, 1878-04-12
After the Earthquake, FredericA
stadt, 1867.

~ The NEGROES from the plantations Wer'
u terribly affected by the earthquakes
thew saw water ooziDg from the Siues y VI
the hills, where no springs were huo"u W.,
and the rumbIing and shaking ol Wv wv
earth filed them with superstitlous 'er,
rors. Some Of them died from frlght' a.
was informed by clergyman VINO
ministered among them. Hunureus u
them flocked into town, and TOR the ac'
commodaton of them and Others we cOp'
structed tent out of our malnsall' ,!, tne
scene in this palm, grove was not unlike
an old time camp-meeting. The sQJouIn-
ers in both tents devoted their time prln-
icipaliy to religious exercises, OF whicn
lsinging formed the greater part ht
times these tents would be giving forth
volumes of music and praise that mace
! the very welkin ring; but in day or TWO
| il came to he the custom to alternate, one
listening while the other sang, until the
superiority of the negro music was ac-
knowledged, when the black tent hau 10
bear the burden of song. We had gooo
opportunity for observing the negro char
acter under the most trying circumstan-
ces, and had abundant evidence OF us
volatile nature. They were all very de-
vout, very penitent for the hrst three
days, and spent the day and nearly all
the night time in prayer and praise. Is
there was cessation in their deVotlon-
at any time, night or day, shock was
sure to revive them, and long prayer |
and one hymn, at least, would follow
But as days passed and the shocks oc.
Cured with less frequency and violence,
Sambo'snatural gayety arose, aud as their
repertoire of hymns had been exhausted,
some of them occasionally would venture
20 interject a popular ballad imported
rom the States, and all would join in
md render it with a full chorus. On one
occasion they were singing with great
,usto,
II wish were In Dixie"
when whir-r-r-er came tremendous Vi
oration, which hushed every voice in an
instant, and, as soon as recovered, fervent
prayers took the place of the worldly
song, followed by the doubly appropriate
hymn beginning,
"On Jordan's stormy banks ! stand.'
People outside of the tents conducted
themselves during these trying times in
various manners Some relied solely on
their devotions, others gave rum their
exclusive attention, while still others
there were who made, rs they thought,
q judicious admixture of the two. AL,
however, seemed 10 suffer acutcty from
anxiety and nervousness. There is
nothing, l believe, so trying to IA healthy,
nervous system as u succession OF earth
quakes. To II lGndsman 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 result an
ticipated is destruction in some form,
and the tension of the nerves is most
wearing. Imagination magnities the dam
ger, and thus keeps the sensorium on u
constant strain for the next shock. The
third day after the wreck an unusually
severe vibration occurred, after which
the smell Of sulphur was plainly percep-
tible. l was standing at the time by the
side of friend, and so affected was l by
this new symptom of danger that I could
not mention it. felt like one who sees
fatal symptom appearing on the face of
n sick friend my heart fell within me,
and could not muster courage 10 sneak
of it. My friend shifted the Plutonic
odor, however, and exclaimed, Goods !
X, did you smell birthstone What if
volcano be under usl" | confess was
trying to Danish the same thought
.Seribner.