split rock walls 35, 40 or more feet.

IT'S UPPER EXTREMITY ends at the Eagle Point road. Presumably an extension of the gash was filled in for road construction. Its lower end stops in shore of the railroad line along the Strait but presumably extended into the waters of the Strait before construction of the railroad.

Cowan says there is a legend that the crevice plunges deep under the waters of the Strait at the point and the soundings have indicated a bottomless crevasse.

A FEW SHORT CLEAVAGES in the earth's surface roughly parallel sections of the main gash, indicating the convulsive nature of whatever caused the phenomena.

Chunks of rock have fallen from the walls of the gash into its depths, fallen trees and the detritus of the forest are adding to the fill but the crevice still testifies to the fact that "something happened here."
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2327  Post-Intelligencer  1920  Saturday, January 24, 1920, p. 1, c. 5 
Transcription: EARTH TREMORS FELT IN SEATTLE CENTER IN STRAIT
Many Persons in This City Report Three Distinct Sharp Quakes
JARS BRITISH COLUMBIA
Windows Shattered, Walls Are Cracked and Phones Disabled at Northern Points

Seismic disturbances, resembling the earthquake shocks felt in Seattle about a year ago, but in three distinct tremors continuing for more than half a minute were felt in several different sections of Seattle shortly after 11 o'clock last night.

Reports from Everett, Bellingham, and as far north as Victoria and Vancouver likewise told of tremors being experienced. At some points along the Great Northern railway in the Canadian border the shock was severe enough to spill the contents of inkwells.


Shock Shatters Windows
Windows were shattered in Anacortes and brick walls were cracked by the quake in Bellingham, according to long distance telephone messages received here late last night.

Residents were disturbed by the shocks, which began at 11:08, and telephone calls to the offices of the Post-Intelligencer were received from many.

Gould Mathis, head dispatcher for the Puget Sound Traction, Light and Power Company, stationed on the second floor of the Electric block, Seventh Avenue and Olive street, declared the earthquake was quite noticeable. "The shaking was of longer duration than last time," he said, "and I first felt a rocking notion of the building. A bunch of keys, suspended from a string in my room, swaued back and forth for about half a minute. There were three tremors."

Buildings Are Rocked
Residents in Olympian apartments, Sixteenth avenue and Madison street, on top of Capitol hill, reported that the waves were distinct tremors. "They shook the building three times," said one, "and were sharper and more insistent than a year ago. Many of the forty families in the apartments noticed them."

Reports from Lakeview boulevard indicated that the shocks were noticed there also.

VICTORIA FIRST SUSPECTS JAMES ISLAND EXPLOSION

VICTORIA, B.C., Jan. 23, - A pronounced earthquake shock, described by F. Napier Denison ...Dominion observatory as of local origin, was felt here tonight at 11:10, the duration being five seconds. The center of the disturbance was in either the Strait of Juan de Fuca or the Strait of Georgia. It was felt at all island points that could be communicated with, but damage is reported from none of these. Considerable alarm was occasioned here, as the first surmise was that there had been an explosion on James island.

SIDE TO SIDE VIBRATIONS PERCEIVED IN VANCOUVER
By Associated Press.
Vancouver, B.C., Jan. 23. - One of the most severe earthquake shocks that has ever visited this vicinity shook the dity shortly after 1 o'clock tonight. No damage has been reported, beyond some telephones put out of commission. Victoria reported feeling the shock. Nanaimo also felt it.

The quake commenced approximately at 11:15 and lasted about a minute and fifteen seconds. The motion was lateral, several distinct side-to-side vibrations occurring, apparently in an east and west direction.

A few bricks fell from the tops of chimneys.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2326  Morning Oregonian  1924  Saturday, January, 24, p. 1, c.2 
Transcription: EARTHQUAKE SHAKES PUGET SOUND CITIES
BRICK WALLLS CRACKED AND WINDOWS BROKEN

Seattle, Bellingham and Vancouver, B.C., Rocked - Degrees of Intensity Are Varied

Bellingham, Wash. Jan. 23. - An earthquake shock which cracked a number of brick walls in this vicinity was felt here shortly after 11 o'clock tonight. At Anacortes, Wash. near here, windows in a number of houses wre broken by the force of the temblor and brick walls were cracked, according to reports reaching here.

The quake was felt in varying degrees of intensity in a number of towns in the northwestern section of Washington, it was reported.

Seattle, Wash., Jan. 23 -- Three distinct earthquake shocks were felt here at 11:09 o'clock tonight.
So far no material damage has been reported.

Vancouver, B.C., Jan. 23. - One of the most severe earthquake shocks that ever visited this vicinity shook the city shortly after 11 o'clock this evening, Excited people rushed out of buildings, but up to the present no damage has been reported, beyond some telephones being put out of commission.

