Data Source Date Code Remarks
Walla Walla Statesman March 29, 1873 B
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.
(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 up side down. I have been informed by a letter from Perry Creek, that two other slight shock were e t.
A. Fixture
VAN WINKLE.
Vanwinkle, Dec. 15--The British Columbia
Telegraph Company opened an office at this
place to day. Tariff between here and Par-
kerville 50 cents for first 10 words and 25
cents for each additional five.
QUESNELMOUTH.
Quesnelmouth, Dec. 15--A slight shock of
earthquake was felt here yesterday evening
about 10 o'clock. The motion was from, east
to west, and resembled the action of a wave
and lasted about half a minute. No damage
done.
The weather is very cold, the thermometer
ranging as low as 20 below zero. Large
quantities of ice running in both Fraser and
Quesnel rivers. The ferry scow has stopped
running on the latter, much to the inconven-
ience of traffic.
SODA CREEK
Soda Creek, Dec. 15--Two distinct shocks
of earthquake were felt here last night.
The first, which occurred about 10 o'clock,
was of considerable violence and lasted about
25 seconds. After an interval of 12 seconds,
a shock of less violence was felt. The
motion appeared to be from the north-east
to south-west. The thermometer stood at 18
below zero this morning.
CLINTON.
Clinton, Dec. 15--A shock of earthquake
was felt here at about 9:30 p.m. yesterday.--
The shock was so severe as to awaken persons
who were asleep, and persons who were stand-
ing staggered almost off their feet. The
vibrations lasted about 45 seconds. it occa-
sioned considerable excitement and some alarm.
The thermometer fell last night to 23 below
zero. Weather clear and calm today but very
cold.
YALE.
Yale,.Dec. 15--Last evening, at 9:43, an
earthquake presented itself in rather a forci
ble manner by rattling doors, ringing bells,
&s., where suspended, and causing the floors
of dwellings to wave as the deck of a vessel
in a light sea. Two subsequent slight shocks,
scarcely perceptible, were experienced at
intervals of two or three minutes. Its course
appeared to be north-east to south-west. The
first shock lasted about 40 seconds. Many
report having felt another rather severe
shock at 5 this morning. Weather cold and
clear; ice running thick since morning.
VICTORIA.
Victoria, Dec. 15--Last night, at 23 min-
utes to 10 o'clock, the city was shaken by
a sharp shock of earthquake which rocked
homes violently and drove several families
into the street for safety. The movement was
from east to west. In some instances door
bells were rang and crockery knocked from
shelves. The shock lasted about 10 seconds.
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
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.
same page, same column
The Earthquake at Race Rocks--Mr. Argyle,
the Light keeper reports that the tower and
lantern at Race Rocks were severely shaken
by the earthquake on Saturday night last.
Things rattled away at a lively rate for some
seconds, but no damage was done.
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.
The Shake at Victoria.
Victoria. Dec. 15--Last night at 23 minutes to
10 o'clock, the city was shaken by a sharp
shock of earthquake which rocked houses violently
and drove several families into the street for
safety. The movement was from east to west.
In some instances door bells were rung and
crockery knocked from shelves. The shock
lasted about 10 seconds.
same page, same column
The Earthquake at Race Rocks--Mr. Argyle, the
Light keeper reports that the tower and lantern at
Race Rocks were severely shaken by the earthquake on
Saturday night last. Things rattled away at a lively'
rate for some seconds, but no damage was done.
"Dec 16 Another slight shock of e-quake last night.
Awoke me out of my sleep."
_________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Quesnel (Quesnelmouth), B.C.
Data Source Date Code Remarks
Cariboo Sentinel December 21, 1872 A
Victoria Daily
Standard January 10, 1873 B
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.
Quesnelmouth, B.C.
Cariboo Sentinel
December 21, 1872
Barkerville, B.C.
SHARP SHOCK OF EARTHQUAKE.
Quesnel, 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.
_________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Race Rocks, B.C.
Data Source Date Code Remarks
Daily British Colonist December 19, 1872 A
*Olympia Transcript January 4, 1873
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.
Race Rocks, B. C.
Daily British Colonist
December 19, 1872
Victoria, B.C.
p. 3, col. 1
Another Earthquake Last evening, about 20
minutes to 6 o'clock, another shock of an
earthquake was felt in this city. It lasted
about 10 seconds and was not nearly so heavy
as the shock Saturday night. Mother Earth
is evidently preparing for a grand effort
on the Coast. The Old Lady has been quiet
in this neighborhood since 1868; and she
should certainly be allowed a little frolic
at the "gay and festive" season of the year.
_________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Shuswap Prairie, B.C.
Data Source Date Code Remarks
The Victoria Daily
Standard February 3, 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.
Shuswap Prairie, B. C.
The Victoria Daily Standard
Feb. 3, 1873, pg 3, col. 1
Victoria, B.C.
SHUSWAP PRAIRIE - A subscriber in the above district
says -that the earthquake of last month made the
houses and trees and everything rattle fearfully,
so much so that the people up there(sic) thought
the world was coming to an end; it lasted about
minutes, and the ground heaved terribly.
_________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Soda Creek, B.C.
Data Source Date Code Remarks
Victoria Daily
Standard December 16, 1872 A
*Daily British Colonist December 17, 1872 c
*Cariboo Sentinel December 21, 1872 c
Victoria Daily
Standard January 10, 1873 B
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.
Soda Creek, B. C.
Victoria Daily Standard
Dec. 16, 1872 pg 3
Victoria, B.C.
