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| Hand-written weather records | Port Townsend, WA | submitted by Ms. Betty J. Pfouts, Research Librarian, Jefferson County Historical Society, Port Townsend, WA | 1904 Mar. 16 8:19 PM Earthquake 1907 July 28 2:20 AM Earthquake quite heavy 1909 Jun. 11 3:48 PM Earthquake very heavy 1925 Feb. 10 2:30 AM Earthquake 1929 April 22 6:18 PM Sl. earthquake 1932 July 17 10: PM Sl. earthquake 1936 July 24 9:25 PM Sl. earthquake 1939 Nov. 12 11:45 PM "Quite a tremor" 1915 Earthquake written in different writing on July misc. phenomena page and no date or time. [RSL 8/1995 - the date of Jun. 11 1909 appears to be an error. This entry must refer to the earthquake of *Jan* 11, 1909.] |
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| Reid, unpub., Scrapbook and Cardfile, on microfilm at USGS in Menlo Park | Puget Sound Region & B.C. PST 8:17 pm 16 March, 1904 GMT 4h 17m 17 March, 1904 VI, direction E-W, dura- tion 12 seconds -Newspapers; S.B. II pg 30; correspondence 3 shocks within 20 seconds. See WA card. | |||
| Reid, unpub., Scrapbook and Cardfile, on microfilm at USGS in Menlo Park | Puget Sound region, Victoria, BC PST 8:17 pm 16 March, 1904 GMT 4h 17m 17 March, 1904 VI Direction E-W duration 12 seconds -SB II pg 30; correspondence 3 shocks within 20 seconds. Origin about middle of Puget Sound, WA; felt over an area of about 20,000 sq mi but only reported in Seattle VI; Victoria, BC V; Port Townsend, Everett, Port Angeles & Bother (Bothell ?), WA Very small record on Vic- toria seismograph which however fixes time pretty clearly at 8:17. Rivers west of Olympia Mts said to have been ponded up but this seems doubtful an no further news has been re- ceived regarding them. | |||
| Reid 2, unpub., Scrapbook and Cardfile, on microfilm at USGS in Menlo Park | Puget Sound Region 8:17p March 16, 1904 VI E-W; Three shocks within twenty seconds. Duration 12 seconds. Felt over an area of 20,000 sq. mi. | |||
| San Juan Islander | Friday Harbor, WA | (Weekly), Saturday March 19, 1904; pg 3, col 5 | OLD EARTH QUAKED Quite a severe Shock in Puget Sound Country Seattle, March 17-- An earthquake of unusual violence for this section was felt throughout Northwestern Washington about 8:20 o'clock last night. In Seattle the disturbance was the most severe experienced in years, and in the smaller towns of the Northwest the shock was so severe that people fled from their homes to the streets. Two distinct shocks, the second of greater violence than the first, occurred, rocking buildings and causing uneasiness, but doing no damage. The earthquake was not felt as far south as Portland nor in North Yakima on the East, British Columbia towns, however, report it. |
1904 |
| Hoquiam, Washingtonian | Hoquiam, WA | Thursday March 17, 1904; pg 1, col 5 | EARTHQUAKE LAST NIGHT Felt Over Northwest. traveled from East to (sic) Shock lasted Five seconds. Plainly Felt in This City Just at 21 minutes past 8 o'clock last night a slight earthquake passed over this city. It traveled from east to west and lasted but a few seconds. In some residences of this city dishes rattled loudly and nervous people were badly frightened. No damage was done whatever. A warm rain began falling immediately. No further shock was felt during the night. The shock was general over Western Washington. Seattle seems to have felt it worse than other points of the state. NO DAMAGE AT TACOMA Tacoma, March 17-- A fair sized earhquake visited the city at 8 o'clock last night. It traveled from east to west and shook things up generally, though no great damage was done. PANIC AT SEATTLE Seattle, March 17-- An earthquake traveling from east to west struck Seattle at a few minutes past 8 o'clock last night and did some little damage. In one of the small churches where services were being held a small panic was caused. People screamed with fright to get out of the house. EVERETT FELT IT TOO Everett, March 17-- An earthquake shook the town last night but no damage was done except to frighten people. LASTED FIVE SECONDS Olympia, March 17-- At 8 o'clock last night an earthquake traveling from east to west shook the Capital (sic?) city pretty jively (sic?). Dishes were rattled but no damage done. The disturbance lasted five seconds and resulted in badly scaring nervous people. UP IN BRITISH COLUMBIA Victoria, B.C., March 17-- Last night a few minutes past 8 o'clock an earthquake visited this city. It was of short duration and no damage was done. |
1904 |
| Aberdeen Herald, Arlington Times, Blaine Journal, Friday Harbour San Juan Islander, and Coupeville Island County Times | WA | Notes of Garry Rogers, PGC, personal communication, 1990 | (Synopsis of Newspaper articles for event of March 16, 1904 - Notes of Dr. G.C. Rogers, Pacific Geoscience Centre, Geological survey of Canada, personal communication 1993 - RSL) From UW Library: Aberdeen Herald (report from Seattle): Not felt in Portland or Yakima "Quite a severe quake in Puget Sound County". no mention of being felt locally. Arlington Times: 2 distnict shocks, "buildings swayed", "gentle undulating motion" "bottles in drugstore rattled", some cases of doors being flung open Blaine Journal: no mention at all in March 18, 1904 Friday Harbor San Juan Islander: no mention locally, only repeated story from Seattle and other papers Coupeville Island County Times: 2 distinct shocks were felt, jar very noticeable shaking up things generally. |
1904 |
| Everett Daily Herald | Everett, WA | March 17, 1904; pg 1, col 3; pg 8, col 4 | EVERETT SHOCKED BY EARTHQUAKE SEISMIC DISTURBANCE STARTLED THE CITY EARLY LAST EVENING TREMOR WAS A HEAVY ONE Buildings Swayed and People Rushed Out of Doors to See What Was Happening For the first time in years a very decided earthquake shock was felt in Everett last night at 8:19 o'clock. The vibrations lasted about fifteen seconds, and were noticed in all parts of the city. The disturbance seemed to run from the southwest to the northeast. There were three distinct vibrations, the last one being most severe. It was accompanied by a distinctively audible rumble similar to that which follows a deep peal of thunder. Buildings swayed perceptibly, window and dishes rattled, and the people ran out of doors to learn what was happening. At the First Methodist church where a large audience had gathered to listen to the lecture of Dr. Winship the shock was not noticed; neither was it observed at the police station a block away. It was felt all along Hewitt avenue, and was especially strong in the north end of the