Data Source Date Code Remarks
John A. Simms Letter December 31, 1872 A Extracts appear in numerous newspapers.
Walla Walla Union December 28, 1872 A
Puget Sound Daily
Courier January 2, 1873 A
Walla Walla Union January 11, 1873 A
Oregonian January 15, 1873 B Refer to Plate III, aftershocks
*Puget Sound Daily
Courier January 20, 1872 C Refer to Simms' letter
*Victoria Daily
Standard January 24, 1873 C Refer to Simms' letter
*Cariboo Sentinel January 25, 1873 C
The Olympia Trans- February 8, 1873 C Brief extract from
cript Simms' letter
*New Northwest February 22, 1873 C Refer to Simms' letter
Walla Walla Union March 15, 1873 A Refer to Plate III,
aftershocks
Walla Walla Union June 14, 1873 A Listed under Colville
Reports, locality un-
known. Refer to Plate
III, aftershocks.
Spokesman Review January 8, 1906 D Some of the data appears consistent with period accounts.
Most of the Indians that I have heard from are very much frightened and in some instances fatal results have followed. One woman of the Lower Spokane lost her mind, and wandered off to the mountains and was found dead a day or two afterwards. Several others are quite ill from its effects. The earthquake was particularly severe in the vicinity of Okanogan and Osy*ssius Lake. Two Indians who come over from there, report that a point of land projecting into the Lake has disappeared and that the earth has opened from eighteen inches to two feet in several places. They state also that the country was full of smoke to the north, and that a noise resembling thunder comes from the same direction. There is great consternation among the Okanogan Indians and I have determined to send over the Interpreter to endeavor to pacify them and to report upon the results of the earthquake.
I have the satisfaction of reporting a marked improvement in
the moral condition of the Indians of this Agency since my arrival here.
Most of the C_____ Spokane have abandoned the evil habits of gambling and
dissipation. The chiefs and head man feel much encouraged and feel hope
for the future. They are consciously waiting for news concerning the
Reservation, and believe that some satisfactory arrangement will be made
in the spring and that work at the Agency will be commenced in earnest.
Very respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
John A. Simms
Spt. Ind. Agt.
COLVILLE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY
Puget Sound Daily Courier
January 2, 1873
Olympia, W.T.
The letter mentioned elsewhere, from
Mr. Winans, states that the earthquake
of the 14th ult. was felt at Fort
Colville at about 10 1/2 o'clock P.M.
and shook down bottles and crockery
from the shelves, stopped the
clocks and frightened people generally.
COLVILLE, W.T.
Walla Walla Union
January 11, 1873
Walla Walla, W.T.
COLVILLE Our occasional correspondent
has written us an account of the earth-
quake at Colville, but the letter has
evidently been delayed. He states that
articles on the store of Oppenheimer and
Co. to the value of $30 or $40 were knocked
off the shelves and broken by the first
shock. At 3 A.M. the same night quite a
heavy "shake" was experienced, and trembling
continued at intervals, for two or three
days. The weather was quite cold, the
thermometer on the 19th registering 20 degrees
below zero, but clear and seasonable, not
much snow having fallen at this date. The
farmers are busy threshing, and all is going
on pretty much as usual. "Hyas Quass
concludes his letter thus: This last
sensation (quite new to most of us) is
one with which we could have most willingly
have dispensed, and I can only hope that
your correspondent for one may never
experience another such shaking as we were
all treated to on the 14th inst.
COLVILLE, W.T.
Oregonian
January 15, 1873
Portland, Oregon
A private letter, dated Fort Colville,
W.T., Jan. 6th, to a gentlemen in the
city, says, the earthquake which began at
that place on the 14th, continued at brief
intervals for ten days, and that it was
very severe, both at Colville and points
to the north of that place. In Colville
glass ware was thrown from store shelves
so frequently that merchants were compelled
to either take down their goods of that kind
or put a guard around the shelving to hold
the crockery in. It was reported by Indians
that two houses north of Colville were shaken
down, and that mountains had sunk away out
of sight. The inhabitants of the entire
region were in a state of considerable
fright from the numerous repetitions and
violence of the shocks. Quite a severe
shaking up was experienced on the 4th inst-
COLVILLE, W.T.
Walla Walla Union
March 15, 1873
Walla Walla, W.T.
LETTER FROM FORT COLVILLE
THE EARTHQUAKE LEGACY - REMARKABLE
PHENOMENON - THE NEW INDIAN RESERVATION -
THE WINTER AND ITS PASTIMES - IMPROVEMENTS -
ETC., ETC.
Fort Colville, W.T., March 2, 1873.
