Individual Event Report
| Event #78 - Summary, and parameter estimates with source IDs |
| A small earthquake reported felt only in Port Townsend. There has been some confusion over the date of this earthquake. The Port Townsend paper reports it on Feb. 11, while papers in Olympia and Seattle and catalogs give it as the 18th. The Port Townsend paper says: " It lasted several seconds and was quite perceptibly felt. Indeed, it created considerable alarm in the minds of some for the terrible experience of San Francisco is not yet forgotten." |
| 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 |
| 1869 |
2 |
11 |
2 |
|
A |
L |
48.11 |
122.75 |
|
|
|
Port Townsend |
WA |
|
|
|
|
|
| LANGE - 2613 |
WWC - 1634 |
- |
- |
N-WaS - 1523 |
- |
Underlying Source Material
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 1634 |
Woodward Clyde Consultants, unpublished |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Woodward-Clyde Consultants (1981), Historical Catalog (1841-1980) for the Pacific Northwest Region, unpublished catalog prepared for the Washington Public Power Supply System.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: 18690218 48117-122755W R 01 |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 2613 |
Consultant's Report, Greg Lange, 2004 |
2004 |
|
Transcription:
Following are all of the references to earthquakes found in the Morning Oregonian from June 20 to July 9, 1869 that were not listed in your "June 1869 Puget Sound Earthquakes." Fort Stevens, mentioned in one of the clippings, refers to a fort on the south side of the mouth of the Columbia River (Clatsop County) that existed from 1863 till 1947. (Corning, Howard McKinley
(ed) Dictionary of Oregon History (Portland, OR: Binfords & Mort, 1956) p 89)
In "June 1869 Puget Sound Earthquakes" I noticed a typo to N-Ore 2518 "Atkins & Shundy's" should be "Atkins & Shoudy's" (Morning Oregonian (Portland) Tues June 29, 1869 Page 2 Col 4)
FROM THE NORTH. Olympia, June 22. - Sunday [June 20] afternoon last a slight shock of earthquake was felt here, and this morning [June 22] about five o'clock another heavier one was felt. The last was heavy enough to wake those who were sleeping. The vibrations were from south to north, and lasted about 4 seconds. (Morning Oregonian (Portland) Wed June 23, 1869 Page 2 Col 3)
FROM THE NORTH ... Steilacoom, June 22. - About 4:30 this morning quite
a heavy shock of earthquake was felt at this place, shaking the building and waking these [sic] who were sleeping. (Morning Oregonian (Portland) Wed June 23, 1869 Page 2 Col 3)
THE W.T. EARTHQUAKE. - Mr. A. G. White, who comes from the Sound, reports that at Pumphrey's Landing, he was told that one day after the earthquake was felt on the Sound, the Indians came in and reported that the shock was severe at Mt. Rainier and caused a heavy land slide, which was confirmed by the fact that the waters of the Cowlitz were very muddy on Monday [June 21] and were still rily [sic?] on Wednesday [June 23], when Mr. White was there. (Morning Oregonian (Portland) Fri June 25, 1869 Page 3 Col 2)
FROM VANCOUVER. - We clip the following items from the [Vancouver, WA] Register of Saturday [June 26]. - The reported earthquake on the Sound, turns out to be nothing but a land-slide from the southwest side of Mt. Rainier. (Morning Oregonian (Portland) Mon June 28, 1869 Page 3 Col 1)
FROM THE NORTH. VICTORIA, June 29. -- .... A light shock of earthquake was felt in this city about eight o'clock Saturday [June 26 (sic likely Sun June 27)] evening. (Morning Oregonian (Portland) Wed June 30, 1869 Page 2 Col 3)
COMING OUR WAY. - A letter from J. E. Semple, U.S.A., dated Ft Stevens, June 27, says: "A distinct shock of an earthquake, causing oscillation of
the houses and lasting about a second, was felt at this post this evening (Sunday, June 27) at 8 o'clock." The people of the Pacific coast may well begin to shiver in their boots, when this steady-going old Webfoot begins to quake. (Morning Oregonian (Portland) Wed June 30, 1869 Page 3 Col 1)
There were no reports of the June 27, 1869 earthquake felt in Walla Walla and
Portland Vancouver, WA unknown because the July 3-10, 1869 issues of the
Vancouver (WA) Register are missing.
