Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1864-08-10
Charleston, in 1868.

We find in late issue OF. the Cornhil
Magazine, the following graphic account O.
the experience of a night in Chaelestou, a
the time when the bombardment was still {
novelty to our people: -. .
On the 21st August, at half past a. m.
I was lying on my bed in the Charleston
Hotel, unable to sleep from the excessive
heat, and listening to the mouotonous soune
of the cannonade kept up on the enemy
position from the batteries on James Island
Restless and weary Of the night. 7 hae
lighted candle in defiance of the musqui
toes, and Sought to pass away the time with
volume of Giles Miserables." 1t happen
ed to be the one containing the account o.
the battle of Waterloo, and while deeply in
terested in the description of the rushing
squadrons of cuirassiers, was startled by g
noisethat, from connection with my reading
resembled the .whirr of a phantom brigade
of cavalry, galloping in mid air.
My first feeling was that Of utter aston
ishmeut; but crash, succeeded by deaf
enipg explosion in the very street on which
my apartment was situate, brought me, with
bound, into the centre of the room. Look
ing from the window, l saw fire and smoke
issuing from house in which were slowed
the drugs Of the medical purveyor. A
watchman was running frantically down the
street, and, when he reached the corner just
below ne, commenced striking with his stat
against the curb-a signal of alarm prac.
tieed among the Charleston police. Atfrs1
I thought meteor had fallen but another
awful rush and whirr right over the hotel,
and another. explosion beyond, settled any
doubts might have had-the city was be-
ing shelled. People are not given to laugh.
ing under such circumstances, but I will De,
fly any one who witnessed what I witnessed
on leaving my room, not to have given way
to mirth in moderation. The, hotel was
crowded with spectators, who had been at.
tracted to the city by the sale Of some block
ade eargoes, and the corridors were filled
with these terrified gentlemen, running a.
bout in the scantiest costumes and in tbe
widest alarm. One perspiring individual,
of portly dimensions, was trotting to and fro
with one boot on end the other in his hand,
and this was nearly all the dress he had to
boast Of.
In his excitement and terror be had for.
gotten the number of his room, from which
he had FASTENED at the first alarm, and his
distress was ludicrous to behold. Another,
in a semi state of nudity, with portion Of
his garments on bis arm, barked the shins
of every one in his way to drag an &enor.
NOUS, trunk to the staircase. On reaching
the hall I found motley crowd, some Of
whom, with the biggest words, were cursing
the Federal commanders. Whirr came
another shell over, the roof, and down on
their faces went every man of them, into
tobacco juice and segar ends, and Gathering
among the spittoons. need not say that
this is a class of mon from whom the Con-
federacy hopes nothing; on the contrary,
BY their extortion, practiced on a suffering
people, they have made themselves execra-
ted. If shell could have fallen in their
midst and exterminated the whole race Of
hucksters, 1t would have been of great ben
eft to the South. The population was now
aroused, the streets filed with women and
children, making for the upper part of the
city, where they could find comparative safe
ty. The volunteer fire brigaaes brought
out their engines, and parties Of the citizen
reserves.organizcd rapidly and quietly, to
be in readiness to give assistance where re-
quired. ,
The fret engine that reached the house
struck by the first she'll was one belonging
to negro company, and at it they went
with a will, subduing the fire in marvel
lous short time. At every successive whirr
above them the negroes shouted quaint in
veotives against "cussed hobolitiouists," ,"
scattering for shelter until the danger was
passed. Through the streets 1 went, and
down to the battery promenade, meeting on
my way sick and bed ridden people, carried
from ,hcir homes on mattresses, and mothers
with Infants in their arms, running they
knew not WHITTIER Reaching the promen.
ade, l cast my eyes towards the Federal po.
sition, and presently, beyond james Island,
across the marsh that separates it from Nor.
ris Island, came fash, then dull report,
and after an interval of some seconds, q
frigbtful rushing sound above me told the
path that the shell had taken. Its flight
must havs been five miles.