November 29, 1852 Tsunami: N. Mexico

1852, November 29, about noon [32.5 N, 115.5 W, magnitude 7]. A strong earthquake in the south of the state of California (USA) affected a vast area with a diameter apparently of about 550 km (300 mi1es). The crew of a ship, riding at anchor on the Colorado River 55 km (30 miles) from the mouth, felt a shock which was preceded by a rumble. Suddenly the water receded, and the vessel, which had been lying in 4 m (14 feet) of water, ran aground in no more than 1 m (3 feet) of water. It floated up only during the subsequent flood tide. The banks of the river were greatly changed after the earthquake. Tsunami validity questionable. (reference #415)

November 29, 1852, earthquake in California, disturbance in the Colorado River, tsunami validity 3 (probable), runup height 3 m. (reference #369)

NOTE: Reference #415 cites: #2542, #13432, #1615, #2967, #2993. Only ref #13432 provides detail resembling ref #415 description, but no clear reference to water receding/withdrawal; however, ref #13432 cites ref #13433 which states "[...] the bed of sand was suddenly forced up, leaving the vessel aground, with only three feet of water around her. In that position she remained till floated off by the succeeding spring tides." Further, ref #13434 provides an account reproduced by the U.S. and Mexican Boundary Survey Party of 1853 in a similar area as the schooner [Capacity] previously referenced "The waters of the river were thrown in a sort of boiling motion, with a strongly rippled surface. The river banks on one side caved in; and on the other separated in a thousand cracks, from which dust, sand, mud and water was jetting...The river formed new bends, leaving portions of its old bed so suddenly that thousands of fishes were left lying on the muddy bottom...". No primary sources reviewed provide a clear indication of a possible tsunami, yet many sources (e.g. #369, #11802, etc.) repeat the water receding/withdrawal description provided by ref #415. Even ref #415 cites the tsunami validity as "questionable".