Victoria reported feeling the same shock almost at the moment it occurred here, and a little later reports came from Nanaimo that the shock had been felt there. Some Vancouver people thought there had been an explosion at Nanaimo.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
785  Reid, unpub., Scrapbook and Cardfile, on microfilm at USGS in Menlo Park     
Transcription: NW WA & BC 49 degrees N; 122 degrees 40' W PST 11:09 pm 23 Jan, 1920 GMT 7h 09m 10s 24 Jan, 1920 VII-VIII 3 shocks duration 10 seconds -SB, IV, 112; MWR 64, 68; ? from Victoria, BC; BSSA, V (too small to read) Origin probably under Straight of Georgia. Windows broken and brick walls cracked at Bellingham, WA. Strongly felt at Vancouver, Victoria. Felt at Seattle. Probably felt for a distance of 120 miles or over an area of 45,000 sq mi. Tide guage at Victoria showed no movement of the water. Shifts near Mayna (?) ...Straits of Georgia felt the shock as th? struck by logs.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2261  Monthly Weather Review  1920  V. 48, p. 64 
Transcription: Date:January 24, 1920
Time (Greenwich Civil): 7:10
Location: Blaine, Wash
Latitude (deg., min.): 49 00
Longitude (deg.,min.): 122 45
RF Intensity: 4
Number of Shocks: 1
Duration (sec.): 8
Sounds: Rumbling
Remarks: Felt by many
Observer:J. Crilly
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2181  Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America  1920  V. 10, pp. 46-48 
Transcription: Victoria, British Columbia, January 24, 1920. - At 7 hours 9 minutes and 16 seconds Victoria experienced a local earthquake of considerable intensity, and from the seimograph records obtained here both from the east-west horizontal pendulum and the vertical instruments, the center of the disturbances does not appear to have been more than twenty miles distant. The east-west seismograph indicated a sudden and pronounced movement, while the vertical instrument sustained a sudden jar sufficient to permanently displace the recording needle by .007 mm. and raise the needle off the paper for the first few seconds. The maximum amplitude of the maximum wave, which occurred four seconds after the first wave, was .214 mm. and the time interval two seconds.

The number of seconds that the earthquake was felt varied considerably according to location and nature of foundation. Here on the rock and in this concrete building the earthquake was felt for about five seconds and consisted of two maximum vibrations, the latter being the most pronounced.

Pictures on the wall moved slightly though no abnormal movement could be detected on hte recording pen of the barograph. In some sections of the city household articles were moved and considerable alarm prevailed, though no damage has been reported.

From reports received from other districts it appears that the disturbance originated under the Strait of Georgia and to the northeast of Victoria. At Bellingham, Washington, a number of brick walls were cracked. At Anacortes, Washington, windows in some houses were broken and brick walls cracked.

At Vancouver the earthquake was felt at 7 hours 9 minutes 35 seconds, or 19 seconds after the earthquake was recorded here. It was quite severe in certain districts and particularly at the tops of high buildings.

At Brentwood on the Saanich Arm about 14 miles from Victoria the concrete chimney and wall of the electric power station was cracked. At Ladysmith our observer reported a distinct earthquake commencing 11 hours 10 minutes 30 seconds (Pacific time). The first shock lasted about seven seconds, followed in about a second by another lasting about the same time. The buildings shook and the windows rattled considerably. At Nanaimo our abserver reports an earthquake at 11:10 p.m. (Pacific time) which caused the substantial stone buildings to shake and the windows to rattle.

At Port Alberni Mr. Allard of the E. & N. Railway staff reported an earthquake at 11:15 p.m. (Pacific time) lasting about four or five seconds. The intensity was mild compared with that of 1919, and nothing appeared to rock.

From a close inspection of the Victoria tide gauge record, there does not appear to be any abnormal movement at the time of the earthquake. - F. Napier Denison, Meteorological Observatory, Gonzanles Heights, Victoria, B.C., January 29, 1920.

Postscript, dated February 7, 1920. - I have just received word that the Dominion Governament ship "Estevan" which was anchored near Mayne Island at the time of the earthquake experienced several severe blows, as if striking on the rocks, and at the lighthouse nearby a metal chimney was damaged, The steamship "Quadra" also in this district experienced similar sharp blows resembling the striking of heavy logs. The maximum intensity appears to have occurred in the vicinity of Mayne Island which is to the northeast of Victoria.

F. Napier Denison
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2181  Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America  1920  V. 10, pp. 46-48 
Transcription: Victoria, British Columbia, January 24, 1920. - At 7 hours 9 minutes and 16 seconds Victoria experienced a local earthquake of considerable intensity, and from the seimograph records obtained here both from the east-west horizontal pendulum and the vertical instruments, the center of the disturbances does not appear to have been more than twenty miles distant. The east-west seismograph indicated a sudden and pronounced movement, while the vertical instrument sustained a sudden jar sufficient to permanently displace the recording needle by .007 mm. and raise the needle off the paper for the first few seconds. The maximum amplitude of the maximum wave, which occurred four seconds after the first wave, was .214 mm. and the time interval two seconds.

The number of seconds that the earthquake was felt varied considerably according to location and nature of foundation. Here on the rock and in this concrete building the earthquake was felt for about five seconds and consisted of two maximum vibrations, the latter being the most pronounced.

Pictures on the wall moved slightly though no abnormal movement could be detected on hte recording pen of the barograph. In some sections of the city household articles were moved and considerable alarm prevailed, though no damage has been reported.

From reports received from other districts it appears that the disturbance originated under the Strait of Georgia and to the northeast of Victoria. At Bellingham, Washington, a number of brick walls were cracked. At Anacortes, Washington, windows in some houses were broken and brick walls cracked.

