Little Falls Daily Transcript
Sept. 4, 1917

Earthquake Shakes City

Earth Tremor Felt All Over Northern Minnesota, According to Reports -- Houses Said to Have Been Shaken Down at Bemidji--Chimney Knocked Down at Brainerd -- No Damage Here, Although Shock Was Felt in Nearly Every Building -- Roar Like That of Automobile Truck Engine Accompanies Quake.

An earthquake which shook nearly all of northern Minnesota was felt in Little Falls between 3 and 3:30 Monday afternoon. The shock was felt in every building in Little Falls and was strong enough to rattle glassware and windows in many buildings. The quake was accompanied by a roaring noise.

The shock was evidently of wide extent, as it was felt in points as far distant as International Falls, according to reports. It was said this morning that some houses had been shaken down at Bemidji. Brainerd, Motley, Pillager, Ft. Ripley and Pierz, among the nearer towns, felt the shock and it was apparently stronger in the more northern towns.

At Fort Ripley and Brainerd it was very pronounced and at Brainerd a chimney was knocked down in the northern part of the city. Except that reported from Bemidji, there was no other damage, as far as can be learned. At Lincoln, people in boats on the lake felt the quake.

The shaking of the buildings was like that produced by a heavy truck passing, according to many who felt it, and it was thought at first that a car was causing it, especially as a roaring noise accompanied the tremor. The noise was like that produced by a powerful automobile engine.

Little Falls experienced an earthquake tremor once before, several years ago. The shock was also very slight.

Monday's quake lasted about 20 seconds.

Article located online the Minnesota Geological Survey
http://www.geo.umn.edu/mgs