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Cascadia Historic Earthquake Catalog, 1793-1929
Covering Washington, Oregon and Southern British Columbia

Provided by: The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network
About the Cascadia Historic Earthquake Catalog       One-line catalog format

1793-1849 .... 1850s .... 1860s .... 1870s .... 1880s .... 1890s .... 1900s .... 1910s .... 1920s .... 1930s (not complete) .... Other Cascadia Catalogs

  
Individual Event Report
Event #157 - Summary, and parameter estimates with source IDs                                           
Sources for this event indicate that it was felt in Seattle, Tacoma, Puyallup, and Olympia, and Port Townsend, as well as on Bainbridge Island. Persons were reported to have fled into the streets in Seattle, but no damage was reported. Previous catalogs indicated that this event was located at Bainbridge Island because the weather observer there reported feeling six earthquakes. His report: "December, 1880: Earthquakes as follows: 7th at 5:45 p. m. -- Direction north to south, motion wavy. 10th at 5 a. m. -- motion perpendicular. 12th at 8:40 p. m. -- north to south, wavy. 14th at 7 p.m. -- tremulous. 26th at 10:16 p. m. -- wavy. 29th at 11:25 p. m. --also wavy. All of the above very distinct, but not severe. Rather pleasant, than otherwise, Riley M. Hoskinson, observer." suggests little difference in shaking intensity between the several events in the sequence. On the basis of newspaper accounts, it is obvious that the most widely felt earthquake of this series was on December 12, and that the December 7 earthquake was also felt over a considerable area . It seems possible that the larger events originated elsewhere in the Puget Sound region, rather than on Bainbridge Island.
TIME LOCATION MAGNITUDE MAX. INTENSITY FELT AREA
YR MO DAY HR MIN AM/PM Time
Type
LAT(N) LON(W) DEP
(km)
MAG Mag
Type
Felt
Plc.
Felt
St.
Inten-
sity
Int.
Type
Felt
Area
Felt
Area
Int.
Felt
Area
Units
1880  12  54    47.50  122.50        Olympia  WA           
RAS - 36 WWC - 1658 - - RAS - 36 -

Underlying Source Material
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2558  Puget Sound Weekly Argus  1880  Dec. 10, 1880, A 455; In "Brief Local Items" column 
Transcription: A SLIGHT shock of earthquake was felt in this place on Tuesday afternoon, just before six o'clock.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2118  U. S. Weather Bureau Climatological Records, for the State of Washington  1819-1892  National Archives Microfilm Copy T907, Roll Nos. 530-537, 1819-1892 - Bainbridge Island, Kitsap County - Riley Hoskinson-handwritten weather forms. Researched by Gerald Elfendahl, curator, Bainbridge Island Hist. Soc. 
Transcription: From Roll No. 530:
Bainbridge Island, Kitsap County - Riley Hoskinson

"December, 1880: Earthquakes as follows:
7th at 5:45 p. m. -- Direction north to south, motion wavy.
10th at 5 a. m. -- motion perpendicular.
12th at 8:40 p. m. -- north to south, wavy.
14th at 7 p.m. -- tremulous.
20th at 10:16 p. m. -- wavy.
29th at 11:25 p. m. --also wavy.
All of the above very distinct, but not severe. Rather pleasant, than otherwise, Riley M. Hoskinson, observer."
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2566  The Seattle Weekly Post  1880  Dec. 17, 1880 
Transcription: [Four separate items on a single page [RSL]]

Last Sunday night just before the shock of the earthquake a gentleman who was standing on the sidewalk near the Weed property, witnessed a very singular sight. It seemed to be two very large balls of fire that appeared in the clear sky s short distance apart and hung as in balance an instant, and then darted down and toward each other until they crashed and disappeared. A moment afterwards came the shock. Whether there was any connection between the two occurrences or not we are unable to say, but it was certainly a very strange phenomena.


From Mr. Atkinson who came down from Newcastle last evening, we learn that the earthquake at that place Sunday evening was not near so heavy as the one of last Tuesday, while at this place the last Sunday's shake was much more severe.

Port Townsend News: Dec. 13, 1880; EDITOR DAILY POST: Last evening about 8:30 p.m., a severe shock of earthquake was experienced here which lasted for a few seconds. Instead of the usual rumbling it seemed as if a heavy blow had been struck which caused timbers to creak in dwelling houses.


From the Daily of Thursday:
Now that earthquakes are becoming so numerous that we are familiar with them, and on fair speaking terms, they bring up reminiscences of experiences elsewhere. A gentleman of this city, in speaking upon this interesting topic yesterday, said that he was in Callao some years ago, when the last great earthquake and tidal wave created such havoc and terror. He was aboard a powerfully built man of war when the shocks began, and as they grew in terrific violence, the sun became obscured and so remained for t hours. The inhabitants, although accustomed to earthquake visits, were terrified beyond any conceivable description. The sea, moving uneasily, was lashed into awful mountain waves which came rolling in from …
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
7063  Consultant's Report, Greg Lange, 2004  2004   
Transcription: September 26, 1864 EVENTS