At Vancouver the earthquake was felt at 7 hours 9 minutes 35 seconds, or 19 seconds after the earthquake was recorded here. It was quite severe in certain districts and particularly at the tops of high buildings.

At Brentwood on the Saanich Arm about 14 miles from Victoria the concrete chimney and wall of the electric power station was cracked. At Ladysmith our observer reported a distinct earthquake commencing 11 hours 10 minutes 30 seconds (Pacific time). The first shock lasted about seven seconds, followed in about a second by another lasting about the same time. The buildings shook and the windows rattled considerably. At Nanaimo our abserver reports an earthquake at 11:10 p.m. (Pacific time) which caused the substantial stone buildings to shake and the windows to rattle.

At Port Alberni Mr. Allard of the E. & N. Railway staff reported an earthquake at 11:15 p.m. (Pacific time) lasting about four or five seconds. The intensity was mild compared with that of 1919, and nothing appeared to rock.

From a close inspection of the Victoria tide gauge record, there does not appear to be any abnormal movement at the time of the earthquake. - F. Napier Denison, Meteorological Observatory, Gonzanles Heights, Victoria, B.C., January 29, 1920.

Postscript, dated February 7, 1920. - I have just received word that the Dominion Governament ship "Estevan" which was anchored near Mayne Island at the time of the earthquake experienced several severe blows, as if striking on the rocks, and at the lighthouse nearby a metal chimney was damaged, The steamship "Quadra" also in this district experienced similar sharp blows resembling the striking of heavy logs. The maximum intensity appears to have occurred in the vicinity of Mayne Island which is to the northeast of Victoria.

F. Napier Denison
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2264  Monthly Weather Review  1920  V. 48, p. 64 
Transcription: Date:January 24, 1920
Time (Greenwich Civil): 7:15
Location: Tatoosh, Wash.
Latitude (deg., min.): 48 23
Longitude (deg.,min.): 124 45
RF Intensity: 2
Number of Shocks: 3
Duration (sec.): Few
Sounds: None
Remarks: Felt by one
Observer: Mrs. A.K. Willis
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2263  Monthly Weather Review  1920  V. 48, p. 64 
Transcription: Date:January 24, 1920
Time (Greenwich Civil): 7:14
Location: Anacortes, Wash
Latitude (deg., min.): 48 50
Longitude (deg.,min.): 122 40
RF Intensity: 5
Number of Shocks: 2
Duration (sec.):
Sounds: Loud Rumbling
Remarks: Long Duration
Observer:A. Allmond
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2262  Monthly Weather Review  1920  V. 48, p. 64 
Transcription: Date:January 24, 1920
Time (Greenwich Civil): 7:12
Location: Marietta, Wash.
Latitude (deg., min.): 48 47
Longitude (deg.,min.): 122 35
RF Intensity:
Number of Shocks: 2
Duration (sec.):
Sounds: Rumbling
Remarks Felt by many
Observer:S.B. Mayhew
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2260  Monthly Weather Review  1920  V. 48, p. 64 
Transcription: Date:January 24, 1920
Time (Greenwich Civil): 7:09
Location: Clallam Bay, Wash.
Latitude (deg., min.): 48 15
Longitude (deg.,min.): 124 15
RF Intensity: 5
Number of Shocks: 3
Duration (sec.): 10-15
Sounds: Rumbling
Remarks:Most severe ever noticed
Observer:M. Rasmussen
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2266  Monthly Weather Review  1920  V. 48, p. 68 
Transcription: Seattle, Wash., January 24. Three distinct earthquake shocks were felt here at 11:08 o'clock last night. The tremors extended through Washington and British Columbia. At Bellingham, Wash., windows were broken and brick walls cracked. At Vancouver, B.C., people fled from buildiings in alarm, but the only damage reported was to telephone lines. Victoria, B.C., and numerous towns in northwest Washington felt the quake. No damage was reported in Seattle.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
325  Bradford, Donald C., 1935, Seismic History of the Puget Sound Basin, BSSA, V. 25, No. 2, pp. 138-153  1935   
Transcription: 1920 January 23, 11:09 p.m.; 49 degrees north, 122 degrees 40' west; northwest Washington and southwest British Columbia; cracked brick walls at Bellingham and Anacortes.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2397  Washington Public Power Supply System, Preliminary
Safety Analysis Report, Ammendment 23,
WPPSS Nuclear Project No. 1, 1300 MW Nuclear Power Plant, Vol. 2A. 
1977  Tables 2R-E16 and 2R-E14B. Chilliwack Progress, The, Chilliwack, B.C., January 29, 1920 
Transcription: Jan 23, 1920 CHILLIWACK PROGRESS, THE 01/29/1920
Chilliwack Progress, The, Chilliwack, B.C., January 29, 1920

"CITY FELT SHOCK OF EARTHQUAKE

"The earthquake that shook the coast was distinctly felt in Chilliwack,
several persons becoming slightly alarmed. From reports in of persons
who were at the coast, the tremor here was very slight in corvarison and
no damage has been recorded. While there it appears to have been a
distinct swaying, here it was rather a shaking motion, rattling dooro
and windows.

