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The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
Letter from Genoa, Nov 30, 1751, describes seismic shocks from Nov 22-24 causing building alarms, fears of collapse, swelling waves in port threatening ships, night lights like fire from ground, felt along coasts. Remarkable simultaneous floods with lightning and thunder in parts of England.
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On the 22d there was heard not only in several of our Palaces, but in divers private Houses, such an hideous Crack or rustling Noise, as if their very Foundations were loosened. This shocking Alarm continued 'til the 24th Instant; Workmen however, were immediately employed to prop and support them, to prevent, if possible, their total Demolition. What happened in our Port, created an equal Terror, for the Waves swell'd to that prodigious Degree, that we were apprehensive of the Loss of all our Ships which were then riding at Anchor. The Sentinels who were posted at all our Ramparts unanimously declare, that they saw, in the dead of the Night, a Light, like that of a prodigious Fire, which seem'd to arise out of the Ground. The repeated Shocks which were felt throughout the whole City, were equally perceptible throughout the whole Extent of our Coasts.
It is very remarkable, that about the Time of these Phaenomena at Genoa, prodigious Floods, preceded by Lightning and Thunder, happen'd in several Parts of England.
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Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Genoa
Event Date
22d To 24th Instant, November 1751
Outcome
workmen employed to prop buildings to prevent demolition; no loss of ships reported; no casualties mentioned.
Event Details
Hideous crackling noises heard in palaces and houses as if foundations loosening, from 22d to 24th instant. Waves swelled prodigiously in port, threatening anchored ships. Sentinels saw light like prodigious fire arising from ground at night. Shocks felt throughout city and coasts. About the same time, prodigious floods preceded by lightning and thunder happened in several parts of England.