Data Source Date Code Remarks
Plaindealer December 27, 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.
Data Source Date Code Remarks
Daily British Colonist December 17, 1872 B Puget Sound Dispatch December 19, 1872 B *The Cariboo Sentinel December 21, 1872 c *The New Northwest December 28, 1872 c *Victoria Daily Standard 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.
PORTLAND, DEC 16--A shock of earthquake,
visited this town On Saturday evening at 9:30.
Chandeliers vibrated and clocks were stopped.
At the Clarendon Hotel guests rushed from
their rooms to the street. The shock was felt
at Aurora, Oregon City and towns On the
Columbia, it is the first instance of an
earthquake in Oregon known by the oldest
settler. At Wallula the earthquake is reported
heavy, lasting fifty seconds, followed by five
lighter shocks at intervals of fifteen
minutes, after which a heavy rumbling sound
was heard as distinctly as a peal of thunder.
Thermometer fell from 30 to 26 degrees.
Shock continued at irregular intervals until
4 a.m. The first shock was violent enough
to shake buildings and contents up pretty
lively at Walla Walla. Two heavy shocks were
felt at Umatilla and three at the Dalles.
Another shock at the latter place was felt at
9 a.m. today.
Flour has advanced 50 cts per bbl.
Aurora, Oregon
Puget Sound Dispatch
Dec. 19, 1872 p. 2
Seattle, W. T.
Aurora, Oregon
THE EARTHQUAKE.--Our citizens are greatly
disappointed on learning that the recent
earthquake shock, felt so severely here, only
extended a few miles south of Portland,
Aurora, in Marion county, being the extreme
southern point at which it was noticed.
It evidently barely skirted the northern
boundary of Oregon, and gained in intensity
and force in a north and east direction,
being much more severe on the mainland in
British Columbia than here.
On last Saturday evening at twenty-one
minutes past ten o'clock the citizens of
Baker City were treated to a genuine shock of
an earthquake which lasted from two to three
minutes. The shock commenced quite severe
and then for a minute or two the earth
appeared to tremble and the houses to vibrate
in all directions causing doors to fly open,
stoves and dishes and other movable things to
move and rattle, and then come the last shake
up by the earth appearing to roll from east
of south to west of north--the last being the
heaviest vibration. We were at home, and at
first did not hardly realize the cause of the
commotion in our house, kitchen and woodshed
but when the last shock took place we realized
the situation we had experienced such things
before while in California.
The shock was so severe that it stopped our
eight-day clock, as it did several other clocks
in our city. There were quite a number of
amusing incidents took place during the con-
tinuance of the shock. One instance in one
of our stores, the gentleman stopping in there
heard the crockery ware rattling and felt the
house vibrating and he imagined some burglar
was trying to break into the establishment, so
he gathered his revolver and broke out of the
front door and around to the side of the
house--but found no one there. Another
gentleman was at his residence sitting in a
rocking chair reading and the chair commenced
to rock, and he not knowing what to make of
it, tried to get up but could not, at the same
time saying to his wife "old lady they have
got me in the door this time."
At another place they were reading a
spiritual paper and when the shock took place,
the lady thought the spirits had her chair
and were going to turn it over, and she
called for help to hold her from, going over.
One of our faro dealers closed his game
because he was sick, and another wanted a drink
of water. Some of our spiritualists thought
they had discovered mediums in their own
houses. Some who had almost forgotten how to
pray, did a little in that way; and some of our
citizens who had imbibed a little a short time
before, thought the liquor went 6o their head
pretty quick. We have not learned at this
writing how far from this locality the shock
extended but we should not be surprised to
hear of a violent shock at some other point
on the coast of which this was only the result-
This is the third shock, we are informed, that
has been experienced in this section since
the settlement of the country- one occurring
about twelve months since, and the other about
three years ago, both however being very light.
Canyon City, Oregon. Dec. 18th, 1872
Editor Mountaineer: You will no doubt
be surprised to learn that we have had a
little "shake-up" or earth-quake at Canyon
City. However, on the 14th instant, 10
o'clock P.M., the earth seemed to oscillate
north and south for a few seconds, accompa-
nied by a slight shock. The business houses
were still open, and being the first demon-
stration we have ever had of the kind from
mother earth, you may well imagine our
surprise to hear the seemingly unnatural
clink of glass and earthen ware, with the
simultaneous movement of hanging lamps,
tin ware, harness and other pendulous ar-
ticles. Mr. Gundlach, merchant, was setting
in a chair behind his desk, and experienced
a rocking sensation, imagined, at first, that
he was really the occupant of a rocking chair,
or else the victim of some hallucination of
mind. These ideas, however, were soon
dispelled by the general movement of ar-
ticles in his store. Dr. Horsley was sitting
in his office in his "easy chair," his body
thrown backward at an angle of 55 degrees and his
boot heels resting on the top of the stove
in true Kentucky style. He experienced
an unusual movement which came well near
spoiling his equilibrium , yet he did not.
fully devine the cause, until his little boy
came running down stairs, calling: "Papa
did you feel the earthquake?" Everything
was made plain; the swinging lamps con-
formed the boy's statement and everybody
soon agreed that it was a real, genuine
earthquake in a mild form.
