The 1872 North Cascades Earthquake
British Columbia Reporting Localities



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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Barkerville, B.C.


Data Source Date Code Remarks

Cariboo Sentinel December 21, 1872 B no local felt report, newspaper contains only dispatches from other localities.

A. Period Account: Primary source for evaluation of intensity or felt report.

B. Period Account: Insufficient data to evaluate intensity.
C. Period Account: Item appearing as dispatch, summary or brief des- cription or duplicate data with more complete data available in other sources.
D. Later descriptive account identified with period sources.
E. Later descriptive account not confirmed in period documentary sources.
*Designates duplicate data not included in compilation.


BARKERVILLE, B.C.
Cariboo Sentinel
Dec. 21, 1872 p 3 col I
Barkerville, B.C.

The telegraph line was down yesterday south of Seattle, and we are without news of the earthquake from San Francisco, Portland and other points south.



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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Chilliwack, B.C.


Data Source Date Code Remarks
Daily British Colonist December 17, 1872 A Duplicate citation of the same dispatch appear in numerous period newspapers and are not included in this com- pilation. Mainland Guardian December 19, 1872 A Chilliwack Progress August 19, 1915 D Not a period account, data not used in analysis of landslides.

A. Period Account: Primary source for evaluation of intensity or felt report.
B. Period Account: Insufficient data to evaluate intensity.

C. Period Account: Item appearing as dispatch, summary or brief des- cription or duplicate data with more complete data available in other sources.
D. Later descriptive account identified with period sources.
E. Later descriptive account not confirmed in period documentary sources.
*Designates duplicate data not included in compilation.



CHILLIWACK, B. C.
Daily British Colonist
Dec. 17, 1872 p. 3
Victoria, B.C.

CHILLIWACK, Dec. 15--At 9:25 last night the inhabitants were startled by a violent shock of earthquake. The houses commenced to os- cillate; the earth rose like waves of the sea; the rivers splashed their banks; horses neighed and cattle lowed. No loss has been sustained save the displacing of some fencing.



CHILLIWACK, B. C.
Mainland Guardian
New Westminster, B. C.
Dec. 19, 1872 p. 5

FROM CHILLIWACK--Our correspondent writing on 16th inst. says:--"An earthquake of rather startling nature visited us on Satur- day night, 14th inst.; the first shock at 9:25 was very heavy; the houses vibrated and shook so that people started from their beds and fled to the open air, regardless of the piercing cold. The earth rolled like waves, and the water in the river much agi- tated. The fowls left their houses and rushed cackling to and from perfectly stupid. There were from first to last five shocks, the last about 12 o'clock. A great festival is preparing here and will be held in the Chilliwack school house on Christmas Day.

THE EARTHQUAKE--IT would appear from the telegraphic reports that the shock extended throughout the whole of British Columbia and Vancouver Island. We heard also that it has been felt throughout Oregon and Washington Territory more severely than with US.



Chilliwack, B. C.
Chilliwack Progress
August 19, 1915
Chilliwack, B.C.

Chilliwack Valley Experiences Shake

Late Sleepers Rudely Awakened by a General Shaking Up of. Surroundings - No Damage.

Chilliwack city and valley experienced a real shake yesterday morning a few minutes after six o'clock, which lasted several seconds. The tremor was the most pronounced experienced since 1871, and was sufficient to arouse late sleepers, by the shaking of houses and and rattling of windows. Whether the shake was caused by a real earthquake or the fall of a massive glacier in the mountains caused by a long season of dry weather is a matter of conjecture. The latter view is accepted by many from that the disturbance appears to have been confined to the valley, including the Agassiz district. In 1871 it was discovered after the shock of that time, that a big slice of Mount Cheam peak had dropped about one thousand feet.


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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Clinton, B.C.


