The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-05-11
After the Earthquake, Frederickstadt,
1867.

toNilohrf MaEhAine.i
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 OF the
earth filled them with superstitous
terrors Some of them died from fright,
as | was informed bya clergyman who
ministered am ng them. Hundreds of
them tlocked into town, and for the ac-
commodation of them and others we
constructed a tent out of our mainsail.
The scene in this palm-grove was not I'M
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
a 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 a 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 and violence, Sambo's natural
gayety arose, and as their repertoire of
hymns had been exhausted, some of
them occasionally would venture to
interject a popular ballad imported from
the states, and all would Join in and
render it with a 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 nm
instant, and, as soon rs recovered, fer
vent prayers took the place of the
worldly song, followed by the doubly APP
propriate hymn beginning,
"on Jordans stormy banks stand''
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,
judicious admixture of the two. All,
however seemed to suffer acutely from
anxiety and nervousness. There is
nothing, | believe, so trying to a healthy
nervous system as succession Of earth
quakes. To landsman q 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 earth quake
all these factors are wanting; the cause
is mysterious and unknown; the result
anticipated is destruction in some form,
and the tension of the nerves is most
wearing. Imagination magnifies the
danger, and thus keeps the sensorium on
constant strain for the next shock.
he third day after the wreck an unusu-
ally severe vibration occurred, after
which the smell of sulphur was plainly
perceptible. | was standing at the time
by the side of friend, and so affected
was | by this new symptom of danger
that could not mention it. | felt like
one who sees a fatal symptom appearing
on the face of sick friend; my heart
fell within me, and could not muster
courage to speak of it. My friend
shifted the Plutonic odor, however, and
exclaimed, Goods x, did you smell
birthstone? What if a volcano be under
u.s." ] confess / was trying to Danish
the same thought.