"The quake occurred at 11:10 Friday evening and lasted for five
seconds. At first many persons thought that the tremor was caused by
the high wind then prevailing and some in the city put it down to a
motor truck passing nearby. On the coast, rumbling sounds are said to
have been heard."
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2322  Port Angeles Evening News  1920  Saturday, January 24, p. 1., c. 6. 
Transcription: MOTHER EARTH TREMBLES FROM EARTHQUAKE
EARTHQUAKE ROCKS MANY COAST CITIES

Severe shock felt here lasting about fifteen seconds - originated on western coast of Vancouver Island.
QUAKE CAME FROM VANCOUVER ISLAND
The Evening News received the following telegram from the Victoria Times: Seismograph here registered shock at 11:12 p.,m. Quake originated west coast Vancouver Island, says F, Napier Denison, superintendent and was local in character, The tremor was five seconds long.

An earthquake, originating as near as can be learned on the west coast of Vancouver Island, and continuing over to Tatoosh Island and down the Peninsula, reaching Up-sound cities also, rocked the earth here last night about 11:15.

The quake started with a mild trembling, which rattled windows that were anyways loose, gradually increasing in force until it reached a jerky stage, and when it had reached the height of its force stopped abruptly, and was followed shortly afterwards by a light rumbling.

Reports differ. Residents in Ediz Hook Spit state the shock was very severe. In other parts of town plates fell from plate rails, and the shelves of several local places of business rocked dangerously,

(United Press) Seattle, Wash. Jan. 24. -- The earth did a shimmy hereabouts last night three different times. "It was shocking" late stayers-up reported. "Even the windows rattled in pane," and as if to hide her iniquity, the earth appeared at daybreak clad in a garment of pure white. Snow began falling at three a.m. The shocks were felt in Bellingham, Vancouver, and Anacortes where a few brick walls cracked and windows were shattered. Vancouver, B.C. reports that the shaking continued for a minute and a half. Victoria registered it at five seconds.


Earthquake shows up local nuts

If you were an editor and you had a telephone and everything just like all regulars do, and you came to work the morning after an earthquake, and the phone for which you pay $3.50 a month kept ringing and feminine voices kept saying: "Hello, is this the Evening News? Where was the earthquake?" what would you do after you ground your teeth and tore your hair?

That's just what happened to us this morning, and we want to ask the forgiveness of the 400 people who called up and asked just that same question, because we answered them rather harshly - we simply said "It was right under our house" and hung up the phone.

The wags were busy on the streets this morning and many were the ideas advanced.

"They've struck oil at Forks," declared one excited stockholder. "and the explosion just nachally rocked the peninsula."

"I always told you there was a hidden volcano in Mount Angeles." advanced another prophet.

"What did I tell you - country went dry and started to crack," wheezed one of the old bar-rail cockroaches, as he went down into the cellar to see if his last pint of Old Crow was broken.

"You editors want to watch out," said a storekeeper this morning. "That's a warning that the world is coming to an end." "Yes," we replied, "It may be, but the information seems to be coming from the wrong direction."

"I'm gone," said Mack Davis, of the Dream theatre. I woke up last night and watched our bureau shimmy all over the room."

"Hardest shock since 1907," croaked one of the village bench whittlers, as he looked through the window to see if he could get a little free reading from the headlines.

So to you 400 people who called "42" this morning will forgive our abruptness this morning, we'll do better next earthquake. We thank you.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
1164  Townley, S. D. and M. W. Allen, 1939, Descriptive Catalog of Earthquakes of the Pacific Coast of the United States 1769-1928, Chap. III Earthquakes in Washington, 1883-1928, BSSA, V. 29, No. 1, pp. 259-268  1939   
Transcription: 1920 January 23. 11:09 p.m. VI to VII? Northwestern Washington. Strongest at Clallam Bay and Forks, Clallam Co., and at Anacortes; Skagit Co., and at Bellingham, where windows were broken and brick walls cracked. Three shocks at Clallam Bay; "most severe ever noticed" (?) Two shocks at Anacortes and Forks; duration "long" at Anacortes, sixty seconds at Forks. Felt at Blaine, Whatcom Co., IV; Marietta, Whatcom Co.; and Tatoosh, Clallam Co., three shocks.-MWR, 48, 64; BSSA, 10, 46.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
1839  Woodward Clyde Consultants, unpublished  1981  Woodward-Clyde Consultants (1981), Historical Catalog (1841-1980) for the Pacific Northwest Region, unpublished catalog prepared for the Washington Public Power Supply System. Copy provided to UW in 1993. 
Transcription: 192001240709000 49000-122700 VII NO 7 01
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2330  Garry Colin Rogers, Seismotectonics of British Coulmbia, PhD Thesis  1983  PhD Thesis, Dept. of Geophysics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, pp. 19-27 and p. 228 
Transcription: TABLE Il
Larger Historic Vancouver Island - Puget Sound Earthquakes

