The Earthquakes That Made the Mississippi Run Backward

What Is Actually True

• The U.S. Geological Survey gives preferred magnitudes of about 7.5 on December 16, 1811, about 7.0 for the dawn aftershock the same day, about 7.3 on January 23, 1812, and about 7.5 on February 7, 1812.
• USGS says the February 7 shock destroyed the town of New Madrid and that only one life was lost, in falling buildings there.
• On the river, USGS does not say it flowed backward. It says uplifts and waves moving upstream gave the illusion that the river was flowing upstream.
• USGS says the shaking was felt across the eastern United States, woke people in New York City, Washington and Charleston, and toppled chimneys as far as Cincinnati and St. Louis.