Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-09-03
A MAN WHO WAS THERE.
He Relates His Experience I'm Charles
ton Tuesday Night.
HOW THE FIRST SHOCK ROCKED THE CITY
THE REIGN OF TERROR IN THE STREETS
THE DAMAGE TO THE BUILDINGS

THE DAMAGE TO THE BUILDINGS
The first passengers coming north from
Charleston, s. C., arrived in this city at
o'clock this morning. They were unable to
leave Charleston until yesterday morning on
account of the interruption in railroad COM
munication Mr.. Thomas Fl. Tolson of Balti
more, one of these passengers, gave to STAR
reporter an account of his experiences.
II was stopping at the Charleston hotel"
he said. ''fhe evening preceding the earth
quake had been exceedingly warm
and close. There was not breath of air
stirring. The sky had a lurid appearance.
Many people noticed and spoke of the stiffness
OF the air. had been sitting outdoors, oppo-
site the hotel, talking with an old gentleman,
and about 9:45 bade him good night went
which was on the third floor from the ground.
When iit my gas-an extension burner, which
you pull down. heard a noise and supposed
had broken something and made an inspec-
ton. but could find nothing broken. Then 1
went to place my hat on u bureau, and just
would have fallen If l had not thrown my
hands out and cung to the window. 1t seemed
THE HOTEL WAS LIFTED
up and swung backwards and forwards q dis
tance OF 15 or 20 inches at each vibration. /
was terrified. At the very first shock the lights
In the house all went out, and was in perfect
darkness. Then the plastering began to fall. 1t
uaSueu Oh my thinu tnat SAOHt0 enQeAVOr TO
get out OF the house, and got out into the cor
ridor and grouped my way, in utter darkness,
amid falling plaster. Other people in the house
reached the ground floor could see q little from
the reflection from the street lights. The air
was filled with plaster dust. All around was a
din was heightened by the falling OF timbers. 1
found the front door of the house closed, u tor
too thing for as it saved my life
was looking for it tons OF brick tell down from
the upper part of the house, in front OF the door.
been haqe1 mao nndas the door would
through the heaps OF fallen bricks and fell twice
In getting to the middle of the street There l
REMAINED TERRoR-srRICkEN.
Two shocks came after reached the middle
of the street, one faint one seven minutes after
the first, and another, more violent than the
second, nine minutes later. The three shocks
occurred Within sixteen minutes. I remained
In front of the hotel for long time-untii one
| O'Clock. did not know what to do. l was so
unnerved that could scarcely stand. AS it
became quieter, no more shocks occurring,
went up the street to an open space and re-
mained there until three o'clock. There we
had another slight shock. At three O'clock I
went to the Battery park and found it
crowded, several thousands of terrified people
having assembled there. There 1 remained
during the remainder OF the night. At dve
O'Clock another faint shock was felt.
AT DAYLIGHT
I, like others, felt more encouraged, and I
moved around to see what destruction had
been done. found at the Battery front some
Of the most costly houses in the city cracked
from the ground to the top, and some portions
of the buildings were des Eyed completely.
ALI of the Charleston residences are built with
porches in front, many having substantial pill.
lars, and these pOrches were all thrown down.
There was not a house in Charleston that had
its chlmneys standing.
The terror among the people during the night
was intense. They rushed through the streets
frantically, calling on God to have mecry on
them. People, who perhaps never prayed be-
fore, then prayed aloud. Then to this was
added the shrieks of the wounded and the
lamentations of those who had lost friends
Here and there parties with lights were looking
through the ruins for the missing people. The
greatest terror and confusion reigned every
where. The people. when the shock came, ran,
men, women and CHILDREN, out into the streets
in their night clothing and remained in that
way during the night huddled together in the
street. None would venture back into the
houses. The least little shock was likely to
throw the houses to the ground. Daylight was
never welcomed as it was by the thousands OF
terrOr-stricken people in the streets OF Charles
ton Wednesday morning.
Mr.. TOsOn said that he thought the
published estimate of damages was two low:
and that three-tOurths OF the city would have
to be rebuilt. The people killed, he said, were
killed while leaving their houses by the falling
OF debris. All who could leave the city, he sand.
were leaving yesterday. but no trains could get
away until yesterday morning.