Cascadia Catalog 1793-1930

	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 #65 - Summary, and parameter estimates with source IDs
False Earthquake Report Although there is a widely published description of an earthquake on this date, it is best described as the "Famous earthquake of Fort Klamath that didn't take place". This is NOT a real earthquake! As Townley and Allen say: "... a long letter .... gives all the lurid details of a terrible earthquake. It is now known that ...this account came from the fertile imagination of a soldier by the name of Warren, stationed at Fort Klamath, who evidently was seeking diversion and amusement during the dull winter months." An Oregon Sentinal article of May, 1867, also recognized this account as a hoax.
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
1867	1	8			A							Fort Klamath	OR	X
HOLD1 - 441							-		-	-		SMITH - 561				-

Underlying Source Material

Source ID	Publication	Pub Date	Pub Details
441	Holden, Edward S., 1887, List of Recorded Earthquakes in California, Lower California, Oregon, and Washington Territory	1887	Printed by Direction of the Regents of the University of California, Sacremento, California,
Transcription: 1867. January 8; daylight. [?] Frightful earthquake at Fort Klamath, Oregon; the Klamath Lake fell six feet.-Fuchs. Two shocks, the second frightful. The air grew dark, ashes fell as thickly as snow in a storm.-B.Ms. EARTHQUAKE AT FORT KLAMATH.-The following letter is to the Oregon Sentinel, from Fort Klamath, dated January 8, 1867: Editor Sentinel: We have singular, if not serious news, to send by the express just leaving. This morning at daylight we were startled from our sleep by the precipitate shock of an earthquake, immediately followed by a noise as of distant thunder. But in a little while quiet reigned, and every one was conversing and laughing heartily at the singular phenomenon; but our countenances soon underwent a serious change, for it began to grow dark; the whole heavens were full of a very black smoke or cloud; the air had a sulphurous smell; and ashes of a brownish color fell as fast as I ever saw it snow. We had to use candles in the mess-room. Most of us went in to breakfast, but had only got fairly into our seats, when, horror upon horror, the earth seemed rolling like waves upon the ocean; every one was thrown to the floor, only, on regaining their feet, to be placed in the same position again, accompanied with the rattling of dishes, the crashing of window glass, cracking of timber of buildings, and the screams of the frightened. You could not imagine a more perfect chaos. Some of us gained the door, and such a sight met our gaze as was probably never before beheld. The tall pines around the fort seemed lashing themselves into fury; the wagons in front of the stable were engaged in a pitched battle: horses and cattle were lying crouched upon the ground, uttering the most pitiful moans; dogs were howling, and the unearthly cries of the Klamath Indians camped near the fort, completed the scene. The sutler's store was thrown about ninety feet from its former position. There were no lives lost, nor any serious accidents to any one. There is no very serious damage done to any of the buildings, all being log and frame houses, but I do not think there is a whole pane of glass left at the post. Most of us are of opinion that a volcano has broken loose near the Klamath marsh, as a continuous dark column of smoke is seen in that direction. There was about half an hour between the first and second shocks. The first was just perceptible. The second lasted, as near as can be judged from various opinions, from two to three minutes. Further particulars will be given by the next express. L. TENNYSON, Quartermaster's Clerk. Mr. Whitmore has just arrived from the agency, and reports that the lake (Klamath) has lowered about six feet, and is still falling. Crooked Creek, a stream between this place and the agency, is completely dried up. -B.Ms.-S.F. Bulletin, January 14, 1867.

Source ID	Publication	Pub Date	Pub Details
1294	Berg and Baker, 1963, Oregon Earthquakes, 1841 through 1958, BSSA, V. 53, No. 1, pp. 95-108	1963
Transcription: 1867 - - Jan 8 - Fort Klamath X(R.F. scale) 10 No such shock occurred. (10)