Their Felt Area (In square KM -RSL 6/95) and Resulting Magnitude

FELT PREVIOUS(1) FELT AREA (2)
DATE COORDINATES AREA MAGNITUDE MAGNITUDE

1872 DEC 14 48.6 121.4 1010,000 - 7.3
1903 MAR 14 47.7 122.2 26,000* 4.3 4.9
1904 MAR 17 47.8 123.0 50,000* 6.0 5.3
1909 JAN 11 48.7 122.8 150,000 5.6 6.0
1911 SEP 29 48.8 122.7 8,000 4.3 4.1
1913 DEC 25 47.7 122.5 20,000* 4.3 4.7
1915 AUG 18 48.5 121.4 77,000* 5.5 4.6 (This magnitude is a typographic error in Roger's thesis correct magnitude should be 5.6, based on the felt area given here RSL 6/95)
1918 DEC 06 49.5 125.9 650,000 7.0 7.0
1920 JAN 24 48.6 123.0 70,000 5.0 5.5
1923 FEB 12 49.0 122.7 8,000 4.3 4.1
1926 DEC 04 48.5 123.0 30,000 4.3 5.0
1928 FEB 09 49.0 125.3 120,000 3.7 5.8
(List continues through 1965 - RSL 6/1995)

*Felt area from "Earthquake History of the United States" by Coffman and
von Hake (1973).

1)Magnitude in the Canadian Earthquake Data File.

2)Calculated using Toppozada's (1975) relationships

5) Comments on Revisions of Some Key Earthquakes (Figure 6)

a) March 16, 1904
In the Canadian Earthquake Data File the epicentre for this event was located on the west
side of the Olympic Peninsula and it was assigned a magnitude of 6. in "Earthquake History of
the United States" it is given the location of Victoria, B.C. and assigned an intensity value of V.
A study of felt levels from newspaper reports suggests the earthquake has an epicentre along the
west side of Puget Sound, south of Port Townsend and that the magnitude is about 5. The
confirmation that this earthquake was not near the west coast of the Olympic Peninsula is
important as no large earthquakes have yet been located along the coast.

b) January 11, 1909
Felt reports from newspapers limit this epicentre to the San Juan Islands region where
several instances of damage occurred. Felt information also clearly shows that the size of the
isoseismal maps is between that for the 1965 Seattle earthquake and the 1976 Gulf Islands
earthquake (Figure 7). The magnitude is about 6 according to Toppozada's (1975) felt area
relationship. Lack of aftershocks and lack of higher intensities in the epicentral region suggest
this event belongs to the deeper suite of earthquakes. This event is significant because it
points out that large earthquakes in the deeper suite can also occur north of Puget Sound.

c) December 6, 1918
This earthquake has several epicentres in the literature which are shown in Figure 8.
Investigations with the set of P arrival times listed in the ISS place the epicentre on Vancouver
Island near the west coast, south of the present town of Gold River which did not exist in 1918.
Because of the quality of 1918 arrival times this epicentre has an uncertainty of the order of + 50
km. Felt information collected by Dennison (1919) and supplemented by newspaper
investigations suggest the magnitude of 7 (Ms) calculated by Gutenberg and Richter (1949) is
correct.

d) February 9, 1928
Felt information and a 100 mile distance issued from the Victoria seismograph station (VGZ),
presumably from the S-P interval, indicates the earthquake was in the vicinity of Barkely Sound
and had a magnitude of about 5-3/4. This event was in the Canadian Earthquake Data File but
was located in the Strait of Juan de Fuca with a magnitude of 3.7. It is significant that an
earthquake of this size occurred in the Barkely Sound region as there have been no events
above magnitude 4 in that region since 1928.

e) September 17, 1926 and May 7, 1927
Both of these events were assigned epicentres by the ISS at the location previously
calculated for the epicentre of the December 6, 1918 earthquake (Figure 8). Because of the
proximity of the cities of Nanaimo and Victoria and the distribution of population close to the ISS
epicentral region, these earthquakes could not have been located there as they would have been
felt. With the data listed in the ISS and felt reports they were located elsewhere. The 1927
event occurred in the vicinity of Brooks Peninsula on Vancouver Island and the 1926 event
occurred on the mainland north of Vancouver (see Appendix 1).

APPENDIX 1 - Revised parameters fir earthquakes in the Vancouver Island-Puget Sound Region 1900-1950
( P 128. - Included here are 1900-1928; Times apparently GMT -RSL 5/95)
YEAR DATE TIME LAT LONG MAG