September 26, 1864 12:45 to 1:00 AM numerous sources
September 26, 1964 (Victoria) “between 5 and 6” AM (British Colonist September 27, 1964 p 3 col. 1)
October 29, 1864 (Victoria) about 6:55 AM (British Colonist October 31, 1864 p 3 col. 1 and November 3, 1864 p 3 col. 1 and November 7, 1864 p 3 col. 2)


Newspapers examined -
Puget Sound Herald (Steilacoom) - September 9, 1864 to October 24, 1864 (Issued every two weeks - complete) Note: No local news in November 7, 1864 issue
Pacific Tribune (Olympia) - September 10, 1864 to November 19, 1864 (Weekly - Missing October 29 else complete)
Washington Standard (Olympia) - September 10, 1864 to November 12, 1864 (Weekly - complete)
Statesman (Walla Walla) - September 23, 1864 to October 28, 1864 (Weekly - over half of text too light to read else complete)
Oregonian (Portland) - September 26, 1864 to October 10, 1864 (6 days a week - Oct. 1, 1864 missing else complete)
The Daily British Colonist (Victoria) - September 1, 1864 to November 11, 1864 (6 days a week - Missing November 10 else complete)
The British Columbian (New Westminster) - September 3, 1864 to November 23, 1864 (2 times per week - complete)
Statesman (Walla Walla) September 23 to October 28, 1864 (Weekly - most of text too light to read else complete)
*
Seattle Gazette - September, October, November 1864 issues are too dark to read on microfilm reel
____________________________________________________________________________________________

June 20-27, 1869 EVENTS

June 20, 1869 (Olympia) “about” 4 PM (Olympia Transcript June 26, 1869 p 3 col. 1) Other sources state in afternoon or during day.
June 21, 1869 [sic June 22] (Olympia) “a few minutes before” 5 AM (Olympia Transcript June 26, 1869 p 3 col. 1)
June 22, 1869 (Olympia) 4:30 to 5:00 AM. (Weekly Pacific Tribune June 26, 1869 p 3 col. 2) (Territorial Republican June 28, 1869 p 3 col. 1) (Morning Oregonian June 23, 1869 p 2 col 3) (Olympia Transcript June 26, 1869 p 3 col. 1)
June 23, 1869 [sic June 22] (Olympia) “about 5” AM. (Washington Standard June 26, 1869 p 2 col. 1)
June 27, 1869 8:00 to 8:05 PM numerous sources.
June 28, 1869 (Olympia) midnight (Oregonian June 29, 1869 p 2 col. 4)



Newspapers examined -
Daily British Colonist (Victoria) June 19, 1869 to July 6, 1869 (6 days a week - complete)
Daily British Columbian (Victoria) June 19, 1869 to July 3, 1869 (6 days a week - complete)
Washington Standard (Olympia) June 12, 1869 to July 31, 1869 (Weekly - complete)
Weekly Intelligencer (Seattle) June 21, 1869 to August 2, 1869 (Weekly - complete)
Morning Oregonian (Portland) June 21, 1869 to June 24, 1869 and June 28, 1869 to June 30, 1869 (6 days a week - complete)
Weekly Pacific Tribune (Olympia) June 26, 1869 to August 7, 1869 (Weekly - complete)
Port Townsend Weekly Message July 7, 1869 (Weekly - only issue, June issue missing)
Olympia Transcript June 26, 1869 and July 3, 1869 (Weekly)
Western Star (Steilacoom) July 17, 31, 1869 (only two issues)
Territorial Republican (Olympia) June 21, 1869 to July 12, 1869 (Weekly - complete)
_______________________________________________________________

December 7-19, 1880 EVENTS


December 7, 1880 5:55 to about 6:00 PM numerous sources
December 7 to 13, 1880 (Olympia) “six shakes within a week, three of which occured [sic] in the space of five hours last night” (Morning Oregonian December 15, 1880 p 1 col. 5)
December 12, 1880 (Portland) about 8:00 PM “a few minutes before 8 o’clock several lively vibrations were felt … and about an hour later quite a heavy shock was felt…” (Democratic Press December 16, 1880 p 2 col. 2)
December 12, 1880 8:00 PM, 8:30 to 8:47 PM, 9:00 PM numerous sources
December 13, 1880 (Olympia) evening “three [shakes] … occured [sic] in the space of five hours last night” (Morning Oregonian December 15, 1880 p 1 col. 5)
December 13, 1880 (New Tacoma) Evening (Weekly Ledger December 17, 1880)
December 19, 1880 (Vancouver, W.T.) Evening (Vancouver Independent December 23, 1880 p. 5 col. 2)



