The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-09-10
Great Destruction from Tuesday
Nights Earthquake in Charles
ton, S. @.
Thirty or Forty Persons Killed-The
Wounded Estimated at One
Hundred.
Between 100000 and 'Sl0,OOO,oo0
Worth of Property Laid Waste The
Victims Destitute.
CHARLESTON IN RUINS.

quake, such as has never before been
known in the history OF this city, swept
over Charleston Tuesday night shortly
after ten o'clock, causing more loss and
injury to property and far more loss OF
life than the cyclone OF a year before. The
first shock was by far the most Sc
we're. It's effect can be judged by
the experiences 81 Captain Dawson
OF the News and Courier, who
lives in a massive brick residence on Bull
street near Rutledge street. Captain
Dawson was in his room on the second
story when the first shock occurred.
The house seemed literally to turn on
its axis. The first shock was followed by
second and third, less severe than the
first. The air was filled with the cries
and shrieks OF women and children.
When the first agony was over it was
found that the ceiling of every room in the
house was cracked, the big cistern was
broken apart, the huge tank in the attic
was pouring it's flood of water into the
bedrooms. In the parlors the stat
ues had been wrenched from their
the hall the massive lamp had actually
been turned around. In front OF the house
was a large porch with heavy pillars and
solid marble steps; all this was swept
away as though it had been shaved off
with razor. And what was Captain
Dawson's experience was that OF hundreds
OF others in Charleston.
There were in all five shocks, diminish
ing in violence from the first. The side
walks in the streets were dotted with
mothers, wives and daughters, with their
protectors, awaiting in anxious expecta-
ton still another agony. The air was
thick with horrid rumors, and the lurid
glare of the fire but heightened the general
ruin.
Owing to the demoralized condition of
everything here it is impossible to give
correct facts further than this: The
number of casualties has not vet been
ascertained; probably from thirty to forty
killed and over one hundred injured.
The loss to property will proba-
bly, reach $S,000,00O or $40, 0Oo,-
600. Three-fourths of the buildings
in the city will have to be rebuilt. There
was very little shipping in port and none
OF it was injured. The disturbances have
not at all affected the water in the harbor
although it is evident that all the shocks
came from a southeasterly direction and
therefore from the sea. There are no
signs of a tidal wave as yet.
The list of those killed, fatally and seri-
ously wounded is a long and fearful array,
and their experiences are too voluminous
to detail. They consist of injuries re.
ceived by being struck with the flying de-
bris, falling stones and trembling walls
Many became panic-stricken and jumped
from the windows OF their residences, and
Others were unfortunately trampled upon
by the fleeing crowds in the streets. AS
the night wore on the search for the dead
and wounded continued. Stretchers were
improvlsed out of shutters, boards and
loose planks, and the dead and wounded
were conveyed to the open space. Wash
ington park was speedily filled with i'm
promptu stretchers, on which the dead
and wounded were placed. Drs. Manning,
Simmons, P. G. Desaussurc, Mellow, Raven
ct and others were out and rendered all
the assistance in their power. In many
cases shattered homes were revisited and
the children and women were provided with
clothing and covering. That infinite mercy
which seems to be melted out to strick-
en- people SO tempered the wind
and weather that the frightened and
houseess people were spared many dis
comforts and hardships. The dead were
laid in the open air. The wounded were
provided with temporary pallets in the
lawns or on the streets, and every one
waited patiently for the coming dawn,
which would at least tighten the horrors
of the occasion. At the lowest estimate
the loss will be about double that caused
by the August cyclone of last year.
Three or four fires started in as MANY
sections with the first shock, and the
city was soon illuminated with flames,
thus leading all to believe what was lett
by the earthquake would be devoured by
fire. However, the fire department. was
SO well divided and handled that the
tires were under control by daylight.
From 125 to so residences and stores
were consumed.
Throughout the night the streets rang
with the Changing OF bells, the rumbling Of
earthquakes. the sweeping OF the water
through the streets, the falling OF build
ings, groans of the wounded and dying,
and the screams OF women and children.
The atmosphere had become cool and a
high wind was blowing. Still the people
rushed through the city seeking relief.
Once or twice they quoted down, but
were again made frantic by the rumble
and disturbance of another shock, which
broke out with terrible shaking motion,
as though the earth would be rent in
twain. During the night. from ten o'clock
until eight this morning, there were nine
distinct shocks. 1t is feared that some of
the people have been made insane by the
mental strain. Men have broken completely
down, and were to be seen huddled in cor
ners, weeping like children and show
ing every indication of arrangement. The
negroes were simply wild, and rushed
about the streets in crowds OF hundreds,
valnly seeking some place of safety, pray
ing and weeping all the while. Two or
three OF them are said to have died from
fright Thousands of people passed the
entire night in the streets, many praying
necessarily for Divine mercy.
The principal danger just at present
seems to be that the food supply may give
out Already there is great scarcity of
food, and none can be obtained from out
side the city, as all railroad communication
is shut off, 1t is stated by the railroad
managers that there is not q single road
out OF here in running condition The
commissions of the earth are said to have
wrecked the tracks so completely that
there Is not stretch of rails forty rods
long in any location for miles around that
is not twisted out of shape SO as to make
it impossible to run an engine over it.
Fully thirds OF the residences in the
city are uninhabitable, wrecked either to-
tally or partially. The eastern part OF the
city, toward the ocean, suffered most
The streets leading to the great sea-wall
are blocked by fallen buildings and all
kinds OF debris making traffic impossible.
The police force and firemen are
at work hunting for bodies, but their
work is attended by much difficulty, and
the small force is unable to clear away the
distractions which confront them Broad
street yesterday morning presented a
spectacle OF the utmost horror Even
women, armed with hatchets, worked vol
unfairly to rescue imprisoned unfortun-
ates. Meeting street, from Broad to Hazel,
is a wreck. and lined with homeless people
Theeartlquake which carried DIES truction
and death to Charleston was preceded by
other shocks, beginning as early as last