city. At the Monte Cristo hotel windows were shaken violently and the shock was also felt on the waterfront at the Weyerhaeuser and other mills. At the Labor temple where the trades' council was in session the windows shook so that a delegation went out to see who was throwing stones at them. The shock was especially felt by those in brick buildings, but it was not noticed by people on the streets. In several homes on Rucker avenue near Hewitt, children who had gone to bed were awakened by the disturbance and with their parents ran from the houses to see what the unknown danger was. The vibrations were severe on North Summit avenue and there people also left their homes to see what was going on. City Clerk Mitchell, who was at his home on North Broadway reading, when he felt the first vibration at once recognized what it was and pulling out his watch "called time". He says that the first shock occurred at exactly 8:19 and that they lasted from ten to fifteen seconds. Most of the "new comers" from the East were alarmed by the disturbance and supposed at first that it was the result of some explosion, but residents who have lived on the Pacific coast for any length of time knew what it was. Covered Sound Country According to telegraphic reports the earthquake was confined entirely to the Puget Sound country. It was felt as far south as Olympia but did not reach Portland. The vibrations were felt in Victoria and Vancouver but not as distinctly as they were here. Everett and Seattle seem to be at the center of the disturbance, although Tacoma and Olympia were startled. It was not felt east of the mountains, but reports from various points in the Cascades indicate that it was heavier there than on the Sound. Such shocks are of comparatively frequent occurrence in the Cascades. Three years ago there was one in the vicinity of Darrington that was severe enough to loosen rocks from their beds on White Horse mountain and cause them to roll down into the valleys but it was not felt in Everett. |
1904 |
| Kitsap County Herald, Poulsbo (weekly) | Poulsbo, WA | Friday March 18, 1904; V 4, N 12, p 4, c 1 | A slight shock of earthquake was felt Wednesday evening about o'clock. Some did not notice it but some claim it was quite hard. | 1904 |
| Seattle Post Intelligencer | Seattle, WA | Thursday March 17, 1904; V. XLV, N. 124, p. 1, c. 1 | EARTH SHAKES WITH VIOLENCE One of the Severest Disturbances Ever Felt in the Northwest Two distinct Shocks, the Second Greater than the First, Rock Buildings and Cause Alarm An earthquake of unusual violence was felt throughout Northwestern Washington about 8:20 o'clock last night. In Seattle the disturbance was the most severe experienced in years, and in the smaller towns of the Northwest the shock was so severe that people fled their homes to the streets. Two distinct shocks, the second of greater violence than the first, occurred, rocking buildings and causing uneasiness to all who were indoors, but doing no damage to property interests. Even the shipping on the Sound felt the shock. The earthquake was not felt as far south as Portland nor in North Yakima on the east. British Columbia towns, however, report it. SEATTLE PEOPLE RUSH FROM HOMES INTO STREET In Seattle the earthquake shook bottles from drug store shelves, rattled windows in the buildings, burst open doors in some portions of the town, drove frightened women and children into the streets and made itself most severely felt in the taller buildings, where bookshelves were moved from the walls and desks displaced. It was one of the most severe shocks ever felt in Seattle, yet did no serious damage. A big congregation in the Church of the Immaculate Conception was badly frightened by the disturbance. A scream from a woman in the gallery was followed by a stampede toward the doors, which stopped before it became serious. in the other churches holding services last night and at the smaller theaters which were open the audiences were startled, but remained in their seats. Sick Patients Frightened At the hospitals frightened patients leaped from their cots and stood screaming with terror in the center of the room. Other patients, less nervous in temperament, noticed the shock and were badly startled, but the nurses quieted them and no serious effect was experienced. In the large apartment houses and familly hotels women and children occupying the rooms on upper floors ran from their floor to the ground, fearing the effect of the earthquake. Frightened groups of boarders stood about the corridors, fearful lest a repetition of the disturbance might come. The severity of the shock was beyond the comprehension of most Seattle people. Capt. W. H. Ferguson, who is stopping at the Lincoln and has traveled extensively along the equator and has experienced 101 other earhtquakes, declared last night the disturbance was the most severe he had ever felt. Distrust in Small Buildings Few pedestrians could believe an earthquake had been felt, but in even the smaller buildings the quake was distinct. In Lang's drug store located on First Avenue, in the Colman building, one of the most solid in the city, a bottle was shaken from the shelf and Guy's drug store reported a similar experience. A cable car standing at Yesler and Occidental was not affected, and passengers on the incoming interurban train, which was south of Georgetown at the time, were incredulous when told of the shocks. Two Shocks Felt Two distinct shocks were felt in Seattle. The first, lighter than the second, was of but a few seconds duration, but the second lasted three times as long. Estimates of the time of the shock vary from 8:18 to 8:20, and the same variance is shown in the telegraphic reports from points outside Seattle. It was in the higher buildings of Seattle that the shock was most severe. On the top floor of the New York building, bookcases swayed to and fro, crashing into the walls of the building with a report that could be heard distinctly in adjoining rooms. Chairs were shaken out of position and the floor seemed to rise and fall with the motion of a vessel tossed by a storm. Judge Osborn, working at a desk in his office, leaped to his feet at the first shock and rushed into the center of the room to escape what appeared to be certain danger from the swaying book shelves. Lively in the Lincoln In the Lincoln, on the upper floors, a similar effect was shown. Bookcases were shaken from the walls and chandeliers rocked as though struck with considerable force. Lamps rattled and chairs slipped out of position. The same