Newspapers examined -
Puget Sound Weekly Courier (Olympia) November 26, 1880 to January 7, 1881 (weekly - complete)
Democratic Press (Port Townsend) November 25, 1880 to December 30, 1880 (weekly - complete) Note: January 6, 1881 issue of Democratic Press missing
Puget Sound Argus (Port Townsend) November 26, 1880 to January 7, 1881 (weekly - complete)
Weekly Tacoma Ledger November 25, 1880 to February 18, 1881 (weekly - February 11, 1881 missing else complete)
Vancouver Independent (W.T.) December 2, 1880 to December 30, 1880 (weekly - complete)
Yakima Record December 4, 1880 to January 8, 1881 (weekly - January 1, 1881 missing else complete)
Oregonian (Portland) December 7, 1880 to January 4, 1881 (6 times per week - complete)
Washington Standard (Olympia) December 4 [sic 3], 1880 to January 28, 1881 (weekly - complete)
Seattle Weekly Post December 3, 1880 to January 28, 1881 (weekly - missing December 10, 24, 1880 and January 7, 1881 else complete)
Walla Walla Union December 11, 1880 to January 1, 1881 (weekly - complete)
New Northwest (Portland) December 9, 1880 to December 23, 1880 (weekly - complete)
*
Statesman (Walla Walla) UW reel missing
Willamette Farmer December 1880 (issues missing/not published)
Olympia Transcript (issues missing/not published)
Seattle Daily Intelligencer (December 4, 1880 to June 8, 1881 issues missing/not published)
Weekly Intelligencer (Seattle) (issues missing/not published)
Puget Sound Dispatch (Seattle) (issues missing/not published)
Tacoma Herald (issues missing/not published)
Fair Words (Olympia) (issues missing/not published)
________________________________________________________________________

April 30, 1882 EVENT and week following

April 30, 1882 10:40 PM to 11:05 PM numerous accounts
May 1-6, 1882 (Olympia) “Two or three slight shocks have also been felt during the week.” ( (Olympia Transcript May 6, 1882 p. 3 col. 1)
May 10, 1882 “Portland had three distinct shocks of an earthquake last Wednesday.” (Seattle Daily Chronicle May 15, 1882 p. 3 col. 2) NOTE: Check Portland papers to verify




Newspapers examined -
Olympia Transcript - April 22, 1882 to June 3, 1882 (Weekly - complete)
Washington Standard (Olympia) - April 21, 1882 to June 2, 1882 (Weekly - complete)
Seattle Daily Chronicle - April 21, 1882 to May 22, 1882 (6 days a week - complete)
Weekly Ledger (Tacoma) - April 21, 1882; April 28, 1882; June 2, 1882 (Wkly - only available issues)
Puget Sound Weekly Courier (Olympia) - April 21, 1882 to June 2, 1882 (Weekly - complete)
Seattle Post Intelligencer - April 20, 1882 to May 20, 1882 (6 times per week - complete)
*
Seattle Daily Herald (issues missing/not published)
Weekly Herald (Tacoma) (issues missing/not published)
________________________________________________________
March 7, 1891 EVENT

March 7, 1891 7:35 to 7:54 PM numerous sources

Newspapers examined -
Seattle Telegraph February 26, 1891 to April 9, 1891 (weekly - complete)
Tacoma Weekly News March 6, 1891 to March 20, 1891 (weekly - March 6, 1891 missing)
Tacoma Daily News March 9, 1891 to March 19, 1891 (6 times per week - complete)
Tacoma Morning Globe March 8, 1891 to March 13, 1891 (daily? - complete)
Tacoma Daily Ledger March 8, 1891 to March 11, 1891 (daily - complete)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer March 8, 1891 to March 17, 1891 (daily - complete)
Ellensburgh Capital March 5, 1891 to April 2, 1891 (weekly - complete)
Ellensburgh Localizer March 7, 1891 to March 28, 1891 (weekly - complete)
Snohomish Daily Sun March 2, 1891 to March 18, 1891 (6 times per week - complete)
*
Steilacoom News UW microfilm reel missing
Buckley Banner (issues missing/not published)
Tacoma Evening Call (issues missing/not published)
Tacoma Herald (issues missing/not published)
___________________________________________________________
November 24 to 29, 1891 EVENTS

November 24, 1891 (North Bend, Snoqualmie Pass) night (Seattle Telegraph November 28, 1891 p 3 col. 1)
November 29, 1891 (Seattle) “about 9” AM (Seattle Post Intelligencer November 30, 1891 p 8) NOTE: Only one witness
November 29, 1891 3:13 to 3:20, 3:35 PM numerous sources

Newspapers examined -
Sunday Herald (Tacoma) November 22, 1891 to December 6, 1891 (weekly - complete)
Tacoma Daily Ledger November 20, 1891 to November 30, 1891 (daily - complete) Note December 1891 issues missing/not published
Tacoma Daily News November 20, 1891 to December 3, 1891 (6 times per week & Thanksgiving on November 26, 1891 not published - complete)
Tacoma Morning Globe November 20, 1891 to December 4, 1891 (daily - complete)
Tacoma Evening Call November 20, 1891 to December 2, 1891 (6 times per week & Thanksgiving on November 26, 1891 not published - complete)
Seattle Telegraph November 20, 1891 to December 9, 1891 (6 times per week - complete Note: portions of December 5 too dark to read)
Ellensburg Capital November 19, 1891 to December 10, 1891 (weekly - complete)
Everett News December 11, 1891 to December 25, 1891 (weekly - complete) Note December 4, 1891 missing
Anacortes American November 19, 1891 to December 17, 1891 (weekly - complete)
Anacortes American December 5, 7, 11, 1891 (daily - only issues)
Seattle Press Times November 21, 1891 to December 12, 1891 (6 times per week - complete)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer December 20, 1891 to December 8, 1891 (daily - complete)
Anacortes Progress December 11, 1891 (weekly - only issue) Note December 4 & 18, 1891 missing/not published
*
Snohomish Daily Sun (issues missing/not published)
Snohomish Weekly Sun (issues missing/not published)
Port Townsend Leader (issues missing/not published)
Island County Times (issues missing/not published)
Ellensburg Localizer All issues missing/not published during November and December 1891)
______________________________________________________________________________
February 25, 1895 EVENTS