[June 27, 1869] EARTHQUAKE. - Mother Nature is becoming impatient with
our lethargic disposition, and took an opportunity last evening [June 27] at
8:05 to shake us up. The peculier [sic] subterranean disturbance was distinctly
perceptible to a number of our citizens, but particularly so to Messrs Moore
& Co., whose shelves were partially emptied by the unaccustomed movement a
number of Porcelain lamps being tossed on the floor produced the impression by
the crash that an opening had arrived for the Colony. No other disasters were
heard of, up to going to press, but several dwell[ings?] are emptied by their
occupants in double quick time. (The Daily British Colonist and Victoria
Chronicle Monday June 28, 1869 Page 3 Col 3)
[June 27, 1869] EARTHQUAKE. - On Sunday evening [June 27], at 8
o’clock, a sharp shock of earthquake was felt in this city. The
oscillations were from North to South, and were plainly felt, causing alarm in
some instances. It is thought by many to have been the heaviest shock felt here.
We observe by the Olympia papers that the shock was felt there at the same time.
Col 1 (Daily British Columbian (Victoria) Tues June 29, 1869 p 3 col 1)
[June 27, 1869 and others] EARTHQUAKES. - The towns on the Sound have
been visited by several shocks of earthquake; the last shock felt was on Sunday,
the 27th. No damage was done beyond badly scaring the people, and in
many instances driving them from their houses. These earthquakes following so
quickly on the election of Garfielde go to show that even nature is disgusted
with the result. (Walla Walla Statesman July 2, 1869 P 2 col 1)
[June 27?, 1869] We learn from the Pacific Tribune that the second shocks of
earthquake experienced in Olympia were felt simultaneously in Victoria. So
violent was one of these, that goods were shaken from the shelves in the stores;
porcelain vases and china were being thrown upon the floor and broken. (The
Vancouver Register (Vancouver, WA) Sat July 17, 1869 p 3 col 1 NOTE Issues
before and after missing)
Dear Ruth,
I went ahead and looked up San Francisco papers for June 1869 earthquakes.
Following are the entries I found. I have looked through all of the papers in
Washington, Oregon, and San Francisco for the June 1869 quake. I apologize for
sending the transcriptions to you piecemeal, I wasn't intending to do all
of the research at once. I also found a references to another earthquake fish
kill (Sept 9, 1875) and a few late 1860s earthquakes.
Greg Lange
[June 22, 1869] "SEATTLE, June 21st. [sic? June 22] - A
light shock of earthquake was felt at 5 o'clock this morning." (Daily
Alta California June 23, 1869 p 1 col 7)
Re: Oregonian account referenced N-Ore 2518. Apparently in the "June
1869 Puget Sound Earthquakes" the Oregonian and the Chronicle accounts got
reversed. Below are the transcriptions of both:
OREGONIAN
"SEATTLE, June 28. - Another shock of earthquake occurred last
night [June 27] about eight o'clock, much heavier than before known in
this vicinity. All the buildings on a line through the center of the town,
commencing at the Occidental Hotel and terminating at Messrs. Atkins &
Shoudy's wharf, were quite perceptibly shaken. No damage was done."
(Morning Oregonian Tues June 29, 1869 Page 2 Col 3)
"OLYMPIA, June 28. - Another heavier shock of earthquake than the
one of Tuesday [June 22] morning last was felt here last evening [June 27] at
eight o'clock, bringing everybody into the street and causing much
excitement. Another lighter one was felt by many, about midnight." (Morning
Oregonian Tues June 29, 1869 Page 2 Col 4) [NOTE: With minor variations same
account is in The Corvallis Gazette Saturday July 10, 1869 p 1 col 6 and in
Daily Alta California Tues June 29, 1869 p 1 col 5]
CHRONICLE
SEATTLE. Another Heavy Earthquake Shock. SEATTLE, June 28th.
- Another shock of earthquake occurred last night [June 27], about eight
o'clock, much heavier than any before known in this vicinity. All the
buildings on a line through the center of the town, commencing at the Occidental
Hotel and terminating at Messrs. Atkins & Shundy's [sic
Shoudy's] wharf, were quite perceptibly shaken. No damage done.
OLYMPIA. Two More Shocks of Earthquake. OLYMPIA, June 28th.
- Another heavier shock of earthquake than the one of Tuesday [June 22]
was felt last evening [June 27], at eight o'clock, bringing everybody into
the street and causing much excitement. Another lighter one was felt by many
about midnight. (The Daily Morning Chronicle (San Francisco) Tues June 29, 1869
p 1 col 1)
[June 27, 1869] "Victoria, June 29th ..... A light shock
of earthquake was felt in this city about 8 o'clock on Saturday [June 26
sic? Sunday June 27?] evening." (The Daily Morning Chronicle (San
Francisco) Wed June 30, 1869 p 3 col 3) [Also in Daily Alta California Wed June
30, 1869 p 1 col 7]
[June 27, 1869] "Oregon Items. A earthquake shock was felt at Astoria on
the 27th." (The Daily Morning Chronicle (San Francisco) July 11,
1869 p 1 col 4)
This might be Historic Seismicity Catalog #121
ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE FISH KILL
[Sept 9, 1875 (Seattle)] EARTHQUAKE. - A shock of earthquake is said to
have been felt in this city at half-past 10 o'clock last night [Sept 9].