Editor Union: I ventured to express a hope
in my last that we should experience no more
"shocking" effects of the late earthquake,
but we have felt several shocks since then
at intervals. The most remarkable phenomenon
is a
LOUD REVERBERATION
which has been heard continually in some
parts of this Valley every night with but
very few intermissions. Through the kind-
ness of a friend I had an opportunity of
passing a night in a farm-house where these
nocturnal noises were reported to be nightly
heard. I am free to confess that, in common
with many others, I was a little skeptical
about the affair, being inclined to attribute
it to fancy and an overwrought imagination.
However, on the occasion above mentioned,
I most distinctly heard a succession of
loud noises, similar to thunder, or the
discharge at short intervals of heavy
ordinance. Strange to say, the reports
(if I may so describe them) were, and are,
only heard in a few particular localities,
most notably at the residence of Mr. D.
White, from whom I first heard of the cir-
cumstance and who kindly gave me the oppor-
tunity of satisfying myself by oracular
demonstration that it was no ,myth as had
been supposed, but a bona fide "noise." By
what theory to account for it, I know not.
Some are inclined to think it is produced
by some distant volcano: but then why
should the noises always occur in the night?
I leave it to some of your readers more
conversant with the freaks of nature to
solve the question of this nightly serenade
than the humble individual who now addresses
you.
THE WINTER
We have had a long Winter, but have not
experienced any unusual degree of cold,
although some of our farmers are getting a
little anxious to see the snow move off, so
that feed for the horned stock may not run
short. Many have turned their horses out
on good feed on the hill-sides, which have
been bare in many places for some time, as
horses can paw and scratch round for a
living where horned cattle would perish.
THE AMUSEMENTS
There has been the usual amount of "shin-digs,"
"corroborees," or by whatever other name you
like to designate the social dance, in which
the Colvillites delight. Sleighing has been
good, and the young people have been kicking
their heels to the cheerful accompaniment
of the violin, and occasionally assuaging
thirst and laying the dust with a little of
the ardent.
DEATH's DOINGS
On the other hand there has been an unusual
amount of sickness, and Death has knocked at
more than one door in Colville during the
Winter. Mr. Jno. Duplessis, an old resident
farmer, died last week, after a protracted
illness. His funeral was largely and
respectably attended.
NEW FLOURING MILL
Mr. Meyers has built a new grist mill on the
site of the one formerly run by him, which
was in a very dilapidated state. Although
I have not seen it, I am informed that the
new structure is well and completely
finished and fitted with some useful improve-
ments on the old edifice, and is altogether
a credit to the owner and builders.
THE NEW RESERVATION
The Indian Reservation is, I believe, decided
on, the site to be at Killespelm. The
Indians are more favorably inclined toward
the proposal than they were at first, and if
they do not again (with the versatility
peculiar to great minds) change their "tum--
tums," I presume no difficulty need be appre-
hended in carrying out the proposed measures
of the Department, under the supervision of
Mr. Simms. I learn that work will be commenced
on the Reserve during the coming Spring,
but beyond that I can at present furnish
you with no more definite information con-
cerning the future intentions on the part
of the Government towards Mr. and Mrs. "Lo."
I fear you will find this rather a stupid
letter, but things are a little slow here
just now, and I have to cudgel my brain for
materials even to fill up such a yarn as
the present, but I hope you will take the
will for the deed, and when any more news
turns up you shall hear again from
CULTUS NANNITCH.
COLVILLE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY
Walla Walla Union
June,14, 1873
Walla Walla, W.T.
STILL SHAKING - A Gentleman just down
from the upper Columbia: informs us
that about a week ago they had quite
a severe shock of earthquake and that the
earth has continued to shake and tremble
at short intervals ever since the
big shake up last Fall. He says
that there is a large number of
Chinamen working on the bars along
the Columbia, but that the mines are
paying only small wages.
Colville, Washington
Spokesman Review
January 8, 1906 p-5
Spokane, Washington
60 EARTHQUAKES IN 1872
S. F. SHERWOOD OF COLVILLE
TELLS OF LIVELY SUMMER
Troops Paraded at Midnight After
Shock--Indians Left Country
--Rocks Fell.
COLVILLE, Wash. Jun. 7--S. F. Sherwood, who
has been for more than ten years a resident
of Stevens county and has been county auditor
for several terms. In commenting upon the
earthquake shock felt here last Tuesday
morning, states that in 1872 a series of 60
distinct shocks was felt here.
The first shock occurred just before mid- night, and was so severe that the soldiers at Fort Colville were ordered out of quarters. In the Wenatchee section loud reports were heard at intervals of once or twice a day during the summer, and the Indians were so much alarmed that they left that country temporarily.
At one point above Wenatchee the point of a heavy promontory was shaken from its place and plunged into the river, obliterat- ing the trail an the north side of the stream that had been traveled for many years by miners and trappers going north.
No particular damage was done by the earthquake, but it was severe enough to have damaged property at this time when the country is so much more advanced.