The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-09-02
THE EARTHQUAKE.
SHOCKS FELT THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY.


COUNTRY.
Terrible Destruction of Lives and Prop
erty in Charleston and Columbia
South Carolina.
At few minutes before ten o'clock Tues
day night, a severe earth quake shock was
felt in Winston-Salem, and surrounding
country. The first shock lasted about two
minutes and was followed soon after by 9TH
er shocks of diminished force, but all re-
rious enough to brighten our citizens and to
bring many Of them from their houses to
the street. The shaking was quite enough
to cause doors and window shutters to swing
back and sorth, and in few instances, win
dow panes to rattle out. There have been
reports of buildings within the city being
cracked but aside from this our reporters
have been unable to learn of any damage
being done.
From the press kilograms in our daily
exchange it is apparent that the shock was
quite general throughout greater part of
the country In Charlotte it caused several
public gatherings to undergo stampede,
and chimney is said to have been shaken
down. Street rumor here has it that build
ing at High Point was demolished, but we
give little credit to the report.
The accounts wired from other points in
the North and West all show that the peo-
pie were very much frightened and excited,
but report no serious damage done. South
of US it was alarmingly different, as the
following dispatches show:
COLUMBIA, S. c., Sept. 1.-The shock
was felt here about 9:48 last evening The
first two shocks were fearful. Buildings
swayed from side to side and the earth rose
and fell like waves on the ocean. People
rushed madly into the streets and some
sprang from windows. Substantial build
ings were shaken to their foundation. Walls
cracked and sprung. Five minutes after
another shock. Ten minutes later third
More followed until ! p. m, when the
eighth lasted one and one-half minutes
At this morning, the ninth shock and
at 1890 the city again trembled. All
communication was cut off from Charleston
until o'clock this morning when the ter
rible news came that the city was nearly
destroyed. Loss greater than by the cyclone
of last year. About fifty people killed and
wounded. Summerville, fourishing town
% miles from Charleston was almost de-
molished. The worst earthquake in Amer
lea since first discovered oy the whites.
CHARLESTON, Sept. 1.-12 m.-From
Broad to Hard Streets the city is wreck,
and the streets are lined with homeless
unfortunates. Many fires broke out in
seven different places and Intellectually
fought by brave firemen. The night was
hideous with the bowls of the dying, groans
of the suffering and prayers of the wounded.
Impossible to estimate the loss both of
persons and property. Up to 10 a. m,
there has been ten distinct shocks. The
MichaePs and St. Phillips churches, two
of the most historic in the city, are in
ruins. So it the Hibernian hotel, the Po-
lice station, and many other public build
ings. Fully two-thirds of the residences
are uninhabited, wrecked, totally or partial
ly lost. Cannot give 8 correct estimate Of
casualties.
LATER.--It is reported that between fifty
and one hundred people have been killed
and several hundred wounded. At the
time of the first shock FIRE broke out at five
different places. Twenty residences de-
stroyed by fire. Scarcely 100 houses in the
city were occupied at the time; the people
being camped out in the open places. All
the stores are closed and the scarcity of pro-
visions is feared-not from want of them,
but because no one can be induced to reach
the stores to sell them.
COLUMBIA, Sept. l.-l2.30-Passenger
train from Columbia to Charleston was
thrown from the track near Summerville,
last night, and the engineer and fireman
killed. Passengers ON the wrecked train
and those on this mornings train have not
yet reached Charleston.
VERY LATEST.
CHARLESTON, Sept l.-5:12 p. m.-Two
slight shocks since S:25, the last at l:30 p.
m. Not even during Gen'l Gilmores bonn
bardment of the city has there been such a
deplorable state of affairs. The city is liter
ally in ruins, and the people are living in
open square and public parks. No trains
have been able to be dispatched from the
city. There is great rush to leave. 1t is
impossible to depict the ruin and desolation
that prevails here. 1t is impossible to give
any correct list of the killed and wounded,
and bodies are constantly being disinterred
from the debris. One undertaken states that
he has furnished eight cofins up to noon.
Many ofthe dead are lying unburied, they
being of the poorer classes of colored
people who await burial by the county
The Carolina Cofhn Company.