This morning hundreds of dead fish were found on the beach and floating on the
water near the wharves. (Daily Pacific Tribune (Seattle) Friday Sept 10, 1875 p
3 col 2)
[Sept. 9, 1875 (Olympia)] THE EARTHQUAKE felt here one night last week [Sept
9?] was also felt at Olympia, from the same direction as that experienced in
Seattle, but without the killing of the fish. (Daily Pacific Tribune (Seattle)
Thursday Sept 16, 1875 p 3 col 1) (NOTE I did not look up Olympia papers)
June 13, 1869 CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE
[June 13, 1869] A shock of earthquake was felt at Humbolt [CA] on the
13th of June, at 9:15 P.M. (Daily Alta California Thur July 1, 1869 p
1 col 7)
NEW EARTHQUAKE (not in catalog)
February 8, 1868 EARTHQUAKE
[February 8, 1868] We understood a shock of an earthquake was felt on the
Snohomish river on the evening of the 8th. A House was moved a number
of inches from its foundation. (Weekly Intelligencer (Seattle) Monday Feb 17,
1868 p 3 col 2)
Checked The Weekly Message (Port Townsend) Feb 6-20, 1868 No mention of a
earthquake
Historic Seismicity Catalog #72 (date change to February 11, 1869) (I found
no reference to Feb 18, 1869 earthquake. I suspect the confusion, over the date,
was created by the Weekly Intelligencer Feb 22, 1869 notice) February 11, 1869
EARTHQUAKE
[February 11, 1869] SHOCK OF AN EARTHQUAKE. - On Thursday morning last
[Feb 11, 1869], at about 2 o'clock, a shock of an earthquake was felt at
this place. It lasted several seconds and was quite perceptibly felt. Indeed, it
created considerable alarm in the minds of some for the terrible experience of
San Francisco is not yet forgotten. The Weekly Message (Port Townsend) Wed. Feb
17, 1869 P 3 col 1
[Apparently the following earthquake description is referring to the one
described above. I found no mention of an earthquake in the Wed Feb 24, 1869
issue of The Weekly Message (Port Townsend)] Shock of an Earthquake. On Thursday
morning last, the Message states, at about two o'clock, a shock of an
earthquake was felt at Port Townsend. It lasted several seconds, and was quite
perceptibly felt. Indeed, it created considerable alarm in the minds of some,
for the terrible experience of San Francisco is not yet forgotten. (Weekly
Intelligencer Monday Feb 22, 1869 p 3 col 1)
I checked Feb 10 to Feb 13, 1869 The Daily British Colonist and Victoria
Chronicle and Wednesday Feb 24, 1869 issue of The Weekly Message (Port
Townsend). No mention of earthquake.
NEW EARTHQUAKE (not in catalog)
September 23, 1869 EARTHQUAKE
[September 23, 1869] BRITISH COLUMBIA ITEMS. (From the British Colonist.)
..... A shock of earthquake was felt in Victoria about half past 11
o'clock on Thursday [Sept 23] night. The undulations were from northeast
to southwest, were quite sensible, and lasted for about a quarter of a minute.
(Weekly Intelligencer Monday Sept 27, 1869 p 3 col 4)
No mention of an earthquake in The Weekly Message (Port Townsend) Sept 22,
1869 to Oct 6, 1869 and The Daily British Colonist and Victoria Chronicle Sept
23 to Sept 28, 1869. |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 12 |
Rasmussen, Norman, 1967, Washington state earthquakes 1840 through 1965, BSSA V. 57, No. 3, pp. 463-476 |
1967 |
|
| Transcription: 12 1869 Feb. 18 - Port Townsend 12 slight |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 1523 |
Washington Standard |
1869 |
Feb 27, pg 2, c. 2, 1869 |
| Transcription: A slight shock of an earthquake was felt at Port Townsend on the 18th instant. |
| |
| Source ID |
Publication |
Pub Date |
Pub Details |
| 2409 |
Washington Public Power Supply System, "WPPSS Nuclear Project No. 2, Final Safety Analysis Report, Volume 1, Amendment 18"
September 1981 |
1981 |
Table 2.5-6 |
| Transcription: 1869 Feb 18 Port Townsend, Wash Slight. R |
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