The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-05-02
After the Earthquake, Frederickstadt.
1867.
Scribner's MagaZine.l j

The negroes from the plantations were
terribly affected by the earthquakes;
they saw water oozing from the sides OF
the hills, where no springs were known,
and the rumbling and shaking or the
earth filled them with superstitious
terrors. Some of them died from fright,
as 1 was informed by a clergyman who
ministered am ng them. Hundreds of
them fiocked into town, and for the ac-
commodation of them and others we
constructed tent out of our mainsail.
The scene in this palm-grove was not un-
like an old-time camp-meeting. The
sojourners in both tents devoted their
time principally to religious exercises,
of which singing formed the greater
part. At times these tents would be CIV
ing forth volumes of music and praise
that made the very welkin ring; but in
day or two it came to be the custom to
alternate, one listening while the other
sang, until the superiority of the negro
music was acknowledged, when the black
tent had to bear the burden of song.
We had good opportunity for observ-
ing the negro character under the most
trying circumstances, and had abundant
evidence of its volatile nature. They
were all very devout, very penitent for
the first three days, and spent the day
and nearly all the nighttime in prayer
and praise. If there was cessation in
their devotions at any time, night or
day, a shock was sure to revive them,
and long prayer and one hymn, at
least, would follow. But as days passed
and the shocks occurred with less fire.
quency ana violence, Sambo's natural
gayety arose, and as their repertoire of
hymns had been exhausted, some of
them occasionally would venture to
interject popular ballad imported from
the states, and all would join in and
render it with full chorus. On one
occasion they were singing with great
gusto,
al wish were in Dixie,''
| when whir-r-r-er came a tremendous vi
bration, which hushed every voice in an
| instant, and, as soon as recovered, fer
| vent prayers took the place of the
worldly song, followed by the doubly ap-
propriate hymn beginning,
"on Jordan's stormy banks stand"
People outside the tents conducted
themselves during these trying times in
various manners. Some relied solely on
their devotions, others gave rum Their
exclusive attentions, while still Others
| there were who made as they thought, a
| judicious admixture of the two. All,
however, seemed to suffer acutely from
anxiety and nervousness. There is
nothing, I believe: SO trying to healthy
nervous system as succession of earth
quakes. To a landsman gale at sea
has untold terrors; yet the tossings OF
his bark can be accounted for; the wind
and waves are there, and the result may
be anticipated. But in an earthquake
all these factors are wanting; the cause
is mysterious and unknown; the resul
anticipated is destruction in some form
and the tension of the nerves is mos
wearing. Imagination magnifies th'
danger, and thus keeps the sensorium OF
constant strain for the next shock
! he third day after the wreck an unusu
ally severe vibration occurred, afte
which the smell of sulphur was plainl,
perceptible. 1 was standing at the tim
by the side of friend, and SO affected
was I by this new symptom of DANCE
that could not mention it. 1 felt ik'
one who sees fatal symptom appearing
on the face of sick friend; my hear
fell within me, and 1 could not music
courage to speak of it. My frien'
shifted the Plutenic odor, however, an,
exclaimed, "Godsl x, did you smel
birthstone? What if volcano be unde
us!" ] confess 1 was trying to banis
| the same thoupht