The 1872 North Cascades Earthquake
Montana Reporting Localities



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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Bozeman, Montana


Data Source Date Code Remarks

Weekly Montanian December 19, 1872 B
no local 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.


Bozeman, M.T.
Virginia City
Weekly Montanian
Dec. 19, 1872 p 5


The Independent says their earthquake was broad gauge, in Helena a narrow gauge, but Virginia and Bozeman failed to get up even a preliminary survey." Didn't they, though! A lady from the east end of the county writes a friend in this city: "The first intimation we had of the earthquake was about 10 p.m. A big piece of plaster fell down upon Charley's back, and you'd better believe he got out of bed in a hurry."



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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Deer Lodge, Montana


Data Source Date Code Remarks

The New Northwest December 21, 1872 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.


DEER LODGE, MONTANA
The New Northwest
December 21, 1872
Deer Lodge, Montana

The Second Series of Shake Ups It Never Rains But it Pours

The series of earthquakes recorded last week was succeeded by another this, the first of which, quite strong, occurred at 10:35 p.m. Saturday, a noiseless, smooth wave from a little south of west that gave lamps with five feet suspension an oscillation of 12 to 14 inches. The second occurred twelve hours after, and was less appreciable, and a third is said to have been noticed during Sunday. They were also felt at nearly or quite all the points where the first series was noticed. While these little ripples of animation gliding over the surface of Mother Earth have done no particular damage there are a good many persons, especially those living in stone or brick buildings, who would be pleased to excuse the old lady from any further manifestations of internal vitality. We don't like our veneration shocked in this way, or our confidence in the material yearnings of the old Dame to give our bones safe and silent sepulture so rudely shaken. We "remonstrate" against it, and anybody that favors these "extraordinary" and extravagant swindles on steady going people. If Helena wants to agitate, let her agitate and be -- agitated, and send real estate up and down as much as the ring may please, but we don't propose to dance to that music any more than compelled to. It's played out and we don't want to hear any more of it.

Local Brevities

An earthquake at 10:27 p.m. on last Saturday evening was felt distinctly at Philipsburg.

- A dispatch dated San Francisco, Dec. 16th, says: "A smart shock of earthquake "was felt at 9 a.m.. on Saturday in Portland, Seattle, Victoria, and other points in Oregon and Washington Territory. "Three series of shocks were felt, but no "damage was done." This is the western "extension" on the "earthquake Lead" discovered here last week. No reports from the East, but it seems to have followed the Northern Pacific route, probably with the object of making a "report" on the line of the road.



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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Helena, Montana


Data Source Date Code Remarks

Weekly Montanian December 19, 1872 B *Walla Walla Union December 28, 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.


Helena, M.T.
Virginia City
Weekly Montanian
Dec. 19, 1872 p 5

The Independent says their earthquake was broad gauge, in Helena a narrow gauge, but Virginia and Bozeman failed to get up even a preliminary survey." Didn't they, though! A lady from the east end of the county writes a friend in this city: "The first intimation we had of the earthquake was about 10 p.m. A big piece of plaster fell down upon Charley's back, and you'd better believe he got out of bed in a hurry."



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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Missoula, Montana


Data Source Date Code Remarks

Daily Oregonian January 15, 1873 B Oregonian January 7, 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.


Missoula, Montana Daily Oregonian
Jan. 15, 1873
Portland, Oregon

A letter from I. N. Woods, written from River Station, Pen d'Oreille river, and dated December 15th, says: "We had a very severe shock of an earthquake on the afternoon of the 14th. At the time we first felt the earth move James Bradley was crossing his cattle and horses over the Pend'Oreille river, on the ice, when the ice suddenly commenced jumping up and breaking to pieces, letting the cattle and horses into the river. Out of 71 head of Mr. Bradley succeeded in saving only 21 head. The horses all came ashore; some of them were badly cut by being jammed between the ice. This is all the damage that I have heard being done. The water was about four feet higher than It was a fearful shock here." At about 10:30 A.M. of the same day, Missoula, was treated to another shaking up, much harder than the shock of the 10th instant. Bells suspended from the walls were rung and things shaken up lively.