Data Source Date Code Remarks

Victoria Daily Standard December 16, 1872 A *Daily British Colonist December 17, 1872 C Puget Sound Dispatch December 19, 1872 B Oregonian December 21, 1872 B *Weekly Mercury December 20, 1872 B *Cariboo Sentinel December 21, 872 C

A. Period Account: Primary source for evaluation of intensity or felt report.
B. Period Account: Insufficient data to evaluate intensity.
C. Period Account: Item appearing as dispatch, summary or brief des- cription or duplicate data with more complete data available in other sources.
D. Later descriptive account identified with period sources.
E. Later descriptive account not confirmed in period documentary sources.
*Designates duplicate data not included in compilation.



CLINTON, B.C.
Victoria Daily Standard
Dec. 16, 1872 p 3
Victoria, B. C.

CLINTON, Dec. 15--A shock of earthquake was felt, here at about 9:40 p.m., yesterday. The shock was so heavy as to waken persons who were asleep and persons who were standing were staggered almost off their feet. The vibrations lasted about 45 seconds. At the lower end of town the ground is cracked for some distance. It occasioned considerable excitement and some alarm. During the afternoon previous to the shock the wires at times were so affected by magnetic currents as to render them useless.

Thermometer last night 22 degrees below zero. Weather to day clear and calm but very cold.



CLINTON, B.C.
Puget Sound Dispatch
Dec. 19, 1872 p 3
Seattle, Washington

CLINTON, B.C., Dec. 15--Heavy shock of an earthquake here last night, at 9:40 p.m. Thermometer 20 degrees below zero.



CLINTON, B.C.
Oregonian
December 21, 1872
Portland, Oregon

Weekly Mercury
Dec. 20, 1872 pg 3
Salem, Oregon

The Puget Sound Courier has news that the earthquake was felt at Clinton in British Columbia, which is four hundred miles north of Olympia.


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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Fort Shepherd, B.C.


Data Source Date Code Remarks
Data Source Date Code Remarks

Walla Walla Union March 15, 1873 B The New Northwest April 5, 1873


A. Period Account:

B. Period Account:
C. Period Account:
Primary source for evaluation of intensity or felt report.
Insufficient data to evaluate intensity.
Item appearing as dispatch, summary or brief des- cription or duplicate data with more complete data available in other sources.
D. Later descriptive account identified with period sources.
E. Later descriptive account not confirmed in period documentary sources.
*Designates duplicate data not included in compilation.



Ft. Shepherd, B.C. Canada
Walla Walla Union
March 15, 1873
Walla Walla, Wash.

The New Northwest
April 5, 1873
Deer Lodge, Montana

THE EARTHQUAKE's DELUGE.

Mr. Covington, who has a trading post on the Columbia river, at White Stone, informs us that he spent the Winter in that country, and was there at the time of the earthquake last Fall. He says that he counted ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-TWO DISTINCT SHOCKS,

Continuing at irregular intervals for forty-two days. At one place he saw a crack in the sur- face of the earth which is now open for about one hundred and fifty yards in length, and is from two to three feet wide at the top, and is from two to six feet deep. At another place he saw where the bank of the Columbia river had

CAVED OFF AND SETTLED DOWN

For two 'or three hundred yards in length, and for a width of about fifty yards. The mountains and cliffs were so shaken up and appear to be so greatly agitated and disturbed that large masses of rock are still constantly falling, tumbling and sliding down.

COURSE OF THE COLUMBIA CHANGED

Formerly there was a stream or outlet to Lake Chelan about a quarter of a mile long, by which the waters of that lake were emptied into the Columbia--now, however, the river has changed its course so that it runs right to the lower end of the lake, and the two bodies of water unite. Our informant says that the Indians tell him that about thirty miles below White Stone a high cliff or mountain which formerly stood on the right bank of the Columbia river, now stands on the left, and that they can now easily ford the river at that point.

A BOILING LAKE

They also say that a lake about fifteen miles from the mouth of the Okanogan river has been agitated, and a dense black smoke seems to issue from its bosom all the time. Mr. Covington inclines to believe the story, for he says that at White Stone the sun has not been plainly visible half a dozen times during the Winter, because of a

DENSE SMOKE

That hangs over the whole country. From all that we can learn, the shocks were more severe in the country up the Columbia river, and the effects more noticeable than in any other locality.