condition existed in other down-town buildings, the severity of the shock varying with the height from the ground. Reports from Queen Anne Hill indicate that the most severe effect was felt in that section of the city. Windows in houses rattled and doors swung open. Dishes resting precariously near the edge of shelves crashed to the floor and the floors rocked and swayed. A rocking sensation that tended to produce nausea was experienced. In the Broadway district a violent shock lasting, it is estimated, ten seconds, was experienced. No serious damage occurred in the district, but frightened residents rushed to the streets. A big crowd congregated in the streets near Olive and Minor after the first shock was felt. Beds and other furniture were disturbed and the severity of the disturbance caused alarm. On Madrona heights and elsewhere along the lake front the disturbance caused alarm among the people residing in the district. The shock seemed to be more than ten seconds duration and the second was much more violent than the first. From Fifth and Bell streets came a report last night that a single shock was experienced in the neighborhood, while at Third and Battery two distinct shocks were felt. It is probablt that the slight intermission between the two shocks could not be recognized by many and led to the confusion. Severe at West Seattle Telephone messages from West Seattle indicate the severity of the shock in that portion of the city was sufficient to alarm many people. The duration of the disturbance did not exceed that felt in the city, but apparently the effect was more startling. From the fact that the motion was of a lateral character Dr. Gordon, head of the geological department of the state university, concludes the origin of the disturbance was some distance from Seattle. He explained last night that in the immediate vicinity of the cause of the disturbance a vertical movement of the earth resulted while sections removed from the scene show a lateral motion of the earth. On the Water Front Local shipping did not escape the sensation of the earthquake shock. People on vessels of the mosquito fleet in the bay at the time report having felt it. Those on the steamer Rosalie, tied up at the City dock, say the boat shook and trembled violently. Other small craft actually creaked, giving out the sound of breaking timbers. So far as the eye could observe there was no disturbance of the water, which at the time was unusually calm. All of the larger wharves and warehouses along the water front swayed. Several of the night watchmen ran into the open, thinking the structures were going to collapse. While vessels in the bay felt the shock, it was not experienced by those further out in the Sound. The steamer Ramona at the time of the shock was about half way on her voyage from Tacoma to this port, but her officers knew nothing of the disturbance until they reached Seattle. SHOCKS RESTRICTED TO SEATTLE Severe at Tacoma Tacoma March 16-- (Special) The severst earthquake felt here in many years occurred at 8:22 tonight. Houses oscillated with the wave-like motion of the earth, and the large office buildings down in the business districts shook noticeably. There is a difference of opinion as to the number of shocks felt. Many declare there were but two distinct shocks with decided quiverings between. Others, among them weather observer Cover, hold there were three. The phenomenon beginning with a hearty shock, as if the earth beneath was given a sudden wrench, followed by vibrations, and after the lapse of several seconds, a lesser shock followed by oscillations from north to south completing the seismic disturbance. Statements as to the length [unreadable line...] seconds. Mr. Cover says it was about 15 seconds in duration. So far as can be learned no damage was done. Victoria's Gentle Shake Victoria, B.C., March 16 (Special)-- At 8:22 a slight shock due to earthquake was felt in this city. It was not generally noticed, but several parties report having noted it. It was not felt by E. Baynes Reed of the meteorological station, who was in the office at the time. Members of his family, however at his residence felt a tremor as of the floor shaking and the window blinds also shook. Others noticed similar manifestations in the private houses. Mr. Reed does not know whether the seismograph at the meteorological station has registered the undulatory motion, as he did not examine the sheet. The sheet is usually not taken out until Saturday. It is estimated that the shock lasted about half a minute here. It was distinctly noted by an optician who chanced to be at work at the time. Beats Oldest Inhabitant Port Townsend, March 16 (Special) -- Two distinct earthquake shocks were felt here tonight at short intervals, there being only a slight let up between the two. The direction of the wave seemed to be from west to east and started at 8:20 o'clock, lasting a few seconds. No damage has been reported, but the vibration was severe enough to rattle windows in a lively manner and bring people with a rush from their homes and the business houses into the streets. It was the heavist shock felt here in the memory of the oldest inhabitants. Jars up Store Stocks Bothell, March 16, (Special)-- A severe earthquake shock was felt here at 8:20 pm. Buildings rocked, doors were thrown open and articles on shelves in the stores shifted and rattled. It was the most severe ever experienced at this place. Everett Buildings Vibrate Everett, March 16 (Special)-- About 8:20 tonight a distinct earthquake shock was felt in Everett. In some parts of the city it was imperceptible, while in others it was so severe that people ran from their homes. The vibration lasted from fifteen to twenty-five seconds, ending with a severe shock. In portions of the city the shock was so heavy as to shake the windows violently. Where the vibrations were most severe houses were deserted, children lying in bed were aroused and taken from buildings. Almost every brick structure in the city was shaken, but no damage was done. Port Angeles Trembled Port Angeles, March 16 (Special)-- A most decided earthquake shock was felt here at 8:15 o'clock this evening. The vibrations were three or four in number and pronounced enough to shake buildings to their foundations. In many homes dishes, windows, and doors rattled loudly, while hanging lamps and other suspended articles swayed perceptibly for some seconds afterwards. The shock apparently traveled from north to south and was perhaps twelve seconds in duration. Flee from