The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-09-09
A THhRIBLE EARTHQUAKE!
DREADFUL. DESTRUCTION or PnOPIaTs
AND HUMAN LIFE.

Dreadful Occurrence.
The earthquake shock experienced in
different parts of the State on the night
of Tuesday the 31st ult., was felt with
dreadful effects in the city Of Charleston.
The loss of property was dreadful, one
estimate putting it as high rs five mil
lions of dollars-actual and incidental.
One report states that there arc only one
hundred houses left altogether lninjur-
cd. This is perhaps an cxaggcration,
but it is safe to say that the number Of
buildings injured will include the larger
portion of the structures in the city.
Twenty buildings, in different parts of
the city, were destroyed by fire caused
by the ovcrturning of lamps. Below
will be found an interesting account of
the disaster, taken from the telegraph
reports to the daily press:
CHARLESTON, S. c., September L.
The compositors Of the News and Couri-
or decline to work tonight, expecting
fresh shocks Of earthquake, and the
paper cannot issue tomorrow. Tho fol-
lowing article was prepared for publica-
ton in the News and Courier, and is
telegraphcd almost in the writer's own
words, necessarily the only description
that can be given of the disaster which
has befallen our city. It consists in the
narration Of experiences and observa-
tions of individuals, and tho subject be-
ing the same and the experiences of all
,a;, o,l,, - !
careful observer may we'll stand for an
hundred others, with slight variations.
Probably the best idea that can be had
of the character of the disturbance,
therefore, may be obtained from mar
ration of the events and scenes OF Tues
day night as they were presented to a
single person while engaged in his usual
duties in the second story room of the
News and Courier Office. At the time of
the first shock the writer's attention was
vaguely attracted by sound which
seemed to come from the Office below,
and which was supposed for a moment
to be caused by the rapid rolling of q
heavy body, as an iron safe or heavily
laden truck, ovcl the floor. Accompa-
nying the sound there was pcrceptible
tremor Of the building, not moro mark
ed, however, than would be caused by
the passage of Il street car or dray along
the street. For perhaps two or three
seconds the occurrence excited no sur
prise or comment. Then, by swift de-
grees, or, perhaps, all at once, it is
difficult to say which, the sound deep
ened in volume, the trcmor became more
decided, the ear caught the rattle of
window sashes, gas fixtures and other
loose objects. The men in the Office,
with perhaps simultaneous flash of the
recollections of the disturbance Of the
Friday before, glanced hunicdly at each
other, and sprang to their tcct with
startled questions and answers, "What
is that?''> "Earthquake" And then all
was bewil~ -rment and confusion.
The long roll dccpened and spread
into an awful roar that seemed TO per-
wade at once the troubled earth and still
cir above ana around. The trcmor was
now rude, rapid quiver, that agitaicd
the whole lofty strong-wallcd building as
though it were being shaken by the hand
of an immeasurable power, with the i'll
tent to tear its joints asundcr and scatter
its stone and bricks abroad as q tree
casts its ripened fruit before the breath
of the gale.
There was no mtcrmissi0n in the
vibration of the mighty 8ubterranean
engine. From first to last it was con-
tinuous jar, only adding force at every
moment; and rs it approached and
reached the climax OF its manifestation,
1t seemed for few terrible seconds that
no work OF human hands could possibly
survive. Floors were under foot the
surrounding walls and partitions visibly
swayed to and fro, the crash of fallin%
nf 1N,,inl
was overhead and without; a terrible
ro8r filled the ears and seemed to fill the
mind and heart, dazing perception, be-
wildcfipg thought, and for q few pant
ing brcaths, or while you held your
breath in dreadful anticipation OF imme-
diate and cruel death, you felt that life
was already past, and waited for the end
rs the victim with his head on the block
awaits the fall of the up lifted axe.
1t is not given to many men to look in
the t,,ce of the Destroyer and yet live,
but it IL little to say that the gang Of
strong men who shared the experience
above family described will carry with
them recollections of that supreme mo-
ment to their dying day. No one cX-
pected to escape.
A sudden rush was simultaneously
and flee to place Of safety, but before
the door was reached oil reeled together
to tho tottering wall and stopped, feeling
that hope was vain; that it was only a
question of death in the building or
without, TO- be buried by the sinking
roof or crushed by toppling walls.
me rproar slowly died away in the
seeming distance. The earth was still
and OH tre blessed relief of that still,
ness! But low rudely the silence was
broken. AS We dashed down the stoir-
way and out into TIE street, already, on
every side, aros,' shr;ul;s cries of min
and fear, prayers and waiiinEs Of fnr7itioJ
women and children, comminrlod With
the hoarser shouts Of excited men. Ont
in the street the air was filled to the
height Of house with whiteish clou5
of dry, sitting dust, from the lime and
mortar and shattered masonry. which
falling upon the pavement ana stone
roadway, had been reduced to powder
Through this cloud, dense as fog, the
gas Lights hickered dimly, Shedding but
little light, so that you stumb ed at overy
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