NATURAL BRIDGE.

It is also reported that the earthquake made a bridge across the Columbia river, at or near Fort Shepherd. This is in British Columbia, about thirteen miles north of the boundary line. We have not talked with any one who has seen it, but hear it from so many sources that there may be something in it; and it is not altogether improbable that such a thing might occur, as the banks are known to be perpendicular in many places, and a slight disturbance of the earth might cause them to topple together.



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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Kootanai, B.C.


Data Source Date Code Remarks

Victoria Daily Standard March 12, 1873 A Walla Walla Statesman March 29, 1873 A


A. Period Account: Primary source for evaluation of intensity or felt report.
B. Period Account: Insufficient data to evaluate intensity.
C. Period Account: Item appearing as dispatch, summary or brief des- cription or duplicate data with more complete data available in other sources.
D. Later descriptive account identified with period sources.
E. Later descriptive account not confirmed in period documentary sources.
*Designates duplicate data not included in compilation.


Victoria Daily Standard March 12, 1873 pg 3 col 4 Victoria, B.C.

Still Further from Kootenay

(From Our Own Correspondent)

Kootenay, B.C., Jan. 28th, 1893.

Editor Standard:--We are again in receipt of a mail after waiting our usual time, "four months". If this is new

------- article discusses topics -----

THE EARTHQUAKE

We had on the night of the 14th of December, at 10 and 1/2 o'clock, a severe shock of earthquake; it lasted about 20 seconds; supposed to run north and south. It astonished everyone. Mr. Indian was badly frightened; they took to prayer, as they thought the devil was coming for them. The Chief, Joseph, informs me that when a boy, about 60 years before that, there were felt three or four shocks in quick succession. Never since. The mail messenger informs me that he felt three or four shocks on the trip up.
--more articles then signed-- SINE TREMORE
from p 1 the agent Hope to Kootenai is J. Johnson, Mail Agent.



KOOTENAI, B. C.
Walla Walla Statesman, Weekly
March 29, 1873
Walla Walla, Washington

KOOTENAI MATTERS

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)
Kootenai, B.C., February 14, 1873 The Canadian Pacific Railroad surveying party have got as far as Boat Encampment on the Columbia River, and their stores are scattered from that place to the Henry House on the divide of the Athabaska Pass.

EARTHQUAKE

On the 4th of December, at 10:30 P.M., we had the most lively shaking imaginable for about 20 seconds. Such a thing was never known before in the memory of that noted subject, the "oldest inhabitant," nor have any of his forefathers handed down any-such a thing as an idea of an earthquake. Yet we had one. Every one was excited. The Indians were the worst frightened; their lodge poles danced and swayed, the dogs howled; in a minute or so, the old chief, Joseph, rang the bell and summoned all to prayers, as he said the devil was coming for them. Well, we think that San Francisco is gone, and Portland burned, and Walla Walla gone down the Columbia and the balance of the world turned upside down. I have been informed by a letter from Perry Creek, that two other slight shocks were felt.
A. Fixture



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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Lytton, B.C.


Data Source Date Code Remarks

Victoria Daily Standard December 16, 1872 A *Daily British Colonist December 17, 1872 C


A. Period Account:

B. Period Account:
C. Period Account:
Primary source for evaluation of intensity or felt report.
Insufficient data to evaluate intensity.
Item appearing as dispatch, summary or brief des- cription or duplicate data with more complete data available in other sources.
D. Later descriptive account identified with period sources.
E. Later descriptive account not confirmed in period documentary sources.
*Designates duplicate data not included in compilation.



Lytton, B.C.
Victoria Daily Standard
Dec. 16, 1872 pg 3
Victoria, B.C.