Houses Snohomish, March 16 (Special)-- Snohomish experienced two very severe earthquake shocks tonight. The first came at 8:21, and lasted about two seconds, followed almost immediately by a still harder shock, which lasted longer than the first. The shocks were accompanied by a dull rumbling, and buildings were badly shaken. People in the business portion of the town rushed into the streets, scared and fearing for their lives. The oscillation seemed to pass from southwest to northeast. This is the first earthquake shock to be felt here since the severe one in 1892. Olympia is Shaken Olympia, March 16 (Special)-- A severe earthquake shock was experienced in this city at 8:22 o'clock this evening. The seismic disturbance was apparently from east to west. Frightened at Auburn Auburn, March 16 (Special)-- Rather severe earthquake shock at 8:30 tonight, lasting twenty seconds, frightened people from homes. The vibrations were north and south. No damage. Slight shock at Mount Vernon Mount Vernon, March 16 (Special)-- A slight earthquake shock was felt here about 8:15 this evening. It was general throughout the city, but particularly noticeable in the larger buildings. Many people ran from their homes to the street. Bellingham Is Disturbed Bellingham, March 16 (Special)--About 8:20 this evening a very distinct earthquake shock was felt here by many people. It was of short duration, lasting not over a minute, but was sufficiently pronounced to cause houses to tremble, and articles suspended from a clothes line in one house were very noticeably agitated. No damage. Did Not Reach Portland Portland, OR, March 16-- The earthquake shock felt at different points in Western Washington was not felt here or at any point south of the Columbia river, so far as can be ascertained. |
1904 |
| Oregonian | Portland, OR | Thursday March 17, 1904; pg 1, col 1 and 2 | QUAKE ON SOUND EARTH TREMORS CAUSE GREAT ALARM. TWO SHOCKS FELT SEATTLE BUILDINGS SWAY WITH THE MOTION. PEOPLE RUSH FROM HOUSES Furniture Moved and Dishes Smashed by Disturbance. Panic Started in a Church Hysterical Woman's Screams Add to Terror of Worshippers--People in Theaters Made to Keep Their Seats Till Fright is Over. Seattle, Wash., March 16.--(Special)-- The most severe earthquake shock ever experienced in the Northwest rocked buildings in Seattle tonight and drove frightened women and children into the streets. The [patients in] hospitals leaped from their cots in terror. On the upper floors of the taller business blocks bookcases swayed to and fro, crashing into the walls with a report that could be heard in adjoining rooms. Business men working late rushed from their offices along floors that rose and fell with the motion of a vessel at sea in a storm. The disturbance was felt in other Northwestern towns with practically the same violence. At Tacoma, Everett, Bellingham, Victoria, Port Townsend, Port Angeles, and the smaller towns of the Northwest, buildings were shaken, windows rattled, doors burst open and frightened people [were] impelled to flee from their homes. The shipping on the Sound felt the disturbance and people on the boats were disturbed. Second Shock Was Heavier. There were two shocks, the first light, but the second of violent force. In Seattle they seemed to pass at 8:18 pm from east to west. Tacoma and Snohomish reporting a similar movement of the earth's crust. Further north the shocks passed either from northeast to northwest or from north to south, and on the west side two reports insist that the movement was from west to east. Reports from North Yakima and points in the southwestern part of the state show the earthquake was not felt there. In Seattle the shock was felt severely in the residence districts. On the hills people deserted their homes when the shock began rattling windows and moving furniture. Except in rare instances the people were easily quieted. In the large apartment houses and family hotels those living on the upper floors ran to the lower corridors to escape the rocking sensation above that produced nausea. Congregation Greatly Alarmed. At the Church of Immaculate Conception a woman in the gallery became hysterical and screamed loudly. The congregation stamped, but the crowd was easily quieted. At othere churches the people were not disturbed, and startled theater crowds were prevented from leaving their seats. The severity of the shock was characterized by Captain W. H. Ferguson, who had traveled extensively on the equator, as the most severe he has ever experienced. Five Seated Quakes. Tacoma, March 16.-- This city was visited by a severe earthquake shock tonight about 8:20 o'clock, reports as to the exact time varying. Two distinct shocks were felt, severely shaking houses in all parts of the city, rattling dishes and causing general alarm among the occupants of the houses. Caused Panic at Bellingham. Bellingham, Wash., March 16.-- A heavy earthquake shock was felt here tonight at 8 o'clock. Pictures were shaken from the wall, dishes broken and clocks stopped. The shock was severe enough to cause many to rush from their houses into the streets. Movement From East to West. Olympia, Wash., March 16.--(Special)-- At 8:20 pm, a slight earthquake shock was experienced in this city at 8:22 o'clock this evening. The seismic disturbance was apparently from east to west. Clocks Stopped at Victoria. Victoria, B.C., March 16.-- At 8:18 this evening a sharp earthquake shock was felt here. Clocks were stopped and other slight damage was done. Shock Felt at Port Townsend. Port Townsend, Wash., March 16.--(Special)-- At 8:20 PM, a slight earthquake shock was experienced here. |
