Individual Event Report
| Event #545 - Summary, and parameter estimates with source IDs |
| A newspaper account indicates that this earthquake was probably closer to Astoria than to Portand. The Portland weather observers assigned RF Intensity III to this earthquake, while the Astoria observer called it "weak". However the Astoria Evening Budget report suggests an MM Intensity of about IV at Astoria, since it reports that of "persons awake and light sleepers ... large numbers noticed it plainly", and further reports that small objects were upset or thrown down from shelves, and a clock was stopped. It also states that the earthquake was felt in Vancouver, WA and at other points along the Columbia, but not recorded on the seismograph at Seattle. Additional newspaper accounts have not yet been researched. |
| 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 |
| 1920 |
11 |
9 |
20 |
20 |
|
G |
45.55 |
122.60 |
|
|
|
Portland |
OR |
III |
RF |
|
|
|
| RAS - 154 |
WWC - 1843 |
- |
- |
TA-OR - 539 |
- |
Underlying Source Material
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 539 |
Townley, S.D. and M.W. Allen, 1939, Descriptive Catalog of earthquakes of the Pacific Coast of the United States 1769 to 1928, Chapter II, Earthquakes in Oregon--1846-1928, BSSA, V. 29, No. 1, pp. 253-258. |
1939 |
|
| Transcription: 1920 November 9. 12:20 p.m. or 12:30 p.m. III? Portland. Felt by several; duration five seconds; time 12:20 p.m. At Astoria a weak shock was reported at 12:30 p.m.- MWR, 48, 681. |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 2269 |
Monthly Weather Review |
1920 |
V. 48, p. 681 |
Transcription: Date: November 9, 1920
Time (Greenwich Civil): 20:20
Location: Portland, Oregon
Latitude (deg., min.): 45 30
Longitude (deg.,min.): 122 40
RF Intensity: 3
Number of Shocks: 1
Duration (sec.): 5
Sounds: None
Remarks: Felt by many
Observer: E.H. Jones |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 154 |
Rasmussen, Norman, 1967, Washington state earthquakes 1840 through 1965, BSSA V. 57, No. 3, pp. 463-476 |
1967 |
|
| Transcription: 154 1920 Nov. 9 20:20 Portland, Ore. III 3 |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 6052 |
The Post-Intelligencer |
1920 |
Nov., 10, Wednesday, A329 p1 c2 |
Transcription: PORTLAND FEELS EARTH SHAKE A BIT
By Associated Press
Portland, Or., Nov. 9 Pictures were shaken and loose objects slightly moved by an earthquake shock here at 12.15 last night. Many persons today reported that they had felt sic tremors, distinct though light, with an east to west movement. |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 1359 |
Berg and Baker, 1963, Oregon Earthquakes, 1841 through 1958, BSSA, V. 53, No. 1, pp. 95-108 |
1963 |
|
| Transcription: 1920 Nov 9 20:20:-- Nov 9 12:20 pm (PST) Portland III 10;O/Nov 9,1920, 1:4 12:20 pm (PST) (10). From the report in the Oregonian, however, it would appear to be 00:20 am (PST). (O/Nov 9, 1920, 1:4) |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 394 |
Byerly, Perry, 1952, Pacific Coast Earthquakes, Condon Lecture, pp. 33-38 |
1952 |
U.W. Library, N979 B991p, Special Collections) |
| Transcription: 1920, November 9 Portland. Felt by several; duration five seconds. |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 1843 |
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: 192011 92020000 45550-122600W III BB 3 01 |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 2274 |
Monthly Weather Review |
1920 |
V. 48, p. 740 |
Transcription: Date:November 9, 1920
Time (Greenwich Civil): 20 40
Location: Astoria, Oregon
Latitude (deg., min.): 46 10
Longitude (deg.,min.): 123 50
RF Intensity: Weak
Number of Shocks:
Duration (sec.):
Sounds:
Remarks: Felt by several
Observer:C.C. Rosenberg |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 6051 |
The Oregonian |
1920 |
Nov., 10, Wednesday, A145 p24 c3 |
Transcription: ASTORIA FEELS QUAKE
Tremor So Slight, However, That Few Persons Knew It
Astoria, Or., Nov. 9 [Special] Several Astoria residents felt an earthquake shock at about 12.25 this morning. The tremor was so slight, however, that few persons realized what it was. The wave appeared to travel from the east. |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 6049 |
