The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-05
Residents Become Panic-Stricken. Abandon
Their Efforts to Clear Away the Debris, and
Settle Into the Depths Of Depression.
Fears that the Equinoctial Gales Will
Complete the Earthquakes Ruin.
The City Surprised by a Shower of Flinty Peb-
bles Which Show Sigss of Abrasion by
Water-Scientists and the COnvulsion.
A DEPLoRABLE SITUATION.

Confidence Impaired by Fridays Shock
Showers of Pebbles Fall in the Streets.
CHARLESTON, Sept. 4--Last nights shock hes
greatly impaired confidence The slightest noise,
such as the jar of door, will empty any house
of its inhabitants 1t is still very difficult to de-
liver telegrams as few people can be found at
their usual places. At 5 o'clock this morning
the Western Union company succeeded in clear
ing up business with all cities for the first time
since the earthquake
Last nights shock caused great alarm on ac-
count of the shattered condition of the nerves of
the people Those persons who had ventured
back under their roofs hurried into the streets,
which presented, for a few minutes, as
tra2ical an appearance as on Tuesday night.
But little actual harm was done by the
shock. Two untenanted houses are reported to
have fallen, together with a part of tho coping
of the Charleston Hotel The vibration during
the shock was not especially great, but the
moaning and bowling sound was sufficiently
alarming Gradually the people had come to the
conviction that the shocks were at an end, and
the diapDointment was agonizing The sensa-
ton to-day is the falling of showers of pebbles in
the lower part of the city. The first fall was at
7:30 o'clock this morning, and the second at
about IL o'clock. They appeared to fall in
slanting direction from south to north. There
are morsels of flint among them, and all are
plainly abraded and worn by the action of the
water Some few have sharp fractures, and
have evidently been recently broken. The fact
of the fall is vouched for by several trustworthy
persons. The bulk of the pebbles fell in and
around the News and Courier Office.
The bar or harbor of Charleston has not been
affected by the earthquake Soundings taken
on Wednesday show seventeen and onehalf feet
of water in the south channel, one hour before
high water, and in Pumpkin Hill channel six
teen and one-half feet of water. There is abso-
lutely no deterioration. There is no truth in the
report thatsthe bridges across Ashley river have
fallen
Although it is now impossible to make any ap-
proximately accurate money estimate of the
property destroyed, it becomes palmer with
every days developments that the blow is one
from which the city will not recover in many
year Although but few buildings were abso-
lutely leveled to the ground. it is not extrava-
CANT to say that fully two thirds of all there are
here will have to be either torn down and
entirely rebuilt, or so nearly so that the differ
ence in cost will be trifiing. The very heart of
the city seems to be utterly shattered and
wrecked It looks as though it had been liter
ally riddled and honeycombed by bombshels
from hundred batteries. Lofty church spires
hanging in the air by mere shreds of masonry;
great massive porticos with tottering pillars
broken, and all askew, and trembling beneath
their burdens at every breath of wind; blocks
with fronts shaved cleanly down and lying
sprawling in unsightly heaps of brick and NOR
tar in the streets below, with the furnished
rooms which so recently were shelter and home,
now all bare to the light of day; bent and broken
palings and awning-rods amp-posts twisted
into all conceivable shapes and standing at all
possible angles-that is all that is left of what
week ago was one of the most picturesque and
beautiful of Southern cities
In addition to the material losses there are
sentimental losses which are beyond all esti-
mate. The Charlestonian sets great store on
the house in which he was born, with all of its
associations. To-day an Episcopalan lady,
whose husband is certainly ruined by the catas
trophe, said. II could stand it all if St.
Michaels had been spared My grandparents
WeG0 UOGu DdUGIAGU duO IudTEIou ku0Ec, anu
within its walls I, too was married" This feel
ing for old ST. Michaels is quite general, even
among those who are not Episcopalians. The
old building was part of the family traditions
of the State and as such was claimed by every
body.
The great dread now is the approach of the
equinox. In three weeks the equator will bal
ance the sum- and We will be in the midst of the
great storm era. The equinoctial gales have al
ways been disastrous in Charleston. In fact,
last years disaster so great to attract
house in the city has had its foundation shaken
by the earthquake. Walls have been rent.
chimneys and steeples are off their square, and
there is nothing plumb about the city. If an
equnoctial gale of the usual severity should
strike the city before considerable repairs can
be made, nearly every house in the city would
be blown down. The gale comes sometimes as
late the first week in October, but last year it
came in the last week of August. 1t will th ~ be
seen that the city is in imminent danger at any
moment. This would cause such crashing of
timber, brick and mortar as was never before
heard of. The temperature has changed so as
to warn the people that the storm is al hand
The "ect of weeks storm and peltng rains
upon the houseless women and children would
be appalling. While the correspondent writes
six ladies are reported to be dying in the tents
from fright The effort made earlier in the day
to clear away the debris has been abandoned,
and people are settling back into the melan-
choly of yesterday. The aldermen of each ward
with three citizens thereof, have been appointed
to condemn unsafe buildings Mr. Bartly, tho
chairman of the committee, has entered upon
his duties. He knows not what to do, where to
begin, or where to stop. It is freely declared
that il fire had swept the city 1t would have