On this day in 1899 the south was in the grip of a severe cold wave, with temperatures of 15 below zero reported in Anniston, Alabama. In the Knoxville area both the French Broad and Holston Rivers were reported to be filled with floating ice, while upstream both rivers were reported frozen over.
That wasn’t the biggest news of the day, however.
Early that morning, around 3:30, an earthquake struck east Tennessee and western North Carolina. In Jonesborough there were reports of buildings rocking back and forth. The quake was felt throughout the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, causing many to flee their homes, where they encountered a temperature in Jonesborough of 6 below zero.
Very little damage was reported because of the earthquake.