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| Port Townsend Daily Leader | Port Townsend, WA | Thursday, March 17, 1904 | Earthquake Shock Felt on the Sound Most Severe in District Between Here and Seattle. Vibrations Heaviest in Years Was Felt but Slightly in Victoria and not at all in Portland nor North Yakima nor Bellingham--Caused much Excitement. The people of this city were thrown into a frenzy of excitement last evening at exactly 8:20 o'clock by a severe earthquake shock which lasted several seconds. There seemed to be two distinct shocks with no interval but a decrease R> The direction of the wave was from west to east and the vibrations were strong enough to rattle windows to an extent that the passerby was given the impression that someone was trying to rip them from the frame. A second thought told him what it was, however, and in a seond more people were rushing in to the street from every available opening. Some were aware of what was going on, others were enquiring the cause of the disturbance. For instance Henry Rothschild came rushing down from his rooms in the Tibbals building certain that the gasoline engine used to run the Leader typesetting machine had exploded. Henry went back disappointed as he would have liked to have had something of this sort happen. There was no questioning the fact of a distinct earthquake vibration in this city, although it probably did no damage further than to frighten the timid. It was, however, of such an intensity never felt here in years, if ever before in the memory of the oldest resident. Immediately after the shock everyone was excited and each one wanted to know if the other had felt the shock. It did not end at this, as the telephone girls were so busy they didn't have time to talk to visitors. Everything was in confusion in that institution and everyone wanted to get someone else at the 'phone at the same moment, and the only thing the "poor girl" could do was to yell "line's busy." Shock Felt in Other Cities. The Leader asked a number of cities by wire if the shock was felt with them and received the following specials: Victoria, March 16.--Special--An earthquake shock was felt here slightly at about 8:20 o'clock this evening. A great many were not aware of it, but the majority seem to have noticed a slight shock. There was nothing worth, remarking about. Port Angeles, March 16.--Special--At 8:20 o'clock this evening an earthquake shock was generally felt throughout this city but it was not heavy. It was noted however, by everyone. Seattle, March 16.--Special--Two severe vibrations were felt here about 8:19 this evening lasting for several seconds. During the time buildings were shaken and windows and lamps swayed as if they had been taken hold of and shaken. The shock was the strongest felt in this city in many years and caused a great deal of excitement. People rushed from buildings into the streets and in places amounted almost to a panic. It is thought that no damage resulted to property although it is impossible to tell at this time. Leland, March 16.--Special--A heavy earthquake shock was felt here this evening at twenty minutes past eight o'clock, the vibrations lasting several seconds, and during the time rattled things in a lively manner. Everett, March 16.--Special--An earthquake shock was felt here tonight at a few minutes past eight o'clock. It was generally noticed. Snohomish, March 16.--Special--At 8:20 o'clock tonight earthquake shocks were felt in this city. The intensity was not great but the tremors were remarked on by everyone. Bellingham, March 16.--Special--Nothing in the nature of an earthquake shock was felt here this evening. North Yakima, March 16.--Special--This city has experienced nothing in the nature of earthquake tremblings tonight. Portland, March 16.--There has been no earthquake shock noted here today or tonight. It would seem that Port Townsend to Seattle is the direct track of the shock felt here last evening and that between these places it was perhaps the most severely felt. |
1904 |
| Sumner Index (Weekly) | Sumner, WA | Friday March 18, 1904; V. IV, N. 27, p. 2, c. 6 | OLD EARTH QUAKED Quite a Severe Shock in Puget Sound Country Seattle, March 17-- An earthquake of unusual violence for this section was felt throughout Northwestern Washington about 8:20 o'clock last night. In Seattle the disturbance was the most severe experienced in years, and in the smaller towns of the Northwest the shock was so severe that people fled from their homes to the streets. Two distinct shocks, the second of greater violence than the first, occurred, rocking buildings and causing uneasiness, but doing no damage. The earhquake was not felt as far south as Portland nor in North Yakima on the East. British Columbia towns, however report it. |
1904 |
| Seattle Post Intelligencer | Seattle, WA | Sunday March 20, 1904, p. 1, c.1 | WHEN THE EARTH TREMBLED IN PIONEER DAYS OF SEATTLE The trembling of the earth on the evening of the 16th recalls tremors of early days. When Seattle was first settled by the white people the Indians told of a great earthquake that had occurred some fifty years before. They related that the shocks were so severe that the earth opened up in great cracks and that their little mat and slab huts were shaken to the ground and there were great landslides. The largest slide near Seattle was immediately south of West Point lighthouse. It is about a mile in extent and can be clearly seen at the present day. The lower bench of Kinnear park slid at that time from the cliff shore, carrying giant fir trees that still stand on the slide. The Indians said that the mountains "momoked poh" (shot at each other), and roaring of the tidal waves was frightful. The writer, when a little child, picked up a beautiful carnelian pebble in a ploughed field, where large brick blocks now stand, and asked her father what the pebble was and where it came from. An Indian standing near said that the hyha,skokum-amon-ta" (very large mountain, Rainier) had fired it during the great earthquake. In the fall of 1872 the hardest shock that has been experienced since the settlement of Seattle occurred. It was a clear moonlight night and very still. The shock came about 10 o'clock. The movement was upward, as of an upheaval, followed by waves from north to south of such severity that it was like walking on the deck of a ship in a wind, and it caused nausea and dizziness. A lady who has lived here ever since Seattle has been inhabited by the white people said " I was ill and was sitting in a rocking chair at the time of the great earthquake, and it swayed my chair back and forth and when I tried to walk the floor it seemed to rise in waves." The plaster was cracked in many houses, dishes were broken, lamps tipped over and articles hanging against the wall rattled sharply. Lake Union was like a sheet of glass just before the disturbance. Just as it was over large rollers, approaching a tidal wave, came in a number of feet above high water mark. There was also a disturbance of a like character on the waters of the bay. The tall fir trees that stood thick around Lake Union at that time swayed back and forth as if a heavy wind were blowing. Indians living on the lake shore near the writer's home, were terribly alarmed and rushed from their houses, screaming in excitement. The next day an old Indian named Tesecguia came to the house, saying: "Dabath achieth-tejima culalum Boston hiue mesahche