February 14, 1895 (no time) (Silver Creek, Lewis County) (see below)
February 25, 1895 4:30 to 4:50 AM numerous sources
February 25, 1895 (Fulton, east Lewis County) 4:45 AM (initial shock at 4:30 AM “followed by a slight shock fifteen minutes later” (Chehalis Bee March 1, 1895 p 2 col. 3)

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES
Feb 14, 1895 “Silver Creek, Lewis Co.: Slight earthquake shock on the 14th.” (Washington State Weather Service. Monthly Meteorological Report and Summary of the Washington State Weather Service Volume 4 #8 February 1895 p. 1)
Feb 25, 1895 “An earthquake shock was quite generally noticed in Western and Central Washington on the morning of the 25th about 4:30 o’clock.” “Ashford, Pierce co: Quite a severe earthquake occurred here on the twenty fifth at 4:27 A.M.” “Centerville, Klickitat Co: Feb. 25th, at half past four A.M., two earthquake shocks were felt very distinctly, one following immediately after the other. The first was stronger than the second.” (Washington State Weather Service. Monthly Meteorological Report and Summary of the Washington State Weather Service Volume 4 #8 February 1895 p. 1)

Newspapers examined -
Washington Standard (Olympia) February 22, 1895 to March 8, 1895 (weekly - complete)
Chehalis Nuggett February 22, 1895 to March 8, 1895 (weekly - complete)
Chehalis Bee March 1, 1895 to March 22, 1895 (weekly - complete)
People’s Advocate (Chehalis) February 22, 1895 to March 8, 1895 (weekly - complete)
Oregonian (Portland) February 18, 1895 to March 1, 1895 (daily - complete)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer February 26, 1895 to February 28, 1895 (daily - complete)
Sumner Herald (Pierce County) February 22, 1895 to March 22, 1895 (weekly - missing March 8, 22, 1895 else complete)
White River Journal (Kent) February 23, 1895 to March 9, 1895 (weekly - compete)
Aberdeen Herald February 21, 1895 to March 7, 1895 (weekly - complete)
Tacoma Herald February 16, 1895 to March 9, 1895 (weekly - complete)
Seattle Press Times February 25, 1895 to February 27, 1895 (daily - February 26, 1895 missing/not published else complete)
Palladium (Olympia) February 20, 1895 to March 20, 1895 (weekly - complete)
Snohomish County Tribune (Snohomish) March 1, 1895 to March 29, 1895 (weekly - complete)
*
Washingtonian (Hoquiam) UW microfilm reel missing
________________________________________________________________
March 13 to 16, 1903 EVENTS


March 13, 1903 6:21-6:40 PM numerous sources
March 16, 1903 (Tacoma) evening (Tacoma Semi Weekly News March 17, 1903 p 4 col 2) NOTE: Need to confirm by looking at other Tacoma newspapers.

ADDITIONAL ENTRY
Mar 13, 1903 Earthquake Shocks - Centralia, Grand Mound, Olympia, Seattle (Weather Bureau, US Department of Agriculture. Washington Section of the Climate and Crop Service of the Weather Bureau (Seattle, Weather Bureau) volume 6 #10 March 1903)


Newspapers examined -
Snohomish County Tribune (Snohomish) March 6, 1903 to March 27, 1903 (weekly - complete)
Washington Standard (Olympia) March 13, 1903 to April 17, 1903 (weekly - complete)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer March 14, 1903 to March 17, 1903 (daily - complete)
Port Orchard Independent March 7, 1903 to March 21, 1903 (weekly - complete)
White River Journal (Kent) March 7, 1903 to March 21, 1903 (weekly - complete)
Kitsap County Herald (Poulsbo) March 13, 1903 to March 20, 1903 (weekly - complete)
Tacoma Semi Weekly News March 13, 1903 to March 24, 1903 (2 times per week - complete)
Willapa Harbor Pilot (South Bend) March 20, 1903 to March 27, 1903 (weekly - complete)
*
Everett Herald UW microfilm copy very dark, unable to read
Index Miner (issues missing/not published)
Issaquah Independent (issues missing/not published)
Daily News Searchlight (Bremerton) (issues missing/not published)
Chehalis Bee Nugget (issues missing/not published)
Peoples Advocate (Chehalis) (issues missing/not published)
Olympia Chronicle (issues missing/not published)
Weekly Capital (Olympia) (issues missing/not published)
Spectator (Tacoma) (issues missing/not published)
Tacoma Times (issues missing/not published)
Union Record (Tacoma) (issues missing/not published)
Tacoma Daily News (issues missing/not published)
____________________________________________________________