1903 Mar. 14 02:15 47.7 122.2 4.9 Location from "EQ Hist. of the US.", mag. from felt area
1904 Mar. 17 04:21 47.8 123.0 5.3 Location from "EQ Hist. of the US.", mag. from felt area
1909 Jan. 11 23:49 48.7 122.8 6.0 Location based on felt reports, mag. from felt area
1911 Sept. 29 02:39 48.8 122.7 4.1 Location from "EQ Hist. of the US.", mag. from felt area
1913 Dec. 25 14:40 47.7 122.5 4.7 Location from "EQ Hist. of the US.", mag. from felt area
1915 Aug. 18 14:05 48.5 121.4 4.6 Location from "EQ Hist. of the US.", mag. from felt area (Note - the magnitude of 4.6 is due to a typographical error in Table 1 of Roger's thesis. The correct magnitude, based on a felt area of 77,000 square km is 5.6 RSL 6/95)
1918 Dec. 06 08:41:05.8 49.62 125.92 7.0 Recalc. from ISS data. Mag. from Gutenberg and Richter (1949) and felt area.
1919 Oct. 10 01:07:16.5 48.63 127.15 5.5 Recalc. from ISS data. Mag. estimated from the number of P arrivals.
1920 Jan. 24 07:10 48.6 123.0 5.5 Location from "EQ Hist. of the US.", mag. from felt area
1923 Feb. 12 18:30 49.0 122.7 4.1 Location from "EQ Hist. of the US.", mag. from felt area
1926 Sept. 17 23:14:40 50.0 123.0 5.5 Recalc. from ISS data. Mag. estimated from the number of P arrivals. This event was previously identified as occurring on Sept. 7 at 22:14:36
1926 Dec. 4 13:55 48.5 123.0 5.0 Location based on felt reports, Magnitude from felt area
1927 May 7 21:56 50.15 127.85 5.5 Gonzales (VGZ) S-P and felt reports are similar to 1978 Brooks Peninsula events, thus this epicentre is used. Magnitude from felt area. This event was previously identified as occurring on May 8 at 14:00.
1928 Feb. 9 11:05 49.0 125.3 5.8 Location on the basis of Gonzales (VGZ) S-P and felt reports. Magnitude from felt area.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
152  Rasmussen, Norman, 1967, Washington state earthquakes 1840 through 1965, BSSA V. 57, No. 3, pp. 463-476  1967   
Transcription: 152 1920 Jan. 24 07:09 49.0 N, 122.7W VII 1
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2325  Blaine Journal  1920  January 30 
Transcription: An earthquake shock last week cracked a number of brick walls in the vicinity of Bellingham. At Anacortes windows in a number of houses were broken by the force of the temblor, and brick walls were cracked. The quake was felt in varying degrees of intensity in a number of towns in the northwestern section of Washington.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
1456  Milne, W.G., 1956, Seismic Activity in Canada, west of the 113th meridian 1841-1951: Canada Dominion Obs. Pub., V. 18, No. 7, pp. 119-146  1957   
Transcription: 1920 JANUARY 23. 11:10 p.m. phi = 49 degrees N; lambda = 122 degrees 40' W. Br. The epicentre was again near the Gulf Islands, although the position cannot be very precise since there were few seismographs near the origin. At Victoria there was a severe shaking. Windows were broken at Anacortes, and plaster was cracked at Bellingham. One report states that boulders were shaken off Crown Mountain near Vancouver, and some windows were broken in the city itself. At New Westminster people were alarmed and ran into the streets. Some chimneys were cracked and furniture was moved in houses. (See BSSA, Vol. 10, pp. 46-48) Col., BSSA.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
6003  Daily Colonist  1920  Jan. 24, 1920 p.2, c.3 
Transcription: EARTHQUAKE SHAKES CITY

For Five Seconds Pronounced Tremor, Originating in Close Proximity to Victoria, Creates Excitement.

An earthquake, one of the most pronounced in its intensity to be experience here in years, rocked Victoria last night. Commencing at 11:10 p.m. the tremor lasted for about five seconds. It commenced abruptly and continued for two or three seconds then appeared to diminish in intensity only to be renewed in a more pronounced manner. Especially was the force of the earthquake felt by those inside buildings at the times. On the street the shock was not so apparent and many who were outside at the time knew nothing of the quake until informed of it.

Mr. Napier Denison, Director of the Dominion Meteorological Observatory, Gonzales Hill stated that the shock was of purely local origin, that is, immediately in the vicinity of Vancouver Island, probably somewhere in the Straits of Juan de Fuca or in the Gulf of Georgia. Advices from outside points show that it was equally severe at Nanaimo, at Vancouver and other points along this Coast from Victoria northwards. A wireless from the Estevan station stated n o shock was felt there. A clear record of the disturbance was secured at the observatory, Mr. Denison stated.

The quake created great excitement in theatres, restaurants and other premises in which the public were congregated. In the theatre the shock was accompanied by the noise occasioned by the shaking of the buildings. The audiences became alarmed and showed no hesitation in getting into the streets and anxiously scanning the heavens. Excitement ran high, everyone imagining that the first shock was but the preliminary to others which, they feared, might be much more serious in nature. Opinion was divided as to whether the shock was the result of an earthquake or, as many insisted, an explosion at the James Island powder plant.

Every portion of the city felt the shock judging by the perfect deluge of telephone inquiries which poured into the Colonist Office. From every point came inquiries and the information was all to the effect that the tremor was pronounced throughout the district.

Chinatown was a centre of excitement. The numerous clubs disgorged their scores or Orientals who almost threw themselves down stairs in their anxiety to get into the open and in an incredibly short space of times, Fisgard and Cormorant Streets, south of Government, were thronged with chattering Orientals whose chief aim appeared to be to all speak at once and each louder than the other.

So far as could be ascertained there was no property damage done by the quake, except perhaps some Chinaware shaken off shelves or other minor damage.

The inmates of downtown club made haste to get into the street, in the mad rush downstairs the front member tripped and others behind fell over him. In the mix-up the quake's vibrations ceased and the members returned to their quarters.

