The magnitude 5.1 earthquake which struck near Sparta in northwestern North Carolina on August 9th, serves as a reminder that significant seismic activity does occasionally occur in our state. It's not just hurricanes and tornadoes which visit us on a disturbingly regular basis. The very earth beneath our feet can sometimes rumble and roll and toss things about. New Bern is not immune to such shaking as a quick survey of the historical record reveals.
Surviving New Bern newspaper accounts record twelve detectable tremors between 1812 and 1907. Most were minor disturbances which frightened people but did little or no damage. The exception was the Great Charleston, South Carolina Earthquake of 1886 which was centered just north of Charleston and was felt from New England to the Caribbean. This quake, with an estimated magnitude of 7.3, severely damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings in and around Charleston and killed at least 60 people. Aftershocks continued for months. The quake occurred on Tuesday, August 31, 1886 at about 9:50 pm. The tremor reached New Bern a few minutes later at approximately 10 pm. The New Bern Daily Journal, published the next day, September 1, 1886, reported the front-page news under the heading "New Berne Shaken Up."
At just ten o’clock last night the most terrific shock was felt in this city that has ever occurred within the memory of any inhabitant. The shock was felt first as that of a passing train, increasing in violence with a slight intermission, with an increasing violence, with a swaying sensation as the rolling of a ship, the whole continuing for about 30 seconds. Persons who had gone to bed were awoke and those who were up were highly excited . . .
The next day's Journal gave a more detailed account under the heading "The Earthquake Shock."
The topic of
conversation on our streets throughout the day yesterday was the earthquake shock felt on the night before. It was
a severe shock and for a few minutes created considerable excitement.
Those who had retired were aroused and were bewildered by the rumbling noise and the violent shaking of their buildings.
For nearly an hour after the
shock, ladies of adjoining buildings
stood at the upper windows and
conversed with wonder about the strange occurrence; the guests at the Central
Hotel and the Gaston House rushed out when
the buildings began to quiver, some of
them, who were about retiring,
very unceremoniously; on the sidewalks
groups were to be seen discussing
the causes, history and effects of
earthquakes generally.
How it Struck the People
Thomas H. Davis was on the street going to the drug
store for a prescription for his mother,
who is sick. He states that he first
heard a noise, then felt a trembling of the
earth, followed by a rolling sensation
which so benumbed his knees and legs
that he required help to sit down. A part of this he thinks was owing to the excitement it
produced in himself.
A number of gentlemen were sitting in Mr. R.N.
Duffy’s drug store at the time the shock was
felt; they made for the street with
but little ceremony or standing on the
order of going. The clock at the
Southern Express office was stopped by the
vibration at three and a half minutes
to 10 o'clock. The clock at Green,
Foy & Co.'s banking house was also
stopped. Mrs. Ferebee’s clock was also
stopped, while Capt. E. B. Roberts has one
that had sternly refused to run for
two years instantaneously started
and has been running on time ever
since.
At Dr. Clark’s the family thought it was him practicing
with dumb bells. Half a dozen or more persons thought it was “the dog
scratching fleas off of himself.” One went so far as to go to the door to stop
the dog, but found he was not there;
then thought some one up stairs had a fit
and had fallen on the floor with fearful
convulsions, and starting up there was
greeted with inquiries from that locality
as “what is the matter?”
Upon the subject of fits there was a diversity of
impressions. Some thought others had a fit,
and one or two thought they themselves
had a fit.
Four men were sitting together; two of them thought it
was the other two shaking their
feet, while the shaking feet parties
thought a very large wagon was coming down
the street.
Some thought they were dying, and but one that we
have heard of expressed a desire to die;
but getting no immediate assistance in
that direction, experienced a change
of mind and showed visible signs of
wanting to live.
A gentleman and lady were walking up Broad street
and their attention was very slightly
attracted to the event until a number of
persons greatly excited brought it
forcibly before them.
A gentleman who had recently moved into a
newly-bought house thought it was haunted, but
on examining the window and seeing
it quivering like an aspen leaf, at
once advised his wife and guest to try
another move, which was unanimously agreed
to and acted upon in light marching
order.
A great number of persons were ordered to quit
shaking the bed, and in some cases warm
discussions ensued as to who was shaking
it, but when the disputants
discovered that it was more than an ordinary
shake, each struck out for the lower
stories of the dwelling.
An invalid lady who had been in bed all day previous
in the attic room with an attack of
rheumatism, was the first of the household
in the hall on the first floor of the
dwelling.
How the Banks Stood It
Mr. C.E. Foy and Book-keeper Styron were at work in
the banking house of Green, Foy &
Co. They departed at short notice
through an open widow, leaving the
three-ton safe to care for itself. Up to last accounts it is uncertain which went
between the window frames first, the
cashier or the book-keeper.
At the National bank, in the building temporarily used
by that institution, Mr. J.R.B.
Carraway, book-keeper, was writing later
than usual, it being the end of the
month. He sought refuge in the street
and rushed around to the JOURNAL
office to learn the news, returning soon
after to his desk for the evening.
General Remarks
. . . Mr. Geo. Henderson says there were eight distinct
shocks, all slight after the second, and
occurring just ten minutes apart.
Mr. Jonathan Havens, who has felt many shocks before
on the Pacific coast, says the course of
this was from South to North.
Capt. Thos. S. Howard says a similar shock was felt here
in 1836.
Mr. Geret Vyne, of Havelock, writes us that the shock
was felt there for near three minutes, and
that the sway of the buildings was very
perceptible and they appeared to
rock North and South.
There was considerable difference of opinion in regard
to the time the first shock lasted,
varying from a half to five minutes. The clock at the Southern Express office
stopped at 3½ minutes to ten, and the depot
time keeper struck ten just as the
shock subsided; the severest of the
shock however did not last exceeding a
minute.
Divine services were being conducted at Rev. John Johnson's church and when the shock was felt the audience rushed out . . . .
While the Great Charleston Earthquake is not believed to have caused any significant damage in New Bern, other areas of the state such as Raleigh suffered cracked plaster and collapsed chimneys. And should you believe that New Bern's seismic history ended more than a century ago, remember that measurable tremors have occurred as recently as 1994. On August 6th of that year, a 3.6 magnitude earthquake, centered near Merritt, 16 miles east of New Bern in Pamlico County, shook New Bern and a good bit of eastern North Carolina.
So, by all means, maintain a strict lookout for hurricanes and tornadoes. But, if the dishes start to rattle and the floor begins to roll . . . .
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