September 5 to 11, 1903 EVENTS


September 5, 1903 (Castle Rock) “morning” (Tacoma Daily News September 12, 1903 p 2 col. 4) (Seattle Post-Intelligencer p. 1 col. 4)
September 11, 1903 3:30 to 3:50, 4:20 PM numerous sources

ADDITIONAL ENTRY
Sept 11, 1903 Earthquake Shocks - La Center at 3:50 p.m., South Bend at 3:30 pm (Weather Bureau, US Department of Agriculture. Washington Section of the Climate and Crop Service of the Weather Bureau (Seattle, Weather Bureau) volume 7 #4 September 1903)



Newspapers examined -
Skamania County Pioneer (Stevenson) September 3, 1903 to September 24, 1903 (weekly - complete)
Oregonian (Portland) September 12, 1903 to September 14, 1903 (daily - complete)
Willapa Harbor Pilot (South Bend) September 11, 1903 to September 25, 1903 (weekly - complete)
Kitsap County Herald (Poulsbo) September 11, 1903 to September 25, 1893 (weekly - complete)
Seattle Times September 12, 1903 only
Kitsap County Review (Bremerton) November 14 & 21, 1903 (weekly)
White River Journal (Kent) September 5, 1903 to September 19, 1903 (weekly - complete)
Tacoma Semi Weekly News September 8, 1903 to September 18, 1903 (twice a week - complete)
Port Orchard Independent September 12, 1903 to September 19, 1903 (weekly)
Tacoma Daily News September 11, 1903 to September 14, 1903 (6 times per week - complete)
Washington Standard (Olympia) September 11, 1903 to September 18, 1903 (weekly)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer September 12, 1903 to September 15, 1903 (daily - complete)
Buckley Banner September 11, 1903 to September 25, 1903 (weekly - Sept 18 missing else complete)
Aberdeen Herald September 14, 1903 to September 21, 1903 (2 times per week - complete)
*
Weekly Chronicle (Olympia) (issues missing/not published)
Weekly Capital (Olympia) (issues missing/not published)
Tacoma Times (issues missing/not published)
Sumner Index (issues missing/not published)
Sumner Herald (issues missing/not published)
Olympia Chronicle (issues missing/not published)
Issaquah Independent (issues missing/not published)
Chehalis Bee Nugget (issues missing/not published)
Daily Spectator (Tacoma) (issues missing/not published)
People’s Advocate (Chehalis) (issues missing/not published)
_________________________________________________________________

January 11 to February 8, 1909 EVENTS


January 11, 1909 3:30 to 4:30 PM Numerous sources
January 11, 1909 (Lopez) First tremor 4:30 PM Second tremor 20 minutes later (4:50 PM) (Friday Harbor Journal Jan 14, 1909 p 8 col. 4)
January 11, 1909 (Olga) First tremor 3:40 PM. Second tremor 40 minutes later (4:30 PM) (San Juan Islander January 16, 1909 p 8 col. 2)
January 11, 1909 (Friday Harbor) 10 PM (San Juan Islander January 16, 1909 p 1 col. 6)
January 11-12, 1909 (evening) (East Sound) “During the night there was a succession of light shocks …” (San Juan Islander January 16, 1909 p 8 col. 1)
January 12, 1909 (Friday Harbor) 12 midnight (San Juan Islander January 16, 1909 p 1 col. 6)
January 14, 1909 (Lopez) night “distant tremor … felt Thursday night” (Jan 14) “Several [tremors] have been reported since Monday.” (Friday Harbor Journal Jan 21, 1909 p 8 col. 6)
January 16, 1909 (East Sound) 7:25 PM (Friday Harbor Journal Jan 21, 1909 p 8 col. 4)
January 29, 1909 (West Sound) 3 AM (Friday Harbor Journal Feb 4, 1909 p 8 col. 3) (Lopez) 3:30 AM (Friday Harbor Journal February 4, 1909 p 8 col. 5)
February 4, 1909 (Lopez) 1:40 AM (Friday Harbor Journal February 11, 1909 p 8 col. 5)
February 8, 1909 (West Sound) Monday (Feb 8) night (Friday Harbor Journal February 11, 1909 p 8 col. 4)


ADDITIONAL ENTRIES
Jan 11, 1909 Earthquakes - Anacortes, Baker, Bellingham, Blaine, Coupeville, East Sound, Granite Falls, Olga, Olympia, Port Townsend, Vashon Island (Weather Bureau, US Department of Agriculture. Washington Section of the Climatological Service of the Weather Bureau (Portland Oregon, Weather Bureau) volume 13 #1 January 1909)
Jan 21, 1909 Earthquakes - Lakeside, Rex Creek [Chelan County] (Weather Bureau, US Department of Agriculture. Washington Section of the Climatological Service of the Weather Bureau (Portland Oregon, Weather Bureau) volume 13 #1 January 1909)

