The New York Times
27 March 1854

EARTHQUAKES IN GEORGIA -- Milledgeville and Macon were visited with slight
shocks of an earthquake on the 20th. In regard to the one in Macon, the
Citizen, of the 21st, says: "There seems to be some doubt whether
the phenomena which occurred here yesterday morning was an earthquake or
the effect of some meteoric explosion overheard." At Gordon,
Milledgeville, and Forsyth, the same shaking of houses, and rumbling
noise, like heavy distant thunder, took place, and a correspondent from
Forsyth says that some of the villagers ther distinctly heard the noise
over their heads: "The first shock took place here about 6 1/2 A.M., and
a second slight one about half an hour afterwards. The house we live in
trembled and rocked like a strong man in convulsions, leading to the
supposition that it was an earthquake, and nothing else. The direction of
the vibration was from southwest to northeast." Of the one in
Milledgeville, the Recorder, of the 21st says: "The first, which
was alarmingly perceptible, occurred about 6:20 o'clock; the last shock,
which was very slight, was felt about half an hour later. An old
(he would be offended were we to say "the oldest") inhabitant says
a severer shock has not been experience at this place since 1810. It was
very fitly described by a little child, who observed, "Papa! The house is
riding off."


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