Missoula, Montana
Oregonian
Jan 7, 1873

Portland Oregon

Missoula, Montana, had the earthquake and its block of stone buildings rattled erely. The "shake set the young men to speculating seriously upon the vanity of worldly things and they forthwith organized a dancing club.



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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Philipsburg, Montana


Data Source Date Code Remarks

The New Northwest December 21, 1872 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.


Philipsburg, Montana
The New Northwest
December 21 , 1872
Deer Lodge, Montana

The Second Series of Shake Ups It Never Rains But it Pours

The series of earthquakes recorded last week was succeeded by another this, the first of which, quite strong, occurred at 10:35 p.m. Saturday, a noiseless, smooth wave from a little south of west that gave lamps with five feet suspension an oscillation of 12 to 14 inches. The second occurred twelve hours after, and was less appreciable, and a third is said to have been noticed during Sunday; They were also felt at nearly or quite all the points where the first series was noticed. While these little ripples of animation gliding over the surface o-IC Mother Earth have done no particular damage there are a good many persons, especially those living in stone or brick buildings, who would be pleased to excuse the old lady from any further manifestations of internal vitality. We don't like our veneration shocked in this way, or our confidence in the material yearnings of the old Dame to give our bones safe and silent sepulture so rudely shaken. We remonstrate against it, and anybody that favors these "extraordinary" and extravagant swindles on steady going people. If Helena wants to agitate, let her agitate and be -- agitated, and send real estate up and down as much as the ring may please, but we don't propose to dance to that music any more than compelled to. It's played out and we don't want to hear any more of it.

Local Brevities

An earthquake at 10:27 p.m. on last Saturday evening was felt distinctly at Philipsburg.

- A dispatch dated San Francisco, Dec. 16th, says: "A smart shock of earthquake "was felt at 9 a.m. on Saturday in Portland, Seattle, Victoria, and other points in Oregon and Washington Territory. "Three series of shocks were felt, but no "damage was done." This is the western "extension" on the "earthquake Lead" discovered here last week. No reports from the East, but it seems to have followed the Northern Pacific route, probably with the object of making a "report" on the line of the road.



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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Virginia City, Montana


Data Source Date Code Remarks

Weekly Montanian December 19, 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.


Virginia City, Montana
Weekly Montanian
Dec. 19, 1871., page 5
Virginia City, Montana

More Earthquakes. - So far we are without much evidence of an earthquake shock here, although several of our citizens speak of having recognized a slight shake. Mr. 0. B. Harber among others appears to have noticed the vibration. He first became aware of something unusual transpiring in nature while seated at home on Saturday evening at about 10:00. on seeing a suspended lamp vibrating back and forth as a pendulum of a clock. This continued some ten minutes. He says that for the space of nearly two minutes he was sensible of waving motion of the house from east to west. We do not wish to unnecessarily agitate the nerves of any of our citizens, but cannot refrain from giving the opinion of a reliable scientist of this vicinity, who says that there has been for the last ten days, a perceptible tremor of the earth's surface in this locality, and that scientific investigations point to the fact that we are liable to be severely shook up at any time. Up to the time of going to press this internal tremor of mother earth is on the increase. I: a serious 'quake shall occur before we issue the MONTANIAN next week, and we of Virginia be swallowed up in the bowels of this mundane sphere, we wish to give notice that the publication of our paper will be resumed as soon as we fetch up anywhere - and that the bills due us from delinquent subscribers are already cached in the tall pocket of our everyday coat; this local wishes to be forgiven all bills - especially board bills, as he has more than once bored all of his friends, and one good turn deserves another, you know. We now bid you all a trembling but hopeful adois.



Virginia City, Mont. T.
Virginia City
Weekly Montanian
Dec. 19, 1872 p 5

The Independent says their earthquake was broad gauge, in Helena a narrow gauge, but Virginia and Bozeman failed to get up even a preliminary survey." Didn't they, though! A lady from the east end of the county writes a friend in this city: "The first intimation we had of the earthquake was about 10 PM. A big piece of plaster fell down upon Charley's back, and you'd better believe he got out of bed in a hurry."