Blaine Journal |
1920 |
Nov.,12, A4086, p1 c1 |
Transcription: TREMOR IS REPORTED IN PORTLAND
Portland, Or. What as believed to have been a slight earthquake occurred in Portland at 12.15 o’clock Tuesday morning. The tremors, which were felt by numerous persons, continued for about 15 seconds, but no damage was done so far as was reported. |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 6050 |
Clarke County Sun |
1920 |
Nov., 12, A5920, p1 c5 |
| Transcription: They say we had an earthquake. It occurred at 12.15 Tuesday morning about the time the mayoralty campaign closed |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 631 |
Reid, unpub., Scrapbook and Cardfile, on microfilm at USGS in Menlo Park |
|
|
| Transcription: Portland & northern Oregon early 26 Nov, 1920 Georget. disp. Evidently erroneous date. See card for Nov. 28, 1920 |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 630 |
Reid, unpub., Scrapbook and Cardfile, on microfilm at USGS in Menlo Park |
|
|
| Transcription: Portland PST 12:20 pm 9 Nov, 1920 GMT 20h 20m III duration 5 seconds Georg. disp.; MWR |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 2090 |
Astoria Evening Budget |
1920 |
November 9, 1920, p. 1. Reference provided by Bruce Berney, Director, Astoria Public Library, in a letter dated 12/6/1990 |
Transcription: EARTHQUAKE SHAKES CITY; NO DAMAGE DONE BY SLIGHT TREMOR
Rare Temblor also reported from Portland -
Local residents feel shaking at 12:30 this morning as phenomenon visits points on the Columbia River -
No damage reported by cities throughout state -
Disturbance not felt by instruments in Seattle is counted as superficial --
At 12:25 last night persons awake and light sleepers observed the visitation of a strange swaying and trembling of the earth and other points along the Columbia River. But a few of the persons who reported the disturbance this morning were aware of the cause of the midnight tremor but large numbers noticed it plainly.
No damage whatever has been reported here or in the other cities where the tremblor was distinctly felt.
But a few of the persons who reported the disturbance this morning were aware of the cause of the midnight tremor but large numbers noticed it plainly.
This is the first shock of the sort which has been reported in Astoria or northern Oregon within the memory of residents of Astoria and it scarcely enters the class of real earthquakes, the disturbance having been entirely local and unnoted as far north as Seattle even by the delicate seismographic instruments at the University of Washington.
Clock is overturned.
Both Richard and R.R. Carruthers report having felt the shock in their respective homes last night. Richard Carruthers was awakened by the shock but only fully enough to feel the end of the tremor. In the house of his brother, however, a clock was thrown to the floor from a chair and sufficient din created to awaken the sleepers sufficiently to realise the presence of the quake.
W.H. Fellman also reported observance of the shock, which woke him from his sleep about 12:30 by casting a pile of blocks left erected by his son to the floor and also which set other movable articles about the house in motion.
Steve Willetts, manager of the Liberty theater, felt the rocking motion of the quake last night but was not fully convinced of the reality of the tremblor until this morning when he read the dispatch from Portland in the office of The Budget telling of the visitation of the phenomenon in that city.
The shutting off of the lights of the city at an early hour this morning was not due in any way to the quake as was rumored this morning. The power lines supplying the city from Hammond mill were shut down for a short time this morning due to the blowing out of the packing about the valve stems in the steam plant of the mill. This accident, which caused no injuries or damages, interrupted the steam line for a time and necessitated cutting off the power to Astoria for a short time before day break.
With unerring instinct, from having experienced some 18 earthquake shocks in California, C.A. Lawton, secretary of Astoria Lodge of Moose, classified the short seismical disturbance of last night, as belonging to the category of shimmies de terre.