tilacum saukhale tyee hyas solex ticky memaloose nika nika slek lum tum" meaning "We Indians are bad; also, the white people. The Great Spirit is angry, he wants to kill me, my heart is heavy." The earthquake extended over a large area of the Northwest. On the Columbia River not far from Orondo a large mountain was split in two and half of it fell into the river, damming it up so that the river had to cut a new channel. The break in the mountain is sharp and clear and is one of the sights from the river boats. The next earthquake of any severity happened during the fall of 1889, coming about 9 o'clock at night. It was so sharp that it caused people who were on the streets to stagger. It was a Sabbath evening and quite a large congregation was [unreadable line...] church on Third Avenue, now used as a dance hall. The shock alarmed the worshippers and they arose en masse. One lady fainted and a panic was narrowly averted by the minister and one cool-headed man who stood near the door. There have been light tremblings since, but not of a serious character. Slight shocks are often felt in the eastern part of the state and are somewhat common on Lake Chelan. One was felt at Bear Creek on this lake on the 5th of this month. About five years ago a strange upheaval of the waters on Lake Chelan occurred at Twenty-five Mile creek. An eye witness describing it said: " The water rose just like the roof of a house, some four feet high, causing a respectable sized tidal wave." Seattle has never experienced the severe shakings up that San Francisco has. A gentleman now living here was there at the time of the great earthquake in the `60s. When the shake commenced he started from a doorway to the street and just as he stepped out two huge brackets from the roof fell at his feet, just missing his head. Buildings were swung out of line a foot or more and several people were killed by falling arches and brick. People rushed out of hotels, flats and houses without looking to see if their hats were on straight. One lady who was in bed at the time sprang up and tried to dress, but failed to get anything on but a hoopskirt over her nightgown. She was carrying her baby by the heels when she reached the street. "Light" costumes were very much in evidence. People were so terribly frightened that they stayed out on the open hills above the city for hours. Should Seattle build many more skyscrapers may the "shakes" be few and far between. CHELANA |
1904 |
| Tacoma Daily News | Tacoma, WA | March 17, 1904; pg 2, col 5 | TACOMA WAS ROCKED BY AN EARTHQUAKE LAST NIGHT Undulations Felt Over Greater Part of Western Washington Dishes were Shaken From the Shelves --Small Panic in a Church-- Notes Another earthquake rocked western Washington last evening. It was felt in Tacoma, Seattle, Everett, Olympia, Bellingham, Victoria, B.C., Auburn, Port Townsend, and Hoquiam and other towns. The shocks occurred at 8:20 o'clock, lasting several seconds, and running, evidently, from north to south. No damage resulted other than to glass and crockeryware shaken from their resting places. In Seattle a panic in a church was narrowly averted. In Everett the people fled from their homes. In other places residents were frightened. This makes the second earthquake experienced in Tacoma this winter. The weather was clear and warm, followed shortly afterward by rain. An earthquake more violent than any felt here in many years was experienced in Tacoma about 8:20 o'clock last night. Buildings rocked and many houses in different parts of the city were shaken, but no damage is reported further than the smashing of a few pieces of glass and crockeryware. There appears to have been at least two distinct shocks, though opinions as to the number differ. Weather Observer Cover states that he believes there were three and that the second was the most severe. He gives the duration of the disturbance at about twenty seconds. The line of vibration seems to have been a north and south one, though there is no unanimity of opinion on this point, some reports from northwestern cities stating the direction to have been east and west. The earthquake was not felt as far east as North Yakima nor at Portland on the south. It seems to have attained its greatest severity in the Puget Sound region, though British Columbia and Grays Harbor towns report it. Washington Building Trembled R.G. Hoge was in the fourth floor of the Washington Building at the time of the shocks, and he states that the structure trembled slightly. A number of people were in the California block and they report that two distinct shocks were felt and that the rocking of the building was noticeable. At the chamber of commerce building R.C. Houston, of the weather bureau, said that the trembling was barely perceptible. Dishes were Smashed Reports from the southern part of the city state that in the residences there were dishes shaken from pantry and closet shelves, pictures swung out from the walls, wires of pianos sounded and windows and doors rattled. From Old Town it is reported that the disturbance was distinctly felt and that a number of people were frightened. Panic in Seattle Church In Seattle genuine alarm was felt and the earhquake nearly precipitated disastrous panic in the Church of the Immaculate Conception where a large congregation had gathered for Lenten services. Following the first shock the scream of a woman in the gallery brought the crowd to its feet and a stampede toward the doors was made. This was stopped before it became serious. In some portions of that city the disturbance, which reached there about 8:20 o'clock was so violent as to break open doors, shake bottles from drug store shelves and books from bookcases and displace desks. At some of the hotels and apartment houses women and children ran from their rooms and gathered in frightened groups in the corridors. In the higher buildings in the downtown business district the shocks were most severe. Despite the violence of the earthquake no serious damage was done in Seattle. Disturbance at Victoria Slight Reports from Victoria state that the earthquake was less felt there than in any other city in the Northwest. The seismographic record at the meteorological station has not been examined and Observer Reed states that he is not sure that the instument recorded the vibration. He gives the duration of the disturbance as 30 seconds, and says that it commenced at 8:22 o'clock. Other Northwest Cities From all over western Washington reports of the earthquake have been received today. In some