Mr. R. Johnson, a conductor on the Esquimalt street railway line, was on his street car standing at the moment at the corner of Yates and Douglas Streets. "I felt the car rock slightly, without thinking of the cause and heard the windows rattle a bit. I did not know what to make of it until I saw crowds in the street gazing up at the sky."

Mr. Edward Revercomb was in a house at Esquimalt and describes the shocks as being slight at first and growing heavier. "It lasted about three to ten seconds," he said, "and the last of it shook everything in the house. Windows rattled, doors banged, and the whole wall of the house seemed to be in motion."

A cigar store attendant on Yates Street, describes the shock as follows: "I happened to be looking at the plate-glass window at the side of me, and noticed it vibrating. Then I felt the ground under me tremble, and the pictures and articles on the counter rattled rapidly. The shock lasted about four seconds or so and finished up with a really hearty tremble."

At the K.P. Hall the plaster fell off the ceiling in many places and the people assembled at a dance there were greatly excited.

That many Victorians were seriously alarmed by the shock were evidenced by the excited queries that came into the Colonist Office. . . .[part of article missing, erroneously not copied. RSL 7/29/03]

Seattle, Jan. 23 -- Three distinct earthquake shocks were felt here at 11:08 o'clock tonight. So far no material damage has been reported.

Bellingham, Jan. 23 -- An earthquake shock which cracked a number of brick walls in this vicinity was felt here shortly after 11 o'clock tonight. At Anacortes, WA, near here, windows in a number of houses were broken by the force of the temblor, and brick walls were cracked, according to reports reaching here. The quake was felt in varying degrees of intensity at a number of towns in the northwest section of Washington.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
956  U. S. Dept. of Commerce, 1973, Earthquake History of the United States, V. 41-1, revised ed., pp. 89-96  1973   
Transcription: 1920 Jan. 23 23:09 Northwestern Washington 49.0 122.7 - VII 3-25,56
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
1015  U. S. Dept. of Commerce, 1973, Earthquake History of the United States, V. 41-1, revised ed., pp. 89-96  1973   
Transcription: 1920. January 23. Northwestern Washington. Walls cracked at Bellingham and Anacortes. Epicenter probably under the Straits of Georgia. Strongly felt at Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. Some damage to houses on Vancouver Island. The crews of several vessels felt the shock.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2324  Anacortes American  1920  January 29 
Transcription: EARTHQUAKE MAKES ANACORTES SHAKE AND PEOPLE RUSH TO STREET IN SCANT ATTIRE

TEMBLOR STRIKES CITY FRIDAY EVENING AT 11:12 O'CLOCK AND LASTS APROXIMATELY THREE-QUARTERS OF A MINUTE - BUILDINGS AND RESIDENCES ARE ROCKED LIKE CORKS ON WAVE BUT LITTLE DAMAGE RESULTS.

Late Friday evening the city of Anacortes, and a relatively small portion of the Sound region, was visited by a severe earthquake - one of the worst to visit this section- although, on the whole, but very little damage resulted. Business structures and residences were rocked severely and people in all parts of the city were filled with alarm. In hotels and rooming houses some tenants hurried to the streets in their night attire, while others crowded the halls ready to make their getaway if the temblor became stronger. This was particularly true in the three-story New Wilson hotel, where tenants on the third floor insist that the building swayed fully six inches. None left the building, but there was great excitement for a brief period.

So far as may be ascertained about the only real damage done in Anacortes was the cracking of one of the walls around Causland Park and the sidewalk at one corner; the breaking of a small window at the DeLuxe cafe and a few cracks in the walls of the New Wilson hotel lobby. These, however, were of minor importance but demonstrated the severity of the shock and the further fact that it would have required but little more to have thrown buildings to the ground.

So far as learned the quake originated somewhere in British Columbia and traveled southward in a comparatively narrow path. Everett, to the southward, knew nothing of it until inquiry was made as to what damage had been done there. To the northward, Bellingham and Vancouver, B.C., reported the shake in about the same severity as that experienced at Anacortes, but without material damage.

The only really strange feature about the temblor was the fact that the seismograph at Victoria registered three distinct shocks, the first one being at 9 o'clock in the evening, the second at the same time as the one felt here and the third at 2 o'clock in the morning. However, the one at 11:12 was the most severe. The other two were not felt other than at Victoria, so far as reported.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2323  Friday Harbor Journal  1920  Thursday, January 29 
Transcription: ISLANDS ARE ROCKED BY SLIGHT TREMBLOR
Many People Awakened When Earth Begins to Rock

The residents of Friday Harbor, and for that matter all of Northwest Washington, were awakened from their slumbers at 11 o'clock Friday night by an earthquake that shook buildings distinctly, rattled windows and swayed beds. The tremblor could be heard plainly for several seconds before the effects of the shock were noticeable. No damage has been reported in this vicinity. News reports state that brick walls were cracked in Anacortes, and Vancouver, B.C., reports it to have been the most severe quake ever felt there.

