Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-08-11

| We find in late Issue OF the Cornhl Magazine the
following graphic account ct the experience OF nlsbt
in Charleston, At the time when the bCmbsrdm2nt as
still novelty to people
| Ga the 2lst August, at hafpsst l A. M. was 5
ing my bed liz the Charleston HOTEL, unable t. seel
from the excessive heat, ard listening to the monoto
nous sound OF the canbonade kept up On the enenY's
position from the batteries James Island. sts 81
aud weary Of tie night, had Lighted candle 10 def
aGce OF the matqul1oes and sought to ass away hs
time with volume Of Lea Mserebies" 1t happened
to be the containing the acc, uot OF the battle
Waterloo and while deeply Interested IN the descrp-
tioD OF the rushing souadrCns CT cura9sles was star
lied by noise that, from connection with my ding
resembhd the whrr OF phantom brigade Of cavalry
galIoping in mid air.
My first feeling was thet of utter establishment but
crash, succeeded By deafening xposion in the very
street on which my apartment was situate brought NE
with bound, into the entire of the room. Looking
from the window saw fire and smoke issuing from q
house in which slowed the drugs Of the medical
purveyor. A watc5nan S running lrantlcally down
the street, and wien he reached the corner just below
me- commence striking with bis staff against the cur
signal of oil prac:iced among the Charles! on police
At first thought nseteor had fallen; but another
awful rush add whirr righ the bote, and another
explosion beyond settled any doubts ght have had
the city was being EheIIei. People not given tc
laughing under such circumstances but will defy tiny
one who Witnessed what witnessed on leaving my room
not 10 have given way to mish in moderation. The hote
crowded with spectators, who bad been attracted
10 the city by the sale of some blockade cargoes ano
the corridors were flied with these terrified gentlemen
ming about in the scaues costumes and in the wild
est alarm Oue perspirng individual of porty dimen-
ons trottng to and fro, with boot and the
other in his hand and this whs nearly all the dress ne
had to boaet If
Iu the excitement and terror be had forgotten the
number of Ills roona from which he lad FASTENED al the
FIRST alarm, and bis distress ludicrous to behold
Another, in semi state of nudity, with por ton Of
lis garments his ar barked the shns OF every one
in his way to drag enormous trunk to the stair
case. On reaching the hall I found motley crowd,
some of whom, with the biggest words, were cursng
the Federal commanders. Whirr came another soell
over the roof and down their faces went every man
Of them, into tobacco juice and segar ends and CHATTER
ing among the spittoons need not say that this s a
class of from whom the Conederecy hopes nothing
on the contrary, by their extortion practiced SUI
fering people, they have made themselves eXecrated
If shell could have fallen in their midst and extermin
ated the whole of hucksere it would have been If
great benefit to the South. The population now
making for The uppar part of the city, where they could
find mpsrative safety The volunteer fire brlgades
brought out their engines and parties of the citizen
serves were organized rapidly and quietly, to be in
readiness to give assistance where required
The first engine that reached the house struck by the
first she'll was one belonging to negro company, and
at it they went with will, subduing the
fire 10 a marvellous short time. At every success
sve whrr above them the negroes shouted quaint
invectves against cussed boboIitionsts," scatter
ing for slelter until the danger passed.
Through the streets l went, and do9n TO the battery
promenade, meeting my way sick and bedrdd3n peo-
pe carried from their homes mattresss, and mothers
with iufants 10 their arms running they knew not width
Reaching Tie promenade, cast my eyes towards
the F. dera position, and PR seaty. beyond James Is
land, the marsh that separates it from Morris Is
land came fash, then duh report, and after so 10
tervaI Of some seconds rigbtu rushing sound above
told the path that the shell had taken, It's GIT
must have been fee miles.