Shook Up - The earthquake which was felt here on
last Saturday evening, was sensibly experienced
at Columbia City, St. Helens, Rainier and other
points along the Columbia. It is said that the
trembling was not noticed at Kalama at all. On
Lewis river the vibrations were so violent as
to shake the chickens from the roost, and to
unnerve the confidence of the strongest.
On Saturday evening, last, at twenty
minutes to eleven o'clock, our citizens
were surprised and startled by an earth-
quake that shook the buildings until
everything rattled and creaked and strained
like a ship in a cyclone. The night- was
clear and frosty, the thermometer indicating
27 degrees, the moon shining brightly. Its coming
was not announced by any supernatural sound
said to frequently proceed them, but a deep,
rumbling noise, like a heavy wind storm
rushing through the forest, commenced about
10 seconds after the first jar was experienced
and continued to its close and left a
profound impress, a feeling of awe, on the
minds of all. The shock lasted quite two
minutes, the vibrations lacing from the
south east and northwest. It began and
ceased with a light movement, but during
the time two shocks were very sharp.. A
variety of sensations were experienced, a
disagreeable one being like a nausea or
sea sickness, while all things human appeared
to dwindle into insignificance when compared
to the mighty throes of the earth. A
few moments after the subsidence of the first
heavy shocks, two light ones were felt;
lighter ones were also felt at 12 o'clock,
.1 and 5, making ten distinct shocks during
the night. No damage was done, but many
laughable incidents transpired that is not
the province of this article to speak of.
To the northwest it was felt equally as
severe. as far as we can learn. At
Steilacoom, Puyallup, Seattle, Port Madison,
Port Gamble, Port Townsend and Victoria,
also on the main land of British Columbia,
until lost in the uninhabitable wilds of
the north. It was an unwelcome visitor at
the southward, remembering Kalama, Portland
and several places up the valley slightly.
Cascades, the Dalles, Umatilla, Wallula,
Walla Walla and other places beyond the
mountains; in no case was damage done. The
time from the south and southeast seems to
have been a little in advance of the first
shock here, together with other evidence,
seems to indicate that it came from that
direction, perhaps from the volcanic region.
of the Rocky Mountains. This earthquake
appears to be exclusively ours at the
north, California claiming no interest in
it whatever, it not extending much towards
the southward. While no harm was the
result, further than fright, a repetition
of the experience is not desirable.
Shook Up - The earthquake which was felt here on
last Saturday evening, was sensibly experienced
at Columbia City, St. Helens, Rainier and other
points along the Columbia. It is said that the
trembling was not noticed at Kalama at all. On
Lewis river the vibrations were so violent as
to shake the chickens from the roost, and to
unnerve the confidence of the strongest.
Up to the present time, it has been ascertained
that the shock was felt simultaneously as far
south as Eugene City, in Oregon, north as
British Columbia, and east as Lewiston,
Umatilla and Walla Walla, the intermediate
region, of course being affected at every
place from which reports have been received.
At Victoria, Port Townsend, Seattle,
Steilacoom, on the Puyallup, at Kalama,
Vancouver, and many other points the des-
cription of time and manner is identical with
that of this place. A gentleman living on
the Puyallup informs us that the effect
upon the tall fir trees was startling and
grand. They were swayed to and from by the
irresistible force, their intertwining
branches rustling with the agitation as if
shaken by some giant hand, while the earth
appeared to be moved by the passage of an
elastic wave of motion, resembling billows
of the ocean. The area affected by the
shocks is probably much greater than the
limits described, and on some portion of the
coast it may have been attended by the
usual horrors, but we have yet to learn of
a casualty or loss of any importance from
the dread phenomena.
ATTENDING PHENOMENA
The approach of an earthquake is said to be
heralded by several premonitory symptoms.
People are sometimes affected with dizziness,
the sun appears red and fiery, and dumb
animals frequently utter cries of distress.
This is attributed to an electric change
in the atmosphere, which produces a feeling
of uneasiness. The wind lulls and rains
pour down in torrents at times. The atmos-
phere is generally very still, while the
surface of the ocean or lakes is usually
disturbed. A sound as of distant thunder
or the firing of artillery, sometimes
accompanies or proceeds the movements.