places it was scarcely noticeable; in others the shock was so severe as to frighten the citizens. Felt in Snohomish The earthquake last night was the first Snohomish has known in twelve years. The shocks were severe and many people were frightened. Severe in Olympia In Olympia the shock was severe. Buildings trembled and windows rattled, but as far as can now be learned no serious damage resulted. The vibration there ran apparently along an east and west line. Bellingham Disturbed At Bellingham the earhquake does not seem to have been severe, though noticeable in all parts of the city. It is said that the duration of the disturbance there exceeded a minute. Pronounced at Auburn The people of Auburn were frightened by the shock, which lasted 20 seconds and was the most distinct and pronounced earhquake ever felt there. Buildings in all parts of the city were shaken and many people fled from their homes. Port Townsend Trembled The earthquake at Port Townsend was the most severe that has ever been known there. The shocks were two in number and most distinct. Buildings in the business district were shaken with sufficient violence to shift articles on store shelves. Everett Alarmed At Everett buildings in all parts of the city were shaken, and people were thoroughly alarmed. Houses were deserted, children lying in beds were aroused and taken from the buildings. Nearly every brick structure in the city was shaken but no damage was done. The first shock occurred at 8:20 o'clock. Portland not Visited From Portland word comes that no seismic disturbance was felt there, and that as far as can be ascertained the earthquake did not reach south of the Columbia River. In the Grays Harbor region the disturbance was noticeable, the earthquake reaching Hoquiam at 8:20 o'clock. Puyallup Startled At 23 minutes after 8 o'clock last evening the people of this city were startled by a real earthquake, the vibrations, seemingly, running from east to west and lasting several seconds. In some parts of the city it was felt more than in others and was the most severe shock and lasted longer than has been experienced for a number of years in Puyallup. |
1904 |
| Astoria Daily Budget | Astoria, OR | March 18, 1904, p. 2, c. 3. Reference provided by Bruce Berney, Director, Astoria Public Library, in a letter dated 12/6/1990 | EARTHQUAKE ON SOUND Two Severe Shocks Occurred There Last Evening Seattle, March 18. -- The most severe earthquake shock ever experienced in the Northwest rocked buildings in Seattle last night and drove frightened women and children into the streets. Patients in the hospitals leaped from their cots in terror. On the upper flors of the taller business blocks book cases swayed to and fro, crashing into the walls with a report that could be heard in adjoining room. Business men working late rushed from their offices along floors that rose and fell with the motion of a vessel at sea in a storm. The disturbance was felt in other Northwestern towns with practically the same violence. At Tacoma, Everett, Bellingham, Victoria, Port Townsend, Port Angeles, and the smaller towns of the Northwest, buildings were shaken, windows rattled, doors burst open and frightened people impelled to from their homes. The shipping on the Sound felt the disturbance and people on the boats were disturbed. There were two shocks, the first light, but the second of violent force. |
1904 |
| McAdie, Alexander C., 1907, Catalog of Earthquakes on the Pacific Coast: 1897 to 1906, Smithsonian Misc. Collections, Part of Vol. XLIX (No. 1721), Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., 64 p. | 1904. March 16; Seattle, Washington; 8:20 p. m., intensity III; duration 15 seconds; vibrations east to west. This shock was felt generally over western Washington.__ Weather Bureau. | 1907 | ||
| Leslie M. Scott, Memoranda of the Files of the Oregonian 1850-1910, Oregon Historical Society | Portland, OR | Unpublished index to the Oregonian | at Puget Sound, severest ever known, 8:18 p.m., Mar. 16, 1904 | 1910 |
| Bradford, Donald C., 1935, Seismic History of the Puget Sound Basin, BSSA, V. 25, No. 2, pp. 138-153 | 1904 March 16, 8:20 p.m.; III; Seattle; duration fifteen seconds; direction of east to west; generally felt over western Washington. McAdie reports an intensity of VI at Victoria. | 1935 | ||
| 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 | [1904 March 16. 8:18 p.m. VIII to X? Western part of Olympic Peninsula? This shock was felt in the region from Seattle to Victoria, B. C., as of about intensity VI. A report dated March 21, from Tacoma, appeared overdrawn, but indicated that possibly a very strong shock had taken place on the western shore of the Olympic Peninsula. It said: "Indians arriving today at Hoquiam on Grays Harbor bring news of strange happenings along the shore of the Pacific Ocean north of Quinault Indian Reserva- tion from earthquake. They declare that last Wednesday night's shocks threw several rivers out of their channels forming several large lakes on the adjacent low- lands. "The beds of the Queets. Quinault, Wishkah, and Hoh Rivers, according to the Indians, were raised twenty to thirty feet, throwing a flood of water into the valleys lying between the Olympic mountain range and the Pacific Ocean." Clocks were stopped in Victoria, B. C. The shock was not felt in Portland, Oregon. In Seattle bottles were thrown from shelves, chairs were moved, and people thrown from their feet. The intensity was at least VI in Seattle.-Reid's Scrapbook, 2, 30. McAdie gives an intensity of III for Seattle. He does not mention any other place.] | 1939 | ||
| Milne, W.G., 1956, Seismic Activity in Canada, west of the 113th meridian 1841-1951: Canada Dominion Obs. Pub., V. 18, No. 7, pp. 119-146 | 1904 MARCH 16. 8:21 p.m. phi = 47 degrees N; lambda = 124 degrees W. BSSA. A shock was felt in the region from Seattle to Victoria, and in the Olympic Peninsula west of Puget Sound. In Victoria clocks were stopped, but no serious damage was reported. The tremor was not felt at Nanaimo. BSSA, Col. | 1957 | ||
| Rasmussen, Norman, 1967, Washington state earthquakes 1840 through 1965, BSSA V. 57, No. 3, pp. 463-476 | 101 1904 Mar. 17 04:20 48.5 N, 123.3 W V 1 felt over 20,000 sq. mi. | 1967 | ||
| U. S. Dept. of Commerce, 1973, Earthquake History of the United States, V. 41-1, revised ed., pp. 89-96 | 1904 Mar. 16 20:20 Victoria, B.C 48.5 122.8 20,000 V(4) 3-25,56 | 1973 | ||
| U. S. Dept. of Commerce, 1973, Earthquake History of the United States, V. 41-1, revised ed., pp. 89-96 | 1904. March 16. Victoria, B.C. Apparently strongest at Victoria, but widely felt over western Washington. | 1973 | ||
