Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-09-09

ear was able to distinguish above the |
cries of the distracted pOpulace sharp |
cracking Of topping walls, and the
brittle snap Of falling towers. All the
while low, dull and execratingly pain
full mumbling had beat upon the ear,
but ii now died away in the distance
and with a suddenness that almost
startled one, cloud of grayish smoke
of dry sitting dust rose to the heights
of the housetops. Gas lights were like
tiny stars struggling against the black
ness of night. Telegraph lines were
held near the e0rth by PROSTATE poles, |
made it extremely difficult TO move |
about. On every side hurrying groups |
of half-dressed people, fleeing blindly |
for some place of safety, yet never |
seeming to find it. Now the cries Of
despair fill the air like mighty sob of
sorrow, accentuated now and then by |
the painfully sharp crash Of some tall
wall that stood bravely through the |
shock, but which, too weary with sus-
tanning alone its own weight, falls prone
to earth beside its companions hurled |
down in the first onslaught Of angry |
nature. Now again the cries swell up !
to the heavens, and Oaths and impreca- |
tions are succeeded by prayers and
AGoNIZED APPEALS
To heaven. Groups of half dressed
people kneel here and there, and SEEM
ingly listen intently to the burning
words of some fervent Christian; but
the slightest unusual noise In the pam
demonium of dead sounds that con-
tinuously assault the ear starts them
shrieking to their feet.
Suddenly, from different quarters of
the city livid tongues of flame dash
their ruinous crests above the roof tops,
and fight their way along cornice and
roof without hindrance from man.
What sight they reveal! Scores Of
dead bodies, lying in all positions, give
increased vehemence to the grief and
fear. With fearless sorrow the dead,
as far as possible, were removed to the
parks and open spaces, and gradually
the crowds sought safety in the same
spots. The fire ragged on, and finally
burned itself out. The night wore
painfully away, and the uncertain dawn
ushered in morning on Charleston
such as it had never before seen. The
more ventursome picked their way
through the debrisfilled streets to their
homes, and stolidly surveyed the ruin
wrought or half mechanically sought
to restore things to their old time con-
dition.
COUNTING THE DEAD.
An attempt was made to as
certain the number of dead and
wounded, but as often as the list seemed
completed some additional disaster
would be reported and scores of new
rumors would require attention. But
at last a comparatively accurate esti-
mate was completed and the death roll
was shockingly near the half hundred
line, while the mangled and injured
touched around hundreds. The dead
are found in all walks of life-rich
merchant and begging negro paid
tribute to the earthquakes power. Ad-
ditional dead are being discovered in
all parts of the city. Communication
with the outside world was an un-
known thing.
ONCE MORE THE AWFUL EARTHQUAKE
sTARTLEs AND DAMAGES CHARLES
TON.
CHARLESTON, s. c., Sept. 2.-What
the end will be for Charleston now the |
most hopeful fail to predict. Between
8 and 12 o'clock last night, several
shocks of earthquake were felt; the last
one being the most severe, half q dozen |
houses were knocked down, and two |
people so badly hurt that they will die.
The scenes of desolation are indescriba- |
BILE.
Charleston is practically wilderness. |
No business is being transacted, and un- |
less aid is extended great suffering will |
follow. Thepeople seem paralyzed and
make no attempt to prOvide-indeed
there would be little use in so doing. 1t
is almost impossible to get at the stores
and railroad communication with the
outside world will be impossible for sew
eral days. The latest estimate fixes
the deaths and more severely wounded
at 1T.
SAVANNAH DEAD, HALF A DOZEN VIC
TINS OF THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE.
SAVANNAH, Ca, Sept. 2.-The earth
quake, though not so severe here as at
Charleston, has done great damage.
The shocks began Tuesday night and
until IL o'clock last night, though at
long intervals. The city is greatly
damaged, the loss being fully 81 ,000, 900.
So far but eight persons are known to
have been killed. The wounded num-
ber about forty. Railroads are badly
wrecked, and in fact the whole city is
in fearfully demoralized condition.
SUMMERvILLE, Ga, Sept. 2.-this
town is perfect wreck. Scarcely a bu-
siness is left standing and scores of
homes are marked only by piles of un-
slightly ruins. The earthquake did i'm
mense damage to property and life.
The attack was sudden, sharp and
irresistible. In an instant the air was
full of falling walls while the affrighted
inhabitants rushed madly from their
toppling dwellings to seek safety in the
streets and field. The family of David
Arnold, consisting of five persons was
crushed to death in their beds. At
least dozen others are dead, and the
wounded number fifty. Hundreds are
homeless and are camping in the fields.
Appeals for aid are imperative in their
demands. The disaster is the greatest
ever known in the history of the town.
-A-S-s--