Clock Stops at 12:21
Mr. Lawton was seated at his desk at the Moose club when he experienced a jar emanating from the east, he says, which caused the iron gate separating the office from the club rooms to rattle vigorously and resulted in the clock on his desk stopping at exactly 12:21 o'clock, which he fixes as the exact instant that the temblor was felt in Astoria, "I recognized instantly that Astoria, for the first time in my knowledge, had experienced a real through minor earthquake shock," said Mr. Lawton in speaking of his experience of last night.
Watchman Reports Rumbling
Thomas Loughery, night watchman at the pier 1 of the port terminals, ways that he felt no shock and the warehouse did not tremble, but about 12:30 this morning he heard a rumbling as though some heavy object had fallen. Loughery made an investigation, but could find nothing disturbed.
PORTLAND, Nov. 9 -- Portland was shaken by what is believed to have been a slight earthquake shortly after midnight last night.
The tremor which shook furniture, dishes and the pictures on the walls of homes, continued about 10 seconds. Not even slight damage has been reported.
The trembling last night was felt at Vancouver, Wash. A message to the United Press from Seattle stated that Seismograph at the University of Washington did not register any tremor.
The trembling was "merely a temblor of the earth's crust, not what one ordinarily speaks of as an earthquake," according to Dr. Daniels, science professor of Hill Military Academy here. |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 7113 |
Pacific County Historical Society and Museum “Columbia River Chronology Historical Dates”
www.pacificcohistory.org/columbia.htm |
|
|
Transcription: EARTHQUAKE EVENTS LISTED IN THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE
Pacific County Historical Society and Museum “Columbia River Chronology Historical Dates”
www.pacificcohistory.org/columbia.htm
Note: Citations are given for each entry but bibliography is not available at this time per discussion with Pacific County Historical Society.
[SW WASHINGTON EARTHQUAKES]
December 2, 1841 earthquake near Ft Vancouver Washington (Wong and Bott p 128)
December 23, 1854 tsunami recorded at Astoria (Lander p 121)
December 24, 1854 tsunami recorded at Astoria (Lander p 121)
April 3, 1868 tsunami recorded at Astoria (Lander p 122)
August 14, 1868 tsunami recorded at Astoria (Lander p 123)
August 23, 1872 teletsunami recorded at Astoria (Lander p 24, 47)
October 12, 1877 earthquake tremors felt in Astoria oscillating from east to west (Daily Astorian October 13, 1877 p 1)
December 12, 1880 2 earthquakes shocks felt (Daily Astorian [Dec?] 14, 1880 p 3; Algermissen and Harding)
April 30, 1882 Severe tremors (Daily Astorian May 2, 1882 p 3) Daily Astorian May 3, 1882 p 3 mentions that earthquake was felt in Westport and Ft Canby about 10:30 pm [on] April 30. Daily Astorian May 4, 1882 tells that 3 shocks vibrated from SW to NE on April 30.
March 27, 1884 earthquake felt in Hoquiam (Workman p 38)
November 30, 1891 slight earthquake on Grays Harbor (Workman p 49)
February 2, 1892 earthquake in Astoria (Bott and Wong p 118)
February 26, 1895 earthquake hits Astoria (Daily Morning Astorian p 4)
August 6, 1899 earthquake hits Astoria (Astoria Daily Budget August 8, 1899 p 4)
November 20, 1899 tidal wave at Shoalwater Bay (Astoria Daily Budget November 20, 1899 p 4)
September 12, 1903 quake hits city (Astoria Daily Budget p 4)
March 16, 1904 Earthquake felt along Washington Coast and in Aberdeen, Hoquiam (Lander p 59, 127 not mentioned in Astoria newspapers)
March 30, 1904 possible tsunami off Washington coast caused flooding (Lander p 19 not mentioned in Astoria newspapers)
January 11, 1909 Grays Harbor Earthquake (Workman p 68)
November 9, 1920 earthquake hits Astoria (Astoria Budget p 1)
November 29, 1920 slight earthquake hits Astoria (Astoria Budget p 1) |
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