Source ID	Publication	Pub Date	Pub Details
1219	Holden, E.S., 1898, A Catalog of Earthquakes on the Pacific Coast 1769-1897, Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, 1087	1898
Transcription: 1867. January 8; daylight. [?] X. Frightful earthquake at Fort Klamath, Oregon; the Klamath Lake fell six feet.-Fuchs. Two shocks, the second frightful. The air grew dark, ashes fell as thickly as snow in a storm.-B.Ms. -- P. gives VIII (??) . EARTHQUAKE AT FORT KLAMATH.-The following letter is to the Oregon Sentinel, from Fort Klamath, dated January 8, 1867: Editor Sentinel: We have singular, if not serious news, to send by the express just leaving. This morning at daylight we were startled from our sleep by the precipitate shock of an earthquake, immediately followed by a noise as of distant thunder. But in a little while quiet reigned, and every one was conversing and laughing heartily at the singular phenomenon; but our countenances soon underwent a serious change, for it began to grow dark; the whole heavens were full of a very black smoke or cloud; the air had a sulphurous smell; and ashes of a brownish color fell as fast as I ever saw it snow. We had to use candles in the mess-room. Most of us went in to breakfast, but had only got fairly into our seats, when, horror upon horror, the earth seemed rolling like waves upon the ocean; every one was thrown to the floor, only, on regaining their feet, to be placed in the same position again, accompanied with the rattling of dishes, the crashing of window glass, cracking of timber of buildings, and the screams of the frightened. You could not imagine a more perfect chaos. Some of us gained the door, and such a sight met our gaze as was probably never before beheld. The tall pines around the fort seemed lashing themselves into fury; the wagons in front of the stable were engaged in a pitched battle: horses and cattle were lying crouched upon the ground, uttering the most pitiful moans; dogs were howling, and the unearthly cries of the Klamath Indians camped near the fort, completed the scene. The sutler's store was thrown about ninety feet from its former position. There were no lives lost, nor any serious accidents to any one. There is no very serious damage done to any of the buildings, all being log and frame houses, but I do not think there is a whole pane of glass left at the post. Most of us are of opinion that a volcano has broken loose near the Klamath marsh, as a continuous dark column of smoke is seen in that direction. There was about half an hour between the first and second shocks. The first was just perceptible. The second lasted, as near as can be judged from various opinions, from two to three minutes. Further particulars will be given by the next express. L. TENNYSON, Quartermaster's Clerk. Mr. Whitmore has just arrived from the agency, and reports that the lake (Klamath) has lowered about six feet, and is still falling. Crooked Creek, a stream between this place and the agency, is completely dried up. -B.Ms.-S.F. Bulletin, January 14, 1867.

Source ID	Publication	Pub Date	Pub Details
801	Reid 2, unpub., Scrapbook and Cardfile, on microfilm at USGS in Menlo Park
Transcription: Fort Kalamath January 8, 1867 X (?)

Source ID	Publication	Pub Date	Pub Details
1597	Oregon Sentinel	1867	Saturday, May 18, 1867, p. 2
Transcription: EARTHQUAKE.--A number of persons in the neighborhood of Ashland report having felt a very severe earthquake shock on Saturday night last. When the famous earthquake of Ft. Klamath didn't take place, a prominent citizen of Ashland felt a shock that quite unsettled his nerves, and as no shock was perceptible in this end of the valley on Saturday night, we are inclined to think some people were troubled with night-mare or indigestion.

Source ID	Publication	Pub Date	Pub Details
483	Townley, S.D. and M.W. Allen, 1939, Descriptive Catalog of earthquakes of the Pacific Coast of the United States 1769 to 1928, Chapter II, Earthquakes in Oregon--1846-1928, BSSA, V. 29, No. 1, pp. 253-258.	1939
Transcription: 1867 January 8. Daylight. X. Fort Klamath. Frightful earthquake. [Holden printed a long letter written by L. Tennyson and originally published in the Oregon Sentinel. This letter gives all the lurid details of a terrible earthquake. It is now known that there was no earthquake on January 8, 1867, at Fort Klamath and that this account came from the fertile imagination of a soldier by the name of Warren, stationed at Fort Klamath, who evidently was seeking diversion and amusement during the dull winter months. No such person as L. Tennyson was ever enrolled in the United States Army.]