As a result of the tremblor, quakes have been a subject of more or less conversation ..... (followed by general info about earthquakes RSL 5/1995)
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
7098  Friday Harbor Journal  1920  Jan. 29, 1920, Thurs., p. 8, c. 4 
Transcription: How many felt the earthquake last Friday night? We on Decatur did.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
7099  Friday Harbor Journal  1920  Jan. 29, 1920, Thurs., p. 1, c. 6 
Transcription: ISLANDS ARE ROCKED BY SLIGHT TREMBLOR
Many People Awakened When Earth Begins to Rock
The residents of Friday Harbor, and for that matter all of Northwest Washington, were awakened from their slumbers at 11 o’clock Friday night by an earthquake that shook buildings distinctly, rattled windows and swayed beds. The tremblor could be heard plainly for several seconds before the effects of the shock were noticeable. No damage has been reported in this vicinity. News reports state that brick walls were cracked in Anancortes, and Vancouver, B.C., reports it to have been the most severe quake ever felt there. ... [more comments about EQs in general]
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
7100  Anacortes American  1920  Jan. 29, 1920, Thurs., p. 1, c. 5-6 
Transcription: EARTHQUAKE MAKES ANACORTES SHAKE AND PEOPLE RUSH TO STREET IN SCANT ATTIRE

TEMBLOR STIKES CITY FRIDAY EVENING AT 11:12 O’CLOCK AND LASTS APROXIMATELY THREE-QUARTERS OF A MINUTE. BUILDINGS AND RESIDENCES ARE ROCKED LIKE CORKS ON WAVE BUT LITTLE DAMAGE RESULTS

Late Friday evening the city of Anacortes, and a relatively small portion of the Sound region, was visited by a severe earthquake - one of the worst to visit this section although, on the whole, but very little damage resulted. Business stuctures and residences were rocked severely and people in all parts of the city were filled with alarm. In hoteles and rooming houses some tenants hurried to the streets in their night attire, while others croded the halls ready to make their getaway if the temblor became stronger. This was particualarly true in the three-story brick New Wilson hotel where tenants on the third floor insist that the building swayed fully six inches. None left the building but there was great excitement for a brief period.
So far as may be ascertained about the only ral damage done in Anacortes was the cracking of one of the walls around Causland Park and the sidewalk at one corner; the breaking of a small window at the De Luxe cafe and a few cracks in the walls of the New Wilson hotel lobby. There, however, were of minor importance but demonstarted the severity of the shock and the further fact that it would have required but little more to have thrown buildings to the ground.
So far as learned the quake originated somewhere in British Columbia and traveled southward in a comparatively narrow path. Everett, to the southward, knew nothing of it until inquiry was made as to what damage had been done there. To the northward, Bellingham and Vancouver, B.C., reported the shake in about the same severity as that experienced at Anacortes, but without material damage.
The only really strange feature about the temblor was the fact that the seismograph at Victoria registered three distinct shocks, the first one being at 9 o’clock in the evening, the second at the same time as the one felt here and the third at 2 o’clock in the morning. However, the one at 11:12 was the most severe. The other two were not felt other than at Victoria, so far as reported.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
7101  Island County Farm Bureau News  1920  Jan. 30, 1920, Fri., p. 6, c. 4. 
Transcription: NEWSY NOTES FROM CAMANO
The earthquake last Friday night was felt by many. One party made the remark that it turned them over in bed.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
7102  Island County Farm Bureau News  1920  Jan. 20, 1920, Fri., p. 4, c. 4. 
Transcription: Washington State News
...
An earthquake shock last week cracked a number of brick walls in the vicinity of Bellingham. At Anacortes windows in a number of houses were broken by the force of the temblor and brick walls were cracked The quake was felt in varying degrees of intensity in a number of towns in the northwestern section of Washington.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
7103  Friday Harbor Journal  1920  Feb. 5, 1920, Thurs., p. 1, c. 2 
Transcription: JANUARY WEATHER
...
Earthquake shock, 23rd, 11:10 p.m.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
7097  Port Townsend Weekly Leader  1920  Jan. 29, 1920, Thurs., p. 1, c. 2-3 
Transcription: QUAKE WAS GENERAL
Shock Felt in Different Parts of the Puget Sound Country.
The earthquake shock of Friday night was general over the Northwest, being distinctly felt from British Columbia points as far south as Olympia. F. Napier Dension, chief observer in the Dominion observatory at Victoria, placed the center of the disturbance in the Straits of Fuca or the Georgia strait. At Vancouver, B.C., the reports say the shock was felt for a minute and a half. At Bellingham and Anacortes the tremblor was sufficient to break windows and crack walls in a limited number of cases. No damage of any consequence was reported from any part of the Northwest.
Local people who were awake at 11:10, the approximate time of the tremblor, claim the shcok was preceded by a rumbling sound that was distinctly audible. Two shocks were noticed, the first followed closely by the second., the entire disturbance being over in about five seconds, the approximate length of time reported from Victoria and other cities. The force of the shock seemed to be from northeast to southwest, this bearing out the observation of the Victoria scientist, who put the center of the disturbance under the straits.
Although the force of the shock was the severest felt here in years, the only inconvenience reported was at Port Ludlow, where the lumber mill did not start until 10 o’clock yesterday morning. This was due to the fact that several lengths of the conduit bringing the water supply to the mill from Ludlow creek were shaken down. This left the water supply low until repairs were completed.
 


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