Newspapers examined -
San Juan Islander (Friday Harbor) January 7, 1909 to February 12, 1909 (weekly - Jan 30, 1909 missing else complete)
Friday Harbor Journal January 7, 1909 to March 4, 1909 (weekly - complete)
Anacortes American January 7, 1909 to February 11, 1909 (weekly - complete)
American Reville (Bellingham) January 10, 1909 to January 30, 1909 (6 times per week - complete)
Everett Herald January 11, 1909 to January 18, 1909 (6 times per week - complete)
Arlington Times January 16, 1909 to February 13, 1909 (weekly - complete)
*
Island County Times (Coupeville) (issues missing/not published)
Blaine Journal (January 1909 issues missing/not published)
_________________________________________________________

July 29, 1913 EVENT


July 29, 1913 (Mt Rainier) 8:15 AM (Tacoma Daily News July 29, 1913 p 1 col 1; July 30, 1913 p 2 col 4) (Tacoma Tribune July 30, 1913 p 1 col. 1) (Buckley Banner Aug 1, 1913 p 3 col 2)

Newspapers examined -
Puyallup Herald August 1, 1913 to August 15, 1913 (Weekly - complete)
Buckley Banner July 25, 1913 to August 15, 1913 (Weekly - complete)
Sumner Index July 25, 1913 to August 8, 1913 (Weekly - complete)
Washington Standard (Olympia) August 1 & 8, 1913 (Weekly)
Tacoma Daily News July 29, 30, 1913 (Daily)
Tacoma Tribune July 29, 1913 & July 30, 1913 (page 1 only)
*
Lewis County Clarion (Centralia) (July-August 1913 issues missing/not published)
Tacoma Times (July-August 1913 issues missing/not published)
Tacoma Daily Ledger (July-August 1913 issues missing/not published)
Olympia Chronicle (July-August 1913 issues missing/not published)
Washington Saturday Review (July-August 1913 issues missing/not published)
Morton Mirror (issues missing/not published)
________________________________________________________
November 21, 1916 EVENT


November 21, 1916 (Everett, Anacortes) 11:30 AM numerous sources



Newspapers examined -
Arlington Times November 16, 1916 to November 30, 1916 (weekly - November 16, 1916 missing)
Concrete Herald November 18, 1916 to December 6, 1916 (weekly - complete)
Everett Herald November 21, 22, 1916 (daily)
Oak Harbor News November 24, 1916 to December 1, 1916 (weekly)
Anacortes American November 16, 1916 to December 7, 1916 (weekly - complete)
Friday Harbor Journal November 23, 30, 1916 (weekly)
*
Skagit News (Mount Vernon) (issues missing/not published)
Mount Vernon Herald (issues missing/not published)
Mount Vernon Argus (issues missing/not published)
Skagit County Times (issues missing/not published)
Guemes Beachcomber (issues missing/not published)
___________________________________________________
January 23 to 24, 1920 EVENTS


January 23, 1920 (Victoria, BC) 9:00 PM Recorded on Victoria seismograph (unknown if felt by residents) (Anacortes American January 29, 1920 p 1 col. 5-6)
January 23, 1920 11:00 to 11:12 PM numerous sources
January 24, 1920 (Victoria, BC) 2:00 AM Recorded on Victoria seismograph (unknown if felt by residents) (Anacortes American January 29, 1920 p 1 col. 5-6)



Newspapers examined -
Friday Harbor Journal January 29 & February 5, 1920. Also March 1920 weather summary in March 4, 1920 issue (weekly)
Anacortes American January 22, 1920 to February 12, 1920 (weekly - complete) February 19, 1920 page one only (rest of issue missing)
Port Townsend Weekly Leader January 29, 1920 to February 19, 1920 (weekly - complete)
Oak Harbor News January 16, 1920 (weekly - last issue)
Island County Farm Bureau News (Oak Harbor) January 23, 1920 to February 13, 1920 (weekly - complete)
*
Port Angeles Daily Herald (issues missing/not published)
Mount Vernon Daily Herald (issues missing/not published)
Bellingham American (issues missing/not published)
Stanwood News (issues missing/not published)
_________________________________________________________-
December 4, 1926 EVENT