| Woodward Clyde Consultants, unpublished | 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. | 190403170420000 48500-123300 V R 5 01 | 1981 | |
| Garry Colin Rogers, Seismotectonics of British Coulmbia, PhD Thesis | PhD Thesis, Dept. of Geophysics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, pp. 19-27 and p. 228 | TABLE Il Larger Historic Vancouver Island - Puget Sound Earthquakes Their Felt Area (In square KM -RSL 6/95) and Resulting Magnitude FELT PREVIOUS(1) FELT AREA (2) DATE COORDINATES AREA MAGNITUDE MAGNITUDE 1872 DEC 14 48.6 121.4 1010,000 - 7.3 1903 MAR 14 47.7 122.2 26,000* 4.3 4.9 1904 MAR 17 47.8 123.0 50,000* 6.0 5.3 1909 JAN 11 48.7 122.8 150,000 5.6 6.0 1911 SEP 29 48.8 122.7 8,000 4.3 4.1 1913 DEC 25 47.7 122.5 20,000* 4.3 4.7 1915 AUG 18 48.5 121.4 77,000* 5.5 4.6 (This magnitude is a typographic error in Roger's thesis correct magnitude should be 5.6, based on the felt area given here RSL 6/95) 1918 DEC 06 49.5 125.9 650,000 7.0 7.0 1920 JAN 24 48.6 123.0 70,000 5.0 5.5 1923 FEB 12 49.0 122.7 8,000 4.3 4.1 1926 DEC 04 48.5 123.0 30,000 4.3 5.0 1928 FEB 09 49.0 125.3 120,000 3.7 5.8 (List continues through 1965 - RSL 6/1995) *Felt area from "Earthquake History of the United States" by Coffman and von Hake (1973). 1)Magnitude in the Canadian Earthquake Data File. 2)Calculated using Toppozada's (1975) relationships 5) Comments on Revisions of Some Key Earthquakes (Figure 6) a) March 16, 1904 In the Canadian Earthquake Data File the epicentre for this event was located on the west side of the Olympic Peninsula and it was assigned a magnitude of 6. in "Earthquake History of the United States" it is given the location of Victoria, B.C. and assigned an intensity value of V. A study of felt levels from newspaper reports suggests the earthquake has an epicentre along the west side of Puget Sound, south of Port Townsend and that the magnitude is about 5. The confirmation that this earthquake was not near the west coast of the Olympic Peninsula is important as no large earthquakes have yet been located along the coast. b) January 11, 1909 Felt reports from newspapers limit this epicentre to the San Juan Islands region where several instances of damage occurred. Felt information also clearly shows that the size of the isoseismal maps is between that for the 1965 Seattle earthquake and the 1976 Gulf Islands earthquake (Figure 7). The magnitude is about 6 according to Toppozada's (1975) felt area relationship. Lack of aftershocks and lack of higher intensities in the epicentral region suggest this event belongs to the deeper suite of earthquakes. This event is significant because it points out that large earthquakes in the deeper suite can also occur north of Puget Sound. c) December 6, 1918 This earthquake has several epicentres in the literature which are shown in Figure 8. Investigations with the set of P arrival times listed in the ISS place the epicentre on Vancouver Island near the west coast, south of the present town of Gold River which did not exist in 1918. Because of the quality of 1918 arrival times this epicentre has an uncertainty of the order of + 50 km. Felt information collected by Dennison (1919) and supplemented by newspaper investigations suggest the magnitude of 7 (Ms) calculated by Gutenberg and Richter (1949) is correct. d) February 9, 1928 Felt information and a 100 mile distance issued from the Victoria seismograph station (VGZ), presumably from the S-P interval, indicates the earthquake was in the vicinity of Barkely Sound and had a magnitude of about 5-3/4. This event was in the Canadian Earthquake Data File but was located in the Strait of Juan de Fuca with a magnitude of 3.7. It is significant that an earthquake of this size occurred in the Barkely Sound region as there have been no events above magnitude 4 in that region since 1928. e) September 17, 1926 and May 7, 1927 Both of these events were assigned epicentres by the ISS at the location previously calculated for the epicentre of the December 6, 1918 earthquake (Figure 8). Because of the proximity of the cities of Nanaimo and Victoria and the distribution of population close to the ISS epicentral region, these earthquakes could not have been located there as they would have been felt. With the data listed in the ISS and felt reports they were located elsewhere. The 1927 event occurred in the vicinity of Brooks Peninsula on Vancouver Island and the 1926 event occurred on the mainland north of Vancouver (see Appendix 1). APPENDIX 1 - Revised parameters fir earthquakes in the Vancouver Island-Puget Sound Region 1900-1950 ( P 128. - Included here are 1900-1928; Times apparently GMT -RSL 5/95) YEAR DATE TIME LAT LONG MAG 1903 Mar. 14 02:15 47.7 122.2 4.9 Location from "EQ Hist. of the US.", mag. from felt area 1904 Mar. 17 04:21 47.8 123.0 5.3 Location from "EQ Hist. of the US.", mag. from felt area 1909 Jan. 11 23:49 48.7 122.8 6.0 Location based on felt reports, mag. from felt area 1911 Sept. 29 02:39 48.8 122.7 4.1 Location from "EQ Hist. of the US.", mag. from felt area 1913 Dec. 25 14:40 47.7 122.5 4.7 Location from "EQ Hist. of the US.", mag. from felt area 1915 Aug. 18 14:05 48.5 121.4 4.6 Location from "EQ Hist. of the US.", mag. from felt area (Note - the magnitude of 4.6 is due to a typographical error in Table 1 of Roger's thesis. The correct magnitude, based on a felt area of 77,000 square km is 5.6 RSL 6/95) 1918 Dec. 06 08:41:05.8 49.62 125.92 7.0 Recalc. from ISS data. Mag. from Gutenberg and Richter (1949) and felt area. 1919 Oct. 10 01:07:16.5 48.63 127.15 5.5 Recalc. from ISS data. Mag. estimated from the number of P arrivals. 1920 Jan. 24 07:10 48.6 123.0 5.5 Location from "EQ Hist. of the US.", mag. from felt area 1923 Feb. 12 18:30 49.0 122.7 4.1 Location from "EQ Hist. of the US.", mag. from felt area 1926 Sept. 17 23:14:40 50.0 123.0 5.5 Recalc. from ISS data. Mag. estimated from the number of P arrivals. This event was previously identified as occurring on Sept. 7 at 22:14:36 1926 Dec. 4 13:55 48.5 123.0 5.0 Location based on felt reports, Magnitude from felt area 1927 May 7 21:56 50.15 127.85 5.5 Gonzales (VGZ) S-P and felt reports are similar to 1978 Brooks Peninsula events, thus this epicentre is used. Magnitude from felt area. This event was previously identified as occurring on May 8 at 14:00. 1928 Feb. 9 11:05 49.0 125.3 5.8 Location on the basis of Gonzales (VGZ) S-P and felt reports. Magnitude from felt area. |
1983 |