<Ul> <Li> December 16, 1811, 0815 UTC (2: 15 a.m.); (M ~ 7.5) epicenter in northeast Arkansas, probably on the Cottonwood Grove fault; it caused only slight damage to man - made structures, mainly because of the sparse population in the epicentral area . The future location of Memphis, Tennessee was shaken at Mercalli level nine intensity . A seismic seiche propagated upriver and Little Prairie was destroyed by liquefaction . Local uplifts of the ground and the sight of water waves moving upstream gave observers the impression that the Mississippi River was flowing backwards . </Li> </Ul> <Li> December 16, 1811, 0815 UTC (2: 15 a.m.); (M ~ 7.5) epicenter in northeast Arkansas, probably on the Cottonwood Grove fault; it caused only slight damage to man - made structures, mainly because of the sparse population in the epicentral area . The future location of Memphis, Tennessee was shaken at Mercalli level nine intensity . A seismic seiche propagated upriver and Little Prairie was destroyed by liquefaction . Local uplifts of the ground and the sight of water waves moving upstream gave observers the impression that the Mississippi River was flowing backwards . </Li> <Dl> <Dd> At New Madrid, trees were knocked down and riverbanks collapsed . This event shook windows and furniture in Washington, D.C., rang bells in Richmond, Virginia, sloshed well water and shook houses in Charleston, South Carolina, and knocked plaster off of houses in Columbia, South Carolina . In Jefferson, Indiana, furniture moved and in Lebanon, Ohio, residents fled their homes . Observers in Herculaneum, Missouri, called it "severe" and said it had a duration of 10--12 minutes . </Dd> <Dd> Aftershocks were felt every six to ten minutes, a total of 27, in New Madrid until what was called the Daylight Shock, which was of the same intensity as the first . Many of these were also felt throughout the eastern US, though with less intensity than the initial earthquake . </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> At New Madrid, trees were knocked down and riverbanks collapsed . This event shook windows and furniture in Washington, D.C., rang bells in Richmond, Virginia, sloshed well water and shook houses in Charleston, South Carolina, and knocked plaster off of houses in Columbia, South Carolina . In Jefferson, Indiana, furniture moved and in Lebanon, Ohio, residents fled their homes . Observers in Herculaneum, Missouri, called it "severe" and said it had a duration of 10--12 minutes . </Dd>

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