It's not just hurricanes you have to worry about in old New Bern.
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| Newspaper notice for a tremor felt in New Bern in 1817. Carolina Federal Republican, 11 January 1817. |
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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