December 4, 1926 5:55 to 5:57 AM numerous sources



Newspapers examined -
Friday Harbor Journal December 2, 1926 to December 30, 1926 (weekly - complete)
Anacortes American December 9, 1926 to December 23, 1926 (weekly - complete)
Port Townsend Leader December 3, 1926 to December 17, 1926 (weekly - complete)
Bellingham American December 4, 1926 only issue examined
*
Anacortes Daily Mercury (issues missing/not published)
Olympic Tribune (Port Angeles) (issues missing/not published)
____________________________________________________________
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
7008  Washington Standard  1880  Dec. 10, 1880, Fri., p. 4, c. 6 
Transcription: Seattle was disturbed by a distinct shock of earthquake, Tuesday evening. It consisted of three vibrations from east to west in rapid succession.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2034  Leslie M. Scott, Memoranda of the Files of the Oregonian 1850-1910, Oregon Historical Society  1910  Unpublished index to the Oregonian 
Transcription: at Tacoma, Dec. 7, 1880
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2560  Washington Standard  1880  Dec. 10, 1880. In "Mere Mention" column 
Transcription: A very perceptible shock of an earthquake was felt in this place, Tuesday evening at a few minutes before 6 o'clock. The vibration seemed to be east and west and lasted over half a minute.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
842  Reid 2, unpub., Scrapbook and Cardfile, on microfilm at USGS in Menlo Park     
Transcription: Olympia 5:54p December 7, 1880 N- S; Several seconds duration.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2562  Weekly Ledger  1880  Dec. 10, 1880. A 6135 
Transcription: Earthquake
Last Tuesday evening, at 5:55 a sharp earthquake shock was experienced at New Tacoma. It lasted about three seconds, and the vibrations were north and south. The tremor was so strong that numerous persons fled into the streets; hanging lamps vibrated violently and crockery rattled on the shelves. At Puyallup the shock was felt more sensibly than here.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
7007  The Democratic Press  1880  Dec. 9, 1880, Thurs., p. 3, c. 1 
Transcription: The earthquake Tuesday night was felt likewise at Seattle and Tacoma.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
7009  Morning Oregonian  1880  Dec. 10, 1880, Fri., p. 3, c.2 
Transcription: Seattle was disturbed by a distinct shock of earthquake. Tuesday evening. It consisted of three vibrations from east to west in rapid succession.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
454  Holden, Edward S., 1887, List of Recorded Earthquakes in California, Lower California, Oregon, and Washington Territory  1887  Printed by Direction of the Regents of the University of California, Sacremento, California, 
Transcription: 1880. December 7; 5:54 p.m. Olympia, W.T.; also at Bainbridge Island, W.T.--C.G.R.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
1542  Puget Sound Weekly Courier  1880  December 10, 1880, Friday News Items 
Transcription: A very distinct earthquake shock was felt in this place about 6 o'clock Tuesday evening, no damage was done.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2563  Weekly Ledger  1880  Dec. 17, 1880. A 6135; In "General News" column 
Transcription: In "General News" column [RSL]
The earthquake last Sunday night was felt in Portland; and at all points of the Sound country.

In "Thurston County" Column [RSL]
The sensitive nerves of some of our citizens were shocked by the vibration of the earth last Tuesday evening about six o'clock. It happened too early in the evening to furnish us incidents of interest to relate. The windows and doors on Main street rattled quite distinctly, while in east Olympia the shock was hardly perceptible.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
36  Rasmussen, Norman, 1967, Washington state earthquakes 1840 through 1965, BSSA V. 57, No. 3, pp. 463-476  1967   
Transcription: 36 1880 Dec. 8 01:54 Olympia-Bainbridge Is. 4,12 felt
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
1541  Democratic Press  1880  December 16, 1880, Thursday. 
Transcription: EARTHQUAKE A General Shake-up All Over The Northwest

Last Sunday evening about 8:30 o'clock Port Townsend and vicinity was visited by an earthquake which lasted about 10 or 11 seconds. The shocks were plainly felt by many of our citizens and were more severe than the shocks felt on Tuesday previous. Prof. Kerr was in his room at the Cosmopolitan hotel when the commotion took place and supposing something unusual was going on downstairs he rushed down to see what was the matter but found everything was quiet then he became a convinced that it was an earthquake. At Mr. Ben Pettygrove's place about a mile out of town, the children who were in bed commenced crying and calling their mother and telling her that the house was shaking so that they were afraid it would fall. At Chimscum the shocks were quite violent and so frightened some that they ran out of the house. At Seattle according to the Post, the shocks were violent enough to cause a chimney to fall, and in that office lines of type were "pied" and lamps vibrated six to eight inches out of the perpendicular each way. The congregation in the Presbyterian church sprang to their feet but were quieted before a general panic took place. Dogs in the street howled and horses endeavored to escape from their stalls. As far as we can learn the shocks were distinctly felt at every town on the Sound, but no damage resulted there from.
In Portland a few minutes before 8 o'clock several lively vibrations were felt in the various parts of the city, and about an hour later quite a heavy shock was felt both in Portland and East Portland. The shock was felt on the Columbia river at Astoria, and in fact all over the Northwest.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
1238  Holden, E.S., 1898, A Catalog of Earthquakes on the Pacific Coast 1769-1897, Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, 1087  1898   
Transcription: 1880. December 7? 5:54 P.M. Olympia. W.T.; also at Bainbridge Island. W.T.___C.G.R. December 6 (IV).___P.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
217  Bradford, Donald C., 1935, Seismic History of the Puget Sound Basin, BSSA, V. 25, No. 2, pp. 138-153  1935   
Transcription: 1880 December 7 ?, 5:54 p.m.; Olympia; also at Bainbridge Island. C.G.R. (December 6, IV); P.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
2475  Coombs, H.A., W.G. Milne, O.W. Nuttli, and D.B. Slemmons, "Report of the Review Panel on the December 14, 1872 earthquake",  1976  Appendix D: Selected Supporting Information -- Professor Plummer's Paper on "Recent Volcanic Activity" Read before the Academy of Science - Tacoma Ledger - February 28, 1893 
Transcription: (This is part of an 8 page article - see the WPPSS table for entire text RSL 7/1995)

On Monday, the 7th of December, 1880, at 5:45 p.m.,
strong shocks were felt throughout the Sound country. The
testimony is conflicting as to its direction, but it was either
from Mount Tacoma or from Mount Baker. The Weekly Intelligencer published at Seattle said in its issue of the following day that "It consisted of three vibrations in rapid sucession. People rushed into the streets from stores, restaurants and saloons." No damage resulted there from so far as could be learned. The vibrations were from east to west and felt in all parts of the city and also along the water front. Captain Ballard of the Zephyr states that he was in his office writing when the steamer was off Milton point and he felt the shocks very distinctly. The steamer rocked as though in a rough sea, and he supposed the commotion was caused by the wave of a passing steamer and did not learn the real cause until he arrived in port fifteen minutes afterward. The Chinese portion of the population were the most frightened and it was an hour or two after the shock before they subsided and stopped their jabbering.

