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

Provided by: The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network
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Individual Event Report
Event #364 - Summary, and parameter estimates with source IDs                                           
This is the fourth of four earthquakes on this date that were distinctly felt in a very limited area of downtown Portland. The Oregonian says: "The first disturbance was felt in the morning, when two earthquake waves passed across the city.... In the afternoon two more waves were distinctly felt ....shaking the buildings so perceptibly that it was noticed plainly by persons on the ground floor. In some places movable furniture was shifted slightly, windows were rattled, and clerks seated at their desks felt themselves swayed to and fro. The shocks were so distinct that no room for doubt as to their nature was left. In the tall buildings of the down-town district the effects of the earthquake were more apparent. Persons in the upper stories of buildings along Third and Fourth streets, from the Courthouse noticed each of the four waves. The buildings swayed visibly, and the shaking [awoke people?] sleeping in the upper floors.
The disturbance apparently only affected an area between Fourth and Second streets across the city, for no indications of the waves were noticed anywhere else. ...
The first shock was observed about 10:25 in the morning and the second about 11:40. All was quiet then until about 2 pm, when the third wave passed along the same route followed by the other two. About a half hour later the fourth shock was felt. The last shock was the most severe one, according to all reports."
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
1904  16  30              Portland  OR           
N-Ore - 1962 - - - N-Ore - 1962 -

Underlying Source Material
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2072  Leslie M. Scott, Memoranda of the Files of the Oregonian 1850-1910, Oregon Historical Society  1910  Unpublished index to the Oregonian 
Transcription: at Portland, 4 shocks, June 16, 1904
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
1962  Oregonian  1904  June 17, 1904; pg 8, col 3 
Transcription: 1904, June 16, Thursday. Portland, 4 shocks.

SHAKEN FOUR TIMES
EARTHQUAKE TRAVELS THROUGH PORTLAND'S BUSINESS DISTRICT.
Shocks Inflict No Damage.
Tall Buildings Are Rocked So Hard That Office Furniture Is Moved--Weather Bureau Has No Record of Disturbance.
Portland was visited yesterday by a seismic disturbance. The shocks were not enough to do any damage, but some sections were given a good shaking. The first disturbance was felt in the morning, when two earthquake waves passed across the city, apparently from southwest to northeast. In the afternoon two more waves were distinctly felt. They passed through the heart of the city, shaking the buildings so perceptibly that it was noticed plainly by persons on the ground floor. In some places movable furniture was shifted slightly, windows were rattled, and clerks seated at their desks felt themselves swayed to and fro. The shocks were so distinct that no room for doubt as to their nature was left. In the tall buildings of the down-town district the effects of the earthquake were more apparent. Persons in the upper stories of buildings along Third and Fourth streets, from the Courthouse noticed each of the four waves. The buildings swayed visibly, and the shaking [awoke people?] sleeping in the upper floors.
The disturbance apparently only affected an area between Fourth and Second streets across the city, for no indications of the waves were noticed anywhere else. This, though, is in accordance with the general rules governing the movement of earthquake waves.
The first shock was observed about 10:25 in the morning and the second about 11:40. All was quiet then until about 2 pm, when the third wave passed along the same route, followed by the other two. About a half hour later the fourth shock was felt. The last shock was the most severe one, according to all reports.
 


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