Source ID	Publication	Pub Date	Pub Details
561	Smith, W. D., 1919, Earthquakes in Oregon, BSSA, V. 9, n. 3, pp. 58-71	1919
Transcription: 1867. January 8; daylight (?); X; Fort Klamath. Frightful earthquake at Fort Klamath, Oregon; the Klamath Lake fell six feet.-Fuchs. Two shocks, the second frightful. The air grew dark, ashes fell as thickly as snow in a storm.-B. Ms.-P. gives VIII (??). The following letter is to the Oregon Sentinel, from Fort Klamath, dated January 8, 1867: Editor Sentinel:-We have singular, if not serious news, to send by the express just leaving. This morning at daylight we were startled from our sleep by the precipitate shock of an earthquake, immediately followed by a noise as of distant thunder. But in a little while quiet reigned, and every one was conversing and laughing heartily at the singular phenomenon; but our countenances soon underwent a serious change, for it began to grow dark; the whole heavens were full of a very black smoke or cloud; the air had a sulphurous smell; and ashes of a brownish color fell as fast as I ever saw it snow. We had to use candles in the mess-room. Most of us went in to breakfast, but had only got fairly into our seats, when horror upon horror, the earth seemed rolling like waves upon the ocean; everyone was thrown to the floor, only, on regaining their feet, to be placed in the same position again, accompanied with the rattling of dishes, the crashing of window glass, cracking of timber, of buildings, and the screams of the frightened. You could not imagine a more perfect chaos. Some of us had gained the door, and such a sight met our gaze as was probably never before beheld. The tall pines around the fort seemed lashing themselves into fury; the wagons in front of the stable were engaged in a pitched battle; horses and cattle were lying crouched upon the ground, uttering the most pitiful moans; dogs were howling, and the unearthly cries of the Klamath Indians camped near the fort, completed the scene. The sutler's store was thrown about ninety feet from its former position. There is no very serious damage done to any of the buildings, all being log and frame houses, but I do not think there is a whole pane of glass left at the post. Most of us are of the opinion that a volcano has broken loose near the Klamath marsh, as a continuous dark column of smoke is seen in that direction. There was but half an hour between the first and second shocks. The first was just perceptible. The second lasted, as near as can be judged from various opinions, from two to three minutes. Further particulars will be given by the next express. L. TENNYSON, Quartermaster's Clerk. Mr. Whitmore has just arrived from the agency, and reports that the lake (Klamath) has lowered about six feet, and is still falling. Crooked Creek, a stream between this place and the agency, is completely dried up.- B. Ms., San Francisco Bulletin, January 14, 1867.

Source ID	Publication	Pub Date	Pub Details
1214	Oregon State Journal	1867	Jan. 19, 1867, No. 48, Vol. 3, page 2, c.. 5
Transcription: Oregon State Journal, Eugene City, "Earthquake at Fort Klamath", January 19, 1867, No. 48, Vol. 3, p. 2, col. 5. (reported in the "Oregonian" January 8, 1867) - "This morning at daylight, we were startled from sleep by a shock of an earthquake, immediately followed by a noise as of distant thunder; ... Everyone was conversing and laughing heartily at the singular phenomena; but our countenance soon underwent a serious change. It began to grow dark -- the whole heavens were a very black smoke or cloud; the air had a sulphurous smell and ashes of a brownish color fell as fast as I ever saw it snow ... the seem soon to be rolling like waves upon the ocean. Everyone was thrown to the floor ... With the tattling of dishes, crashing of window glass, cracking of timber of the buildings and the scream of the frightened boys, you could not imagine a more perfect chaos ... The tall majestic pines which surrounded the fort seemed lashing themselves into a fury, the wagons in front of the stables were engaged in pitched battles, horses and cattle lying crouched upon the ground uttering the most pitiful moans, dogs howling and the unearthly yells of the Klamath Indians encamped near the fort completed the scene ... The Sutlers store was thrown about twenty feet from its former position. There were no lives lost. Most of us are of the opinion that a volcano has broken loose near Klamath marsh as a continuous dark volume of smoke is seen ascending in that direction. There was about half an hour between the first and second shocks. The first was only perceptible; the second lasted two or three minutes." By order of Commander of Post, Ned L. Tennison, Quartermaster's Clerk.