SODA CREEK, Dec. 15--Two distinct shocks of
earthquake were felt here last night. The
first, which occurred about 10:15, was of
considerable violence, and lasted about
twenty-five seconds. After an interval of
twenty-two seconds, a shock of less-violence---
was felt. The motion appeared to be from
south-east to north-west.
Soda Creek, 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
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.
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 showed signs of fear.
_________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Vernon, B.C.
Data Source Date Code Remarks
*The Vernon News April 2, 1936 E period accounts not
available for this
locality; not plotted.
Account not used in
intensity evaluation.
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.
_________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Victoria, B.C.
Data Source Date Code Remarks
Daily Oregonian December 17, 1872 A
Portland Oregonian December 17, 1872 A
*Daily British Colonist December 19, 1872 c
*Victoria Daily
Standard December 19, 1872 c
*The Weekly Echo December 19, 1872 c
*Washington Standard December 21, 1872 c
*Willamette Farmer December 21, 1872 c
*The New Northwest December 21, 1872 c
Daily British Colonist December 15, 1872 A
Daily British Colonist December 17, 1872 A
Daily British Colonist December 19, 1872 B
*Cariboo Sentinel December 21, 1872 c
*Puget Sound Dispatch December 19, 1872 c
*Victoria Daily
Standard December 19, 1872 c
*Idaho TriWeekly
Statesman December 24, 1872 c
*Idaho Signal (p. 2) December 28, 1872 c
*Idaho Signal (p. 3) December 28, 1872 c
Additional accounts from Coombs et al., 1976
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, B.C.
Daily British Colonist
December 15, 1872 page 3
Victoria, B.C.
EARTHQUAKE LAST NIGHT.
Victoria, B. C.
Daily British Colonist
December 17, 1872 p. 3, col. 1
Victoria, B.C.
THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE The shock of the earth-
quake of Saturday night appears to have been
more severely felt on the mainland than on
the island. At Olympia and Seattle the
shock was very severe and was accompanied
by a slight tidal wave. At Clinton, as will
be seen from our telegrams, the ground was
cracked and the shock was felt at all the
towns on the Frazier. From Cariboo we have
no report. In this city we hear of the
front wall of a brick building on Ray street
being cracked from cellar to garret. Plastered-
ceilings were badly cracked in some houses.
Everywhere the liveliest alarm was created
by the shock which was preceded by a low,
rumbling noise. Since 1864, Victoria has not
experienced so severe a shock as that of
Saturday.
Victoria, B. C.
Daily Oregonian
Dec. 17, 1872 p 2
Portland, Oregon
Our neighbors of Washington
Territory and Vancouver Island, it appears,
were shaken up in a manner decidedly more
lively than was accorded to us. While many of
our citizens did not perceive the shock at all,
and others felt it so slightly as not to be
able to distinguish it from the ordinary effect o-IC
the steamer's gun, the people along the Sound
and at Victoria had some of their window panes
broken, their crockery tumbled from the shelves
and their frame buildings rocking in faint
imitation of a vessel at sea. We do not wonder
that some of the people should have fled to
the streets for safety. That is the orthodox
thing to do in a first class earthquake. It
is true, those who remained in their houses
escaped harm, while many of those who ran out,
got more or less injured by falling cornices
and such like; but then the regular thing to
be done on such occasions, is to run out into the
streets; and the regular thing should always be
done, if it is a little dangerous.
Victoria, B. C.
Portland Oregonian
Dec. 17, 1872
Portland, Oregon
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Victoria, B. C.
Daily British Colonist
December 19, 1872 p 3, col. 1
Victoria, B.C.
Another Earthquake--Last evening, about 20 minutes
to 6 o'clock, another shock of an earthquake was felt
in this city. It lasted about 10 seconds and was not
nearly so heavy as the shock Saturday night. Mother
Earth is evidently preparing for a grant effort
somewhere on the Coast. The Old Lady has been quiet
in this neighborhood since 1868; and she should
certainly be allowed a little frolic at the "gay and
festive" season of the year.
_________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Yale, B.C.
Data Source Date Code Remarks
Victoria Daily Standard December 16, 1872 A
*Cariboo Sentinel December 21, 1872
Bushby Journal A
Additional accounts from Coombs et al., 1976
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.
Yale, B.C.
Victoria Daily Standard
Dec. 16, 1872,pg 3
Victoria, B.C.
YALE, Dec. 15--Last evening at 9:43 an earthquake
presented itself in rather an alarming manner by
rattling doors, ringing bells, and causing the
floors of dwellings to warp like the deck of a
vessel in a heavy sea. So infrequent are the
visitations of these eruptions of the heavenly
bodies in this vicinity, in fact never before, it.
is stated were felt here, that all fled in
consternation to the street, where they freely
discussed the strange phenomenon; fortunately
more alarmed than injured. Two subsequent slight
shocks, scarcely perceptible, were experienced
at intervals of two or three minutes. Its
course appeared to be north-east to south-west.
The effect of clear stars and full moon beaming
down upon the new fallen snow, rendered the
night one of the loveliest of the season.
Yale, B.C.
Bushby, Arthur T., Journal
written from Dec. 10, 1872-Sept. 10, 1874, transcribed by
Judith Zach, 84 pp., typescript, The Archives of British Columbia,
(written while in Yale on trip from New Westminster to Cariboo)
Weston Geophysical, p. 2, Diary entry:
"Dec. 14 ... 1/4 to 10 p.m.-Had violent shock of earthquake
lasted 5.m. All rushed out of the house-never so much alarmed in
my life-dreadful sensation.