Editor Democrat -- On Saturday night at
ten o'clock our citizens were aroused from
their slumbers by an unnatural vibration or
contortion of the earth, which lasted about
15 seconds. The earth vibrated apparently
from North to South, commencing with short
vibrations it increased sensibly to its
heaviest or more perceptible vibrations. The
wind was blowing briskly when the first shock
was felt, no rumbling sound, which usually
accompanies earthquakes, was heard. We must
conclude that the motion which was felt by
our citizens was nothing less than an earth-
quake. Volcanic indications may be seen in
many places in the adjacent mountains of our
valley, which the writer has somewhat inves-
tigated. One tall peak on the west side of
the valley has plain indications of a volcanic
character, having a crater from which speci-
mens of very curious igneous rocks have been
obtained. The nature of the shock would
indicate that the forces exerted were beneath
the surface a great distance as the vibrations
from north to south were gentle and not violent,
which would account for the rumbling sound not
being, and furthermore, would indicate that the
motion resulted not from internal hydrostatic
pressure which sometimes convulses the earth's
surface, and is mistaken for earthquakes.
There was no damage resulting from the shock.
The strange phenomena being so little anti-
cipated, frightened quite a number, and many
ludicrous incidents occurred. One individual
imagined his bed was haunted from its being
unvoluntarily moved in various directions, and
quite a number imagined that their senses were
leaving them.
This is probably the first shock that has been
felt in such a perceptible degree. Some two
months ago one of our citizens thought he had
felt a shock, but believing it to be a fancy,
said nothing about it. Whether we will witness
the phenomena again can hardly be surmised at
present, but if we receive a second visitation
it will probably not treat us gently. There
are many theories that might have been advanced
herein, but we will refrain from presuming
further upon your space.
Very truly,
L.H.W.
PORTLAND, DEC 16--A shock of earthquake
visited this town on Saturday evening at 9:30-
Chandeliers verberated and clocks were stopped.
At the Clarendon Hotel guests rushed from
their rooms to the street. The shock was felt
at Aurora, Oregon City and towns on the
Columbia, it is the first instance of an
earthquake in Oregon known by the oldest
settler. At Wallula the earthquake is reported
heavy, lasting fifty seconds, followed by five
lighter shocks at intervals of fifteen
minutes, after which a heavy rumbling sound
was heard as distinctly as a peal of thunder.
Thermometer fell from 30 to 26 degrees.
Shock continued at irregular intervals until
4 a.m. The first shock was violent enough
to shake buildings and contents up pretty
lively at Walla Walla. Two heavy shocks were
felt at Umatilla and three at the Dalles.
Another shock at the latter place was felt at
9 a.m. today.
Flour has advanced 50 cts per bbl.
_________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Baker City, Oregon
Data Source Date Code Remarks
Bedrock Democrat December 18, 1872 A
The Mountain Sentinel December 21, 1872 B
*Idaho World December 26, 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.
Baker City, Oregon
Bedrock Democrat
Dec. 18, 1872, pg 2
Baker, Oregon
EARTHQUAKE
Baker City, Oregon
The Mountain Sentinel
Saturday Dec. 21, 1872
[Union Oregon - RSL]
An Earthquake - at 10 o'clock and 15 minutes
last Saturday night the propriety of virtuous
maidens and bashful men received a severe
shock from a quaking of another earth, which
forced them from their downy couches in a
twinkling. The shock, or wave rather, seemed
to assume a northeast and southwest direction,
and lasted from ten seconds to one minute, own-
ing to the condition, mentally of the party
giving the information. We are inclined to
the belief that the shock lasted a minute. In
this county no damage was done, no clocks
stopped, nor no crockery smashed; not,, so
however at Walla Walla where both of these
events transpired, and at Wallula the same
results were effected. At Pendleton in
Umatilla county the shock was about the same
as here. At Baker City in Baker county and
at Union in this county, cracks or openings,
of very limited extent however, were left in
the earth, unlike those made by the frost.
One single thing in connection with this
shock ought to be mentioned. Within a radius
of three miles, taking this place as a center,
the shock at different points was much greater
than at others - for instance, at Oro Dell
people were awakened from sound sleep and
frightened by the rattling of furniture and
dishes, while at other points the commotion
was not sufficient to attract the attention
of persons not yet retired for the night.
_________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Canyon City, Oregon
Data Source Date Code Remarks
The Weekly Mountaineer December 28, 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.
