July 29, 1859 Earthquake: Sulawesi, Indonesia

Reference #414:

1859, July 29, 13:30. There was a strong earthquake at Manado. It lasted 5 minutes and threatened to overturn everything. The shocks were felt almost without interruption until 16:30. Later, in the evening and at night, they returned, but there were now intervals between them.

During the earthquake the sea at Kema was very agitated. The huts and goods which were on the beach were washed off. The earthquake was strong at Gorontalo, Boalemo and Mondono. On Bangai Island, a strong tsunami washed off homes which were situated on a low terrace, and also a herd of goats and sheep.

On the same day at 15:15, there was a strong and prolonged earthquake on Ternate Island (apparently, it was the same earthquake as the one on Sulawesi Island). Cracks opened up at many places in the ground. Although they closed up at once, traces remained on the surface, as if someone had been digging in the ground. Despite its magnitude, the earthquake did not cause considerable damage. There were many recurrent shocks.

The earthquake was accompanied by oscillations of the sea, which rose 1 m (3 feet) above the high watermark, although it was ebb tide. The ship "Freundschap," riding in the roadstead, found itself on dry bottom when the water retreated. The rigging shook on board The naval vessels "Surinam" and "Bali." The earthquake was felt and was accompanied by similar oscillations in sea level on the islands of Tidore and Makian.

Reference #1055:

1859, July 29. Celebes, Menado; sea waves.

Intensity I which corresponds to an earthquake of intensity sufficient to crack walls, break chimneys, to shatter old buildings or to produce cracks in the ground.