Earthquake - November 13, 1901 News Accounts

AT MT. PLEASANT
There Were Two Perceptible Shocks But No Damage

Mt. Pleasant, Nov. 14--This city was given a severe jolting last evening by the earthquake. No damage was done, but many citizens were badly scared as it is the first one to visit this section in many years. The tremor lasted fully ten seconds and was so severe that upper stories of buildings rocked and swayed very perceptibly. About ten minutes after the first shock a second one of a more lengthy, shivering nature, passed over the town, lasting for about twenty seconds. There was no distinct shock to this one, but the trembling was very plainly felt.



ELECTRICAL DISPLAY IN SANPETE
Weather Director L. H. Murdoch Tells Of Phenomena Witnessed During The Recent Earthquake In Southern Utah--
Rocks On Mountains Shattered By Electricity Or Seismic Disturbance


Weather Director L. H. Murdoch of the local weather office returned Saturday afternoon, from his trip to Manti where he inspected the local voluntary observation station. He brought back with him news of features connected with the late earthquake in Piute and Sevier counties, particularly, which are highly sensational and out of the usual run of seismic disturbances in this section. Mr. Murdoch learned that during the occurrence of the earthquake there were electrical displays all along the ridges and crests of the mountains, in the shape of flashes of light suggestive of aurora borealis displays, the phenomenon continuing while the terrestrial disturbances were in operation. The electricity shot up into the air in great sheets, which though not very vivid, were bright enough to attract attention.
Moreover Mr. Murdoch learned that rocks along the tops of the ridges and crests of the mountains had been not only dislodged, but torn and shattered either by the force of the earthquake, or by electricity, or both. He found the people of Sanpete, Sevier and Piute counties still very much frightened over the recent occurrence and scarcely knowing what was to come next.
[Deseret Evening News; November 18, 1901]


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EPHRAIM VISITED
Tremors Made Bottle Dance and Terrified Citizens

Ephraim, Nov. 14--A very severe earthquake shock was felt in this city last night. The shock commenced at just 9:40, and lasted about thirty seconds, but some of the scared citizens thought it lasted that many minutes. At H. P. Larsen's drug store and at the saloons it made the bottles on the shelves dance a jig. People in the drug store were afraid the house was coming down and ran for the street for safety. No damage resulted from the shock.
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POKER PLAYERS PRAYED
Earthquake In Southern Utah Scared Them
Threw Hands Into the Deck and Sent Up Earnest Supplication--Then Resumed the Game


James Long, superintendent of the June Bug group of mining properties in the Gold mountain country, is in Salt Lake. Mr. Long was at Kimberley a few days ago when the earthquake occurred. "That was the real center of the disturbance," said he yesterday, and it was no laughing matter, either. The first and severest shock was at 9:30 in the evening, and there were a number of smaller ones during the night. It was a regular upheaval, and had the houses been of brick they could not have stood. I was playing hearts with two others in the back room of a saloon at the time. The game was adjourned and we all ran out. I admit I ran, and I ran hard. I would have run farther, but I did not know where to run to. I am told on good authority that four men were engaged in a poker game at the time at Monroe, and that the meeting was at once resolved into the most enthusiastic prayer meeting ever held in southern Utah. Later they resumed the game."
[Salt Lake Tribune; November 18, 1901]


To read all accounts:
http://www.seis.utah.edu/lqthreat/nehrp_htm/1901sout/n1901so1.shtml#rs