October 22, 1854 Tsunami: N. California, United States

1854, October 21, 03:35 UTC. Validity 2-3. Reports of "shock at San Francisco" and "swells in the bay." Event not recorded on the marigrams at Fort Point, but the occurrence of a small local wave is not entirely ruled out. The instruments were quite insensitive to short period waves.

1854, October 21, 07:35 p.m. local time [Oct 22, 03:35 UTC]. The Daily Herald (Oct 22, 1854, p. 2. col. 1) reports, "Earthquake--at 25 minutes before eight o'clock last evening [Oct 21st] a shock of earthquake was felt in the city, the severest that has occurred since the morning of the 15th of May, 1851. The motion was horizontal and nearly East to West. There were five distinct vibrations occurring something like two and a half or three seconds. The shock was so violent that several in the lower portions of the city left their homes in alarm." The Oct 24th issue (p. 2, col. 1) continues, "The earthquake-A ship's captain informs us that on Saturday evening about half past seven o'clock his vessel commenced heaving to and fro, and for a few seconds he thought he would part the hawser. This was doubtlessly caused by the earthquake which was felt at about the same time." The weekly Alta Californian of Oct 28 (p. 6, col. 4) confirms the earthquake but makes no mention of effects on the water.

Trask (1864, p. 137, ref #2541) reports for Oct 26, "A smart shock at San Francisco near midnight. It was felt at Benicia. This shock was followed by a swell in the bay as vessels at the wharf swayed heavily at their hawsers." Earlier he (Trask, 1856, p. 87, ref #1616) reported, "a smart shock at San Francisco, felt also in Benicia. Vessels lying at the wharves worked heavily at their hawsers." Note the later additions of "near midnight" in conflict with the newspaper reports and "swells in the bay." Trask is probably in error on the date of this event and this description is for the event of the 21st.

Holden (1898, ref #2967), quoting Trask and Perrey, gives "1854 Oct 26; smart shocks at San Francisco and Benicia followed by a sea wave." Benicia is about 25 miles northeast of San Francisco between San Pablo and Suisun Bays.

The Ft. Point marigrams were checked for October, November, and December, 1854 with no identifiable tsunamis seen before the 23rd of December event except for the October 4th disturbance. The fact that a wave was not

recorded does not entirely rule out the occurrence of a small local wave. The instruments are quite insensitive to short period waves and the traces were uniformly smooth

with only minor short period storm wave activity noted at 10:00 P.M., October 22nd, continuing through October 24th.

Latitude and longitude are estimates based on macroseismic data.

(above from reference #237)

1854, October 26. A smart shock at San Francisco, felt also at Benicia. Vessels lying at the wharves worked heavily on their hawsers. (reference #1616)

1854, October 26. A smart shock at San Francisco, near midnight. It was felt at Benicia. The shock was followed by a swell in the bay, as vessels at the wharfs swayed heavily on their hawsers. (reference #2541)

1854, October 21, 7:30 p.m. VI [MMI]. San Francisco.-T.T. 7:35 p.m.-Perrey. "The severest since 1851."-B.MS., S.F. Daily Herald, October 22,1854. (reference #2993)

1854, October 21, 6:30 p.m. VI [MMI]. San Francisco, Cal.--T.T. 7:35 p.m.--Perry, "The severest since 1851."--B. MS., San Francisco Daily Herald, October 22, 1854. (reference #2967)

1854, October 26. V [MMI]. Smart shocks at San Francisco and Benicia, Cal., followed by a sea wave.--J.B.T.--Perrey (reference #2967)

1854, October 26, about midnight local time [Oct 26, 08:00 UTC). Validity questionable (1). At San Francisco, there was a strong shock, felt also at Benica. It was accompanied by sea waves. The ships riding off the embankment were shaken vigorously. (Holden, 1898 (ref #2967); Townley, Allen, 1939 (ref #2993); Iida et al, 1967 (ref 379); Joy, 1968). (reference #415).