CANYON CITY, OREGON
The Weekly Mountaineer
December 28, 1872
The Dalles, Oregon
A Letter From Canyon City
_________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Cascade, Oregon
Data Source Date Code Remarks
Daily Oregonian December 17, 1872 A
The Weekly Echo December 19, 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.
Cascade, W. T.
Daily Oregonian
December 17, 1872
Portland, Oregon
Not Felt--Although the shock was felt uncom-
fortably plain at the Dalles last Saturday
evening, the residents of the Cascades, it
appears, were in blissful ignorance of the fact
until the OREGONIAN reached there yesterday
morning, which contained an account of the shock
in this city, and also dispatches from east of
the mountains. If the earthquake visited that
place at all it must have been so slight that
its pressure was not detected.
Cascades, W. T.
The Weekly Echo
December 19, 1872
Olympia, WT
We learn by private letter from a gentlemen
in Oysterville, that Pacific county was
considerably shaken up by an earthquake
on Tuesday night, December 10. The shock
commenced at 10:30 lasting about 10 seconds,
the vibration being north and south. No
damage done, but the people were somewhat
scared.
_________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Columbia City, Oregon
Data Source Date Code Remarks
Daily Oregonian December 17, 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.
Columbia City, Oregon
Daily Oregonian
December 17, 1872
Portland, Oregon
Not Felt--Although the shock was felt uncom-
fortably plain at the Dalles last Saturday
evening, the residents of the Cascades, it
appears, were in blissful ignorance of the fact
until the OREGONIAN reached there yesterday
morning, which contained an account of the shock
in this city, and also dispatches from east of
the mountains. If the earthquake visited that
place at all it must have been so slight that
its pressure was not detected.
_________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Corvallis, Oregon
Data Source Date Code Remarks
Weekly Corvallis
Gazette December 21, 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.
Corvallis, Oregon
Weekly Corvalli Gazette
Dec. 21, 1872 pg 2
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis, and the upper Willamette valley, so
far as we have heard, were exempt. And we are
perfectly willing that the Portland dailies
should keep ahead of us in that style of litera-
ture. We don't want any in our'n. Not any,
thank you.
_________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Eugene City, Oregon
Data Source Date Code Remarks
Washington Standard December 21, 1872 B
The Oregon State
Journal January 4, 1873 A Reported as not felt.
ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTS FROM COOMBS REPORT
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.
Eugene City, Oregon
Washington Standard
December 21, 1872
Olympia, WT
Its Extent
This is page 3 of 5 pages; the succeeding pages describe the events
in Olympia, only, and therefore, are not included in this folder.
See the Olympia folder for complete article.
EUGENE CITY, OREGON
The Oregon State Journal
January 4, 1873
Eugene City, Oregon
"It seems that the recent earthquake visited all points north
and east of us, but did not reach quite this far south."
_________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Jacksonville, Oregon
Data Source Date Code Remarks
Democratic Times December 21, 1872 - Felt? Local report
uncertain.
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.
Jacksonville, Oregon
Democratic Times
Dec. 21, 1872 p. 2
Jacksonville, Oregon
Other parts of Northern and Eastern
Oregon, and Washington Territory were also
slightly shocked but without damage.
_________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Jefferson, Oregon
Data Source Date Code Remarks
Willamette Farmer December 21, 1872 B
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.
Jefferson, Oregon
Willamette Farmer
Dec. 21, 1872 pg 1
Salem, Oregon
The earthquake on Saturday evening was felt
at Jefferson.
_________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
La Grande, Oregon
Data Source Date Code Remarks
Bedrock Democrat December 18, 1872 A
*Idaho World December 26, 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.
La Grande, Oregon
Bedrock Democrat
Dec. 18, 1872, page 2
Baker, Oregon
La Grande, Dec. 15, 1872
_________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Oregon City, Oregon
Data Source Date Code Remarks
Daily British Colonist December 17, 1872 B
*Victoria Daily
Standard December 17, 1872 c
Caribou Sentinel December 21, 1872 c
Oregon City
Enterprise December 20, 1872 B
*The New Northwest 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.
Oregon City, Ore.
Daily British Colonist
Dec. 17, 1872 pg 3 c 4
Victoria, B.C.
OREGON
Oregon City, Oregon
Oregon City Enterprise
Dec. 20, 1872 p. 3
Oregon City, Oregon
EARTHQUAKE--Don't get startled, dear readers, but
it is an actual fact that we have had one of
those injuries in Oregon. We didn't feel it,
but a great many people tell us they did, and
from our exchanges we find that it was felt at
Portland and East of the mountains. It occurred
last Saturday night, about 10 o'clock. Some
say the shock was a hard one, others that
it was very mild. It did no damage, and as we
did not feel it, we are not prepared to say
whether it was a genuine one or not.