LYTTON, Dec. 15--Quite a heavy shock of earthquake was felt here last night at 9:45 o'clock. The vibration was north and south, and lasted about twenty-five seconds. A noise like the rumbling of a carriage preceded the shock about one minute.



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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Matsqui, B.C.


Data Source Date Code Remarks

Daily British Colonist December 15, 1872 B Daily British Colonist December 17, 1872 A


A. Period Account: Primary source for evaluation of intensity or felt report.
B. Period Account: Insufficient data to evaluate intensity.
C. Period Account: Item appearing as dispatch, summary or brief des- cription or duplicate data with more complete data available in other sources.
D. Later descriptive account identified with period sources.
E. Later descriptive account not confirmed in period documentary sources.
*Designates duplicate data not included in compilation.


Matsqui, B.C.
Daily British Colonist
December 15, 1872 page 3
Victoria, B.C.

EARTHQUAKE LAST NIGHT.

IT IS FELT ON THE MAINLAND!

Last night, at 23 minutes to 10 o'clock, the city was shaken by a sharp shock of an earthquake which rocked houses violently and drove several families into the streets for safety. The movement was from east to west. In some instances door bells were rung, and crockery knocked from the shelves. The shock lasted about 10 seconds. The following dispatches show that it was felt at LaConner in Washington Territory and Matsqui in British Columbia:

LaConner, W.T. Dec. 14--At 20 minutes to 10 o'clock P.M. a heavy earthquake shock was felt here, lasting 20 seconds. It was so violent that people vacated their houses, which shook like cradles, very quickly. The operator at Matsqui reports the shock as having been felt. there very violently.



Matsqui, B.C.
Daily British Colonist
Dec. 17, 1872 pg 3
Victoria, B.C.

MATSQUI Dec. 15--Two distinct shocks of earthquake were felt here last night. The first, which occurred at 9:45 was very severe, causing the houses to shake violently, and lasted for about 30 seconds. The vibrations were north and south. The second shock was less severe and lasted about five seconds, and was succeeded by a loud rumbling noise.

Weather clear and calm.



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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
New Westminster, B.C.


Data Source Date Code Remarks

Victoria Daily Standard December 20, 1872 B
Mainland Guardian December 19, 1872 [RSL 8/6/99 From Coombs Report]


A. Period Account: Primary source for evaluation of intensity or felt report.
B. Period Account: Insufficient data to evaluate intensity.
C. Period Account: Item appearing as dispatch, summary or brief des- cription or duplicate data with more complete data available in other sources.
D. Later descriptive account identified with period sources.
E. Later descriptive account not confirmed in period documentary sources.
*Designates duplicate data not included in compilation.



New Westminster, B. C.
Victoria Daily Standard
December 20, 1872 p. 3, col. 5
Victoria, B. C.

Lower Frazier . . . . made a statement that the earthquake was felt at New Westminster; there was but a single shock.



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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Nicola Valley, B.C.


Data Source Date Code Remarks

Daily British Colonist December 29, 1872 A


A. Period Account: Primary source for evaluation of intensity or felt report.
B. Period Account: Insufficient data to evaluate intensity.
C. Period Account: Item appearing as dispatch, summary or brief des- cription or duplicate data with more complete data available in other sources.
D. Later descriptive account identified with period sources.
E. Later descriptive account not confirmed in period documentary sources.
*Designates duplicate data not included in compilation.

Nicola Valley
Daily British Colonist
Dec. 29, 1872 page 3

The Earthquake at Nicola Valley

Nicola Valley, Dec. 15th, 1872

Editor Colonist. - Last night about a quarter to ten o'clock we experienced quite a severe shock of earthquake which lasted about twelve minutes; the trees vibrated to and fro, as under the influence of a strong wind. And again at twenty minutes past 10 another slight shock occurred which lasted about a minute. Since then there have been no more shocks up to the time of writing.



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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
O'Damet, B.C.


