Albert Johnson, mouth of the Colorado River, 1857:
"I must tell you about the earthquake we had down the river. We were tied up along the bank waiting for the vessel one day. Alonzo was in the aft-cabin and Mr. Neah and the second engeneer and myself were in the cabin, when all at once the boat began to rock. The tide was on the ebb and we thought that it was the boat slipping off the bank. Just then Alonzo came in and sad there was an earthquake. We all ran out. The boat rocked so that we could hardly stand. We looked up the river and the water all drawed off of one place and left it dry. Then in a moment all rushed back again foming and tumbling. That was the only earthquake I ever saw on the river."