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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 #24 - Summary, and parameter estimates with source IDs                                           
Other (non-earthquake) Fron the Oregon Spectator - an account of loud noises, Silver Creek drying up for 24 hours , and a rain of ashes. Large forest fires were raging at the time.
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
1849  10  15                    Marion County  OR           
N-OR - 1594 - - - N-OR - 1594 -

Underlying Source Material
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
1594  Oregon Spectator  1849  Thursday, Oct. 18, 1849. 
Transcription: Something for the Curious.
We learn that on the 15th inst., in the Cascade Mountains, on the eastern border of Marion county, two or three loud reports were heard resembling distant thunder, accompanied by other unusual movements in the elements. Immediately afterward Silver Creek, which is a good sized mill stream, dried up, and no water ran in it for some twenty-four hours.--When the water did resume its course, it was so thoroughly impregnated with alkaline substances as to have the appearance of strong lye, and as also to cause the death of the fish in the stream. About the time of the above occurrence, strong winds prevailed from the south, a heavy fall of ashes was noticed in most parts of this valley, and a dense cloud of smoke settled in the atmosphere, shutting out the light of the sun for nearly a week. Whether a volcanic eruption has taken place, or whether the phenomenon was produced by some other agency, we have not as yet the means of determining. One fact however is worthy of notice. The whole Cascade range of mountains are on fire, and the vast amount of vegetable matter thus consumed would be entirely sufficient to account for the ashes and smoke which have prevailed. And it is probable that the prevalence of fire may account for the other occurrence. The intense heat occasioned by the fire may have extended far enough into the rocky bosom of the mountain to have come into contact with gasses found in the cavities of the rocks, and thus produce an explosion. This might have occasioned a land slide, throwing a portion of the mountain into a deep ravine, and arresting the water of Silver Creek for a time. And this seems the more probable view of the matter, as the gasseous and alkaline substances by the explosion would be brought to the surface, and coming in contact with the waters of the creek, would change its character. But we forbear farther remarks, hoping some gentleman will visit the spot and give us farther and more definite information.
 


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