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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 #143 - Summary, and parameter estimates with source IDs                                           
From the Oregonian: "1877, November 30. Portland (2 shocks). Earthquake--Slight shocks--Yesterday morning about 4 o'clock two slight, but distinct shocks, were felt in this city. Most of the residents were in bed at the time, and wrapped in slumber; but the shocks were sufficient to arouse them. In the upper portion of the city, the vibrations were felt with greater force, and created no excitement among the inhabitants. No damage is to report, although the frequency with which this city is visited by these shocks tends to materially lessen public confidence in mother earth. The idea of brick buildings tumbling about our ears is not very pleasant and that such an event may never come to pass is the burden of the average Portlander's prayer." The Washington Standard reports the event as being felt slightly in Olympia.
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
1877  11  30      45.55  122.60        Portland  OR  III  MM       
N-Ore - 1534 WWC - 1653 - - RAS - 31 -

Underlying Source Material
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
1299  Berg and Baker, 1963, Oregon Earthquakes, 1841 through 1958, BSSA, V. 53, No. 1, pp. 95-108  1963   
Transcription: 1877 - - Nov 30 4 am (Local) Portland III O/Dec 1, 1877
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
31  Rasmussen, Norman, 1967, Washington state earthquakes 1840 through 1965, BSSA V. 57, No. 3, pp. 463-476  1967   
Transcription: 31 1877 Nov. 30 12: Portland, Ore. III 3
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2031  Leslie M. Scott, Memoranda of the Files of the Oregonian 1850-1910, Oregon Historical Society  1910  Unpublished index to the Oregonian 
Transcription: at Portland, O-Dec. 1, 1877, P. 5, 100 w.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2030  Leslie M. Scott, Memoranda of the Files of the Oregonian 1850-1910, Oregon Historical Society  1910  Unpublished index to the Oregonian 
Transcription: two shocks, at Portland, Nov. 30, 1877
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
1534  The Oregonian  1877  Dec 1, 1877; pg 6, c. 1. 
Transcription: 1877, November 30. Portland (2 shocks).

Earthquake--Slight shocks--Yesterday morning about 4 o'clock two slight, but distinct shocks, were felt in this city. Most of the residents were in bed at the time, and wrapped in slumber; but the shocks were sufficient to arouse them. In the upper portion of the city, the vibrations were felt with greater force, and created no excitement among the inhabitants. No damage is to report, although the frequency with which this city is visited by these shocks tends to ma- terially lessen public confidence in mother earth. The idea of brick buildings tumbling about our ears is not very pleasant and that such an event may never come to pass is the burden of the average Portlander's prayer.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
806  Reid 2, unpub., Scrapbook and Cardfile, on microfilm at USGS in Menlo Park     
Transcription: Puget Sound 8:40p December 12, 1877
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
1653  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: 1877113004 45550-122600W1III BB 3 01
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2586  Washington Standard  1877  Dec. 1, 1877. p. 4, c. 4. Saturday weekly; known from U.W. Library, Pacific Northwest Collection card catalog. 
Transcription: A slight shock of an earthquake is reported to have occurred in this vicinity at about 4 o'clock yesterday morning.
 


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