The 1872 North Cascades Earthquake
Washington Reporting Localities



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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Pen-a-wawa, Washington


Data Source             Date                            Code        Remarks

Walla Walla States- December 21, 1872 A observations of man C.C. Cram.



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.




Pen-a-wawa, Washington
Walla Walla Statesman
Dec. 21, 1872

FURTHER OF THE EARTHQUAKE--Hon. C.C. Cram,

just down from Pen-a-wawa, Snake River, informs us that the shock of the earthquake at that place was very severe. A couple of young men, who have established a trading post at Pen-a-wawa, were asleep in their cabin at the time of the first shock, and, thinking that Indians were about, seized their guns, and rushed to the door. Looking all around, and failing to see Indians, they were at a loss to know what the rumpus meant. Another shock, and the swaying of the wood pile and they concluded that the Indians were trying to overturn the wood, and so they discharged their fire-arms, but still no Indians in sight. They then went a short distance below, to Mr. Cram's camp, and there learned that it was an earthquake they had mistaken for an Indian attack. Mr. Cram informs us that at Pen-a-wawa seven distinct shocks were felt, and that the force was so great as to throw dishes from the shelves, and generally disarrange domestic , utensils. One man, who was resting on the ground, said that it lifted him two feet in the air, and, at the moment, confessed to being badly freight- ened. The accounts that reach us seem to indicate that the farther north, the greater the severity of the earthquake. There is a report that, up in the Spokane country, the earth opened, and swallowed up a number of Indians and their horses. This, doubtless, is an exaggeration, but one thing is certain, the whole interior basin had a rough shake. ____________________________________________________________ _____________


ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Pine Grove, Washington


Data Source             Date                  	Code  	       Remarks


Walla Walla Statesman December 21, 1872 A Similar description appears as dispatch in Idaho Signal, December 28, 1872, not included in this compilation.
Additional Aftershock Report from Coombs et al, 1976 [RSL 8/9/1999]

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.



Pine Grove, W.T.
Dec. 15th, 1872
Walla Walla Statesman Dec. 21, 1872

EDITOR STATESMAN:--At ten minutes to ten o'clock, P.M., a terrible shock of earthquake was felt at Pine Grove. It threw chickens from their roosts, and caused large log houses to oscillate like a ship in a storm on the ocean. The shock was so terrific, that it knocked most of my goods off my shelving, breaking crockery ware, etc., in consequence of which I am considerably out and injured. However, I am thankful it was no worse. Yours, W.L. MONTAGUE ____________________________________________________________ _____________


ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Port Discovery, Washington


Data Source             Date		Code        Remarks


Puget Sound Daily December 19, 1872 B not plotted Courier

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.




Port Discovery, Washington
DAILY PUGET SOUND COURIER: Olympia, Washington
December 19, 1872

"...a lady in Port Discovery, sitting by her parlor table, was frightened wonderfully, I finding one side of her rocking chair rising and lowering several times in a few minutes.'


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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Port Gamble, Washington


Data Source             Date         Code        Remarks


Daily Pacific Tribune December 16, 1872 A *The Weekly Echo December 19, 1872


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.



Port Gamble, W. T.
Daily Pacific Tribune
Dec. 16, 1872 pg 2
Seattle, Washington

Down the Sound the sensations were much the same as those experienced here. At Port Gamble things were pretty well shaken up. The Teekalet Hotel was so jarred and tilted from side to side as to terrify the inmates, who rushed out of doors fear- ing the building would fall and crush them. One lady there from Olympia screamed at the top of her voice and became incapable of helping herself. She got half-way down the stair-case when her strength failed her and she found herself unable either to get up or down. The people were generally alarmed afraid to sleep in their own houses, and many thinking it safer, went down to the ships and steamers at the wharves to spend the remainder of the night on board.



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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Port Madison, Washington


Data Source             Date         Code        Remarks

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.




Port Madison, Washington 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.

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. ____________________________________________________________ _____________


ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Port Townsend, Washington


Data Source             Date         Code        Remarks

The Weekly Echo December 19, 1872 B Washington Standard December 21, 1872 B Oregonian December 27, 1872 B aftershock on 20 December


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.


The Weekly Echo December 19, 1872 Olympia, WT
Port Townsend, Washington

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.
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 270, 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 firs heavy shocks, two light ones were felt; lighter ones were also felt at 12 o'clock, I 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 and if 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.

Port Townsend, Washington
Washington Standard
December 21, 1872
Olympia, WT
Its Extent

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.

*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.



Port Townsend, W. T.
Oregonian
December 27, 1872
Portland, Oregon


Port Townsend advises of the 20th report another slight shock of an earthquake of that date.

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ACCOUNTS EVALUATED
Puyallup, Washington


Data Source             Date         		Code        Remarks

Daily Pacific Tribune December 16, 1872 B The Weekly Echo December 19, 1872 B Washington Standard December 21, 1872 A Oregonian December 23, 1872 A The Dalles Mountaineer February 1,1873 B *The Olympia Transcript February 1,1873 c See Weekly Intelligencer Weekly Intelligencer February 3,1873 B aftershocks
Additional Info and Aftershock Reports from Coombs et al, 1976 [RSL 8/9/1999]




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.




The Puyallup, W. T.
Daily Pacific Tribune
Dec. 16, 1872 pg 2
Seattle, Washington

On the Puyallup, some thirty miles north, we are informed, the shock was very heavy.




Puyallup, Washington
The 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.

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 270, 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 u ' o 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.



Washington Standard
December 21, 1872
Olympia, WT
Page 3

Puyallup, Washington

Its Extent

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

4,

or the firing of artillery, sometimes accompanies or proceeds the movements.

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.



Puyallup, W. T.
Oregonian
December 23, 1872 p. 1
Portland, Oregon

Territories

Puyallup Reservation, W. T., last Saturday night the Siwash congregated by the ring- ing of the bells and endeavored to allay the territorial commotion by prayer and various methods of mamooking closh tantum with the Sakalie Tyee. The water in the river lashed the banks in a manner frightful to the natives.



Puyallup, W. T.
The Dalles Mountaineer
Feb. 1, 1873, page 3
The Dalles, Oregon

The-Territories.

Mount Rainier was furiously smoking at sunset on the 19th inst., as seen from the Puyallup valley, W.T. On the 14th, one shock of earthquake was felt and on the 17th three shocks at the same place.

A friend telegraphs to the Olympia Transcript that the chimney of Mr. Baker's house in Stuck valley, Pierce county, W.T., was thrown down by an earthquake shock on the 10th inst. On Thursday, the 22d in t, six shocks occurred at noon. The thermometer stood at 59



Puyallup, W. T.
Weekly Intelligencer
(Seattle) Feb. 3, 1873
(Monday), p 3

PUYALLUP VALLEY.---Earthquakes in the Puyallup valley continue, and are almost of daily occurrence. On the 16th, at 2:30 P.M., a shock was felt, which, it is stated, over- threw a chimney on the house of a Mr. Baker, living in Stuck Valley. On the 18th inst., four shocks were distinctly felt, and on the night of the 19th two shocks were observed by persons in various parts of the valley. On the 22nd, a series of vibrations were felt, begin- ning at 12 o'clock and continuing nine minutes, during which time six distinct shocks were felt. The Messrs. Stone are earnestly pros- ecuting the work of removing the obstructions to navigation in the Puyallup river. As soon as the river is opened, we understand that some parties in the valley intend to get out and ship, to some point on the Sound, cotton-wood timber in the form of blocks or cord-wood, for the San Francisco market, to be used as stave material.---Steilacoom Express, Jan. 30th.