Data Source Date Code Remarks

Victoria Daily Standard December 16, 1872 A *Daily British Colonist December 17, 1872 C


A. Period Account: Primary source for evaluation of intensity or felt report.
B. Period Account: Insufficient data to evaluate intensity.
C. Period Account: Item appearing as dispatch, summary or brief des- cription or duplicate data with more complete data available in other sources.
D. Later descriptive account identified with period sources.
E. Later descriptive account not confirmed in period documentary sources.
*Designates duplicate data not included in compilation.



O'Hamet
Victoria Daily Standard
Dec. 16, 1872 pg 3
Victoria, B.C.

O'HAMET(?) Dec. 15--Two distinct shocks of earthquake were felt here last night; the first and strongest one commenced at 9:45 and continued for about 25 seconds preceded by a loud rumbling noise like the passing of a heavy wagon. The second one was slighter and only lasted about five seconds; this last one was accompanied by four or five loud explosions in the mountains round here. The shocks threw down several cattle and scared all the animals round. The Indians left their houses and took to their canoes for safety. The direct the shocks appeared to be from northeast to southwest.



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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Osoyoos, B.C.


Data Source Date Code Remarks

Mainland Guardian January 9, 1873 A
Daily British Colonist January 10, 1873 A
Victoria Daily Standard January 10, 1873 A
*Oregonian January 18, 1873 C

A. Period Account: Primary source for evaluation of intensity or felt report. B. Period Account: Insufficient data to evaluate intensity.
C. Period Account: Item appearing as dispatch, summary or brief des- cription or duplicate data with more complete data available in other sources. D. Later descriptive account identified with period sources.
E. Later descriptive account not confirmed in period documentary sources.
*Designates duplicates data not included in compilation.



Osoyoos, B. C.
Mainland Guardian
January 9, 1873 p. 3, col. I
New Westminster, B. C.

Osoyoos Lake - the shock of the earthquake was felt rather severely in this district; a chimney was shaken down and the earth cracked in several places. Cattle are doing well.



Osoyoos, B. C.
Daily British Colonist
January 10, 1873 p. 3, col. 1
Victoria, B. C.

OSOYOOS LAKE, ETC. Mr. W. H. Lowe, who ar- rived yesterday from Osoyoos reports that the earthquake was severely felt in that section. The ground was cracked in several places, and a chimney of the house of Mr. T. Kruger was shaken down. The family were in the house at the time, and, although much frightened, escaped unhurt. Cattle were greatly alarmed. Mr. Lowe crossed Hope Mountain on snowshoes. He met Robertson, the Kootenay mail carrier five miles this side of Allison's Ranch. He was out of provisions and much exhausted from the severity of the trip having been nine days from Hope. Mr. Lowe supplied him with provisions, and thinks that he had no further difficulty in reaching Allison's. The stock was looking well and there was only about half an inch of snow in the valley.



Osoyoos, B. C.
Victoria Daily Standard
January 10, 1873 col. 3
Victoria, B. C.
January 10, 1873 col. 2

CARIBOU AND THE UPPER COUNTRY The earth- quake shock was felt at Quesnell and Soda Creek; no damage. On William Creek a brilliant meteor was seen about the time of the occurrence of the earthquake.

OSOYOOS LAKE - The Earthquake etc., Mr. Lowe, the Custom House Officer at this place, arrived in town by the Enterprise yesterday on his way east. He left the lake on the 20th of December and reports cattle and stock generally doing well, only half an inch of snow on the ground. But Mr. Robertson, the Kootenay Mail Agent, on the 24th going to Kootenay: He was within five miles of Allison's or about 65 from Hope. Mr. Lowe supplied the mail carrier with a horse and provisions; when he appeared to be much exhausted and fatigued and without supplies. The relief came very timely. At Hope there were over three feet of snow and on the mountain it. was very heavy. On the 14th ult. shortly after 10 p.m., the earthquake which was felt throughout the country was more than usually severe. The ground was cracked in various places; the chimney of Mr. Kruger's house was thrown down; cattle became greatly alarmed, and the fowl evidenced signs of fear.