On the following Sunday, the 12th of December, at about
9 o'clock in the evening the entire region of 200 miles around
Mount Tacoma experienced a series of sharp earthquakes which were accompanied by deep rumblings. The ground seemed to wiggle and twist and cause many panics in churches, hotels and houses.

Dishes were shaken from pantry shelves, clocks were stopped and several lamps were overturned, but no very serious damage resulted. At Tacoma the engineer of a switch locomotive, who was doing some work under his engine, was startled by the loud ringing of the bell and called lustily to the fire-man not to start the locomotive. The ringing of a church bell caused an alarm of fire to be spread. In the Puyallup and Stuck valleys the motion was described as waving and like the swell from the sea. Witnesses near Sumner state that they could distinctly hear the approach and passage of the shocks and were conscious of their direction and that they came from Mount Tacoma. The chimneys of hop-kilns suffered by the shocks and some buildings were strained.

In the latter part of the same month a Whatcom County paper said a "high meteor was observed to descend upon the Chuckanut Mountains, near Samish, a few days ago which illuminated the heavens and made the earth plainly resound to its striking. It was probably a rocket from the fireworks of Mount Baker, which was said to be in a state of eruption at the time."

A clipping from a Seattle paper dated December 21, 1880, states that considerable excitement was caused yesterday afternoon by the announcement.that smoke was issuing from one of the prominent peaks of the coast range of mountains. Hundreds of people lined the streets to witness the strange phenomena, A volume of white smoke could plainly be seen rising from the peaks much as smoke does from the smokestack of steamer, and after ascending a short distance would be scattered as if by the wind. Many brought glasses to bear on the object under discussion, and the prevailing opinion seemed to be that a new volcano in a state of eruption had been discovered, while others throught it might be mist or fog rising from the gulches in the mountains and looking much like smoke."
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
1054  Townley, S. D. and M. W. Allen, 1939, Descriptive Catalog of Earthquakes of the Pacific Coast of the United States 1769-1928, Chap. III Earthquakes in Washington, 1883-1928, BSSA, V. 29, No. 1, pp. 259-268  1939   
Transcription: 1880 December 7? 5:54 p.m. Olympia; also at Bainbridge Island [Kitsap Co.].-CGR. [Am. Jour. Sci., 3d ser., 21, 202.] December 6, IV.-P.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
1537  The Oregonian  1880  Dec 9, 1880, Thurs., pg 3, c. 1 
Transcription: 1880, December 7. Tacoma.

From passengers who arrived last evening on the Kalama boat, we learn that a shock of earthquake was felt at New Tacoma at six o'clock Tuesday evening. The wave was from north to south, and the oscillations lasted several seconds. Dishes, lamps and earthenware were rattled, but there was no damage worthy of mention. Buildings on the hill felt the shock much keener than those bordering the bay.
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
689  Reid, unpub., Scrapbook and Cardfile, on microfilm at USGS in Menlo Park     
Transcription: Olympia & Bainbridge Island 5:54 pm 7 Dec, 1880 Slight. Several seconds duration. -Am Jr Sc III-XXI pg 202
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
1658  Woodward Clyde Consultants, unpublished  1981  Woodward-Clyde Consultants (1981), Historical Catalog (1841-1980) for the Pacific Northwest Region, unpublished catalog prepared for the Washington Public Power Supply System. Copy provided to UW in 1993. 
Transcription: 188012 80154000 47500-122500W R 01
 
Source ID Publication Pub Date Pub Details
1205  The American Journal of Science  1881  Vol. XXI, Nos. 121-126, January to June 1881, page 202 
Transcription: Rockwood, C. G. "Notices of Recent American Earthquakes", THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, VOL. XXI, Nos. 121-126, January to June 1881, p. 202.

December 7, 1880 - At 5:45 P. M. a slight shock from the S. W. at Olympia, W. T., lasting a few seconds; felt also at Bainbridge Island, where the direction was N. to S.

December 10 - A shock at 5 A. M. at Bainbridge Island, W. T., motion perpendicular (U. S. Weather Review).

December 12 - About 8:40 P. M. a severe shock occurred in the vicinity of Puget Sound, W. T. It was felt from Victoria on the north to Portland on the south. At Olympia four shocks were reported, lasting ten or fifteen seconds. At Seattle the direction was S.E. to N.W.; at Bainbridge Island it was N. to S.

December 14, 20 - Slight shocks were felt at Bainbridge Island, W. T., at 7 P. M. of the 14th, and 11:16 P. M. of the 20th (U. S. Weather Review).
 


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