November 18, 1867 Earthquake: Virgin Islands, US Territories

A violent earthquake along the north scarp of the Anegada Trough, occurred 15 to 20 km southwest of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (U.S. Territory). The two shocks were separated by an interval of 10 to 15 minutes. Both of these shocks resulted in tremendous tsunamis. The strong earthquake was felt at the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. Croix), the British Virgin Islands (Tortola, St. John), and Puerto Rico (Viequez and Culebra).

St. Thomas: "'The loud rumbling of the earth, and the severity of the shocks, soon emptied every story and building of its occupants. As each individual rushed into the streets, it was only to witness the tottering of his neighbor's walls, or to see the falling of bricks of mortar from his own...The United States steamer of war, De Soto, which was in our harbour during the Earthquake and Tidal Wave, but was not critically damaged, proceeded to steam back and fourth in the harbour, saving the lives of many seamen from the numerous capsized vessels...During the whole of that night the earthquake continued without one moment's intermission. We were not exactly in terror of our lives, for...unless the earth open and swallowed us up, we were tolerably safe. (By the way, the earth did open in one place on Main Street!)..With the steady fortitude of British seamen in an emergency, throughout the night our crewmen laboured at the coaling. Sometimes as a stronger shock made the whole ship vibrate, it required all their courage to continue the work. But they persevered. By 6 o'clock in the morning, (Nov. 20, 1867), they had taken in sufficient coal.'" (Reference #10686).

But in an earthquake all these factors are wanting; the cause is mysterious and unknown; the result anticipated is destruction in some form and the tension of the nerves is most wearing. Imagination magnifies the danger, and thus keeps the sensorium on a constant strain for the next shock (Reference #536).

1867 November 18, 18:45:00 (UTC), 18.2 N 65 W, magnitude 7.3mw (reference #13456)