The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1886-09-07


The EARTHoUAKE IN CHARLEsToN-=THE
SENSATION AND SCENES Y1vIDLY DEs-
oRIBEp. @
We are permitted to use extracts. from
a letter to one of our citizens, written by
a lady of Charleston dated on Friday Sd
inst, at l o'clock A. NJ:
@This is Friday / O'Clock a. NJ, and it is
the first time that I have been able to
sit down and compose myself to write
you, after the horrors of Tuesday night
We had all, that is Minnie and myself;
Col. S. and Robert, Frank E. julie and
Robbie been seated on the piazza. The
day had been excessively hot, all felt
wearied with the heat, and Robbie and
julie bad gone to their rooms and retired.
In few moments after, all had conclud-
ed to retire. i had put out the lamp in
the sitting-room, and just turned out the
one in the hall when began to hear a.
rumbling which increased in violence
and the house seemed to me to be totter-
ing on its foundation. put out my
hand to catch the bannisters, but they
shook SO I could scarcely get hold of
them and I felt SO sick and dizzy that I
could scarcely keep on my feet. I besah
to hear glass breaking ana things crash
ing up stairs, and all who had gone up
stairs came rushing down two steps at
a time making for the street, to which we
all rushed, with scarcely enough sense to
know how we got there. Robbie and
julie jumped out of bed and rushed into
the house without stopping to think of
their clothes, but by the time they got
in the violence of the shock had passed
and they went back and dressed.
But in that few seconds of time what
destruction and desolation have been
caused 1t makes me shudder now as
l think of il; it was the most awful ex-
perience of my life. When we got into
the street it was crowded with people,
don't think a single person remained
inside of a house, and all were telling
their experience. Pretty soon we began
to see fires bursting out in every direc-
ton, look which way you would, and
then 1 thought the fearful end of all
things was at hand, that what the earth
quake had not destroyed the fire would.
And SO all night through we waited and
watched its progress, az all the shanty's
in George, between King and St. Phil
lips streets, were burning, and we knew
not how soon it might reach us. We
tied up clothing in sheets and brought
ter and set on the piazza, and then, when
the course of the fire shifted a little
sent around to look after Mrs. l.. and
Annie, who were driven from their house
which was 80 shattered as to be beyond
repair. DIR. LIS house was also badly
shattered, and they fled to the College
Campus, but so soon as G. become COM
posed they come here, and have remain.
ed ever since. Mrs. L. and Annie remain
ed all night in the street, the latter in a
fainting condition. They came here in
the morning. Dr.. LIS house is a wreck,
also the LIS. We have
escaped most wonderfully well compar-
ed with hundreds of others who are
houseless and homeless. Our chimneys
are all gone except the one on the kitch-
en-, which was fortunate, as our cooking
can go on just the same. The walls are
q little cracked all over the house. The
chimneys, or what was left of them, were
in such a dangerous condition that 1 hir-
cd two men yesterday to come and take
them down, which they did for rs cents
each. To-day you cannot get the same
thing done under So, 81, or SIS apiece.
Many and many one here
knows not where to go for shelter, for
every one who lived in a brick house is
afraid to venture back, they are in such a
tottering condition. now provide for
to-day, leaving the morrow to take care
of itself. None of US have slept in bed
this week, all stay in the sitting room,
feeling it easier to get out in case of an
other shock. 1 fix every body as COM
fortably as can, but there is not much
sleep for any one. Last night DR.. L. and
c. slept in the stable OF the hay. They
have been more demoralized than any
one else.