Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-17
A NIGHT OF TERROR.
Graphic Description of the Awful Scenes
That Occurred In Charleston.

Graphic Description of the Awful Scenes
That Occurred in Charleston.
From the Charleston News and Courier.l
Necessarily the description that can be given
of the disaster which has befallen our city con-
ssts in the narration of the experiences and OBJ
seryations Of individuals and, the subject be-
ing the same and the experiences of all being
nearly alike the story told by one careful OBJ
with slight variations: Probably. the best
idea that can be had of the character of
the disturbance, therefore, may be obtained
from narration of the events and scenes Of
Wednesday night as they were presented to
q single person. While engaged in his usual
duties in the second-stnry room of the NeaOs
and Courier office at the time of tho 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 heavy
body, as IN iron safe or a heavily ladon truck,
over the floor. Accompanying the sound there
was perceptble tremor Of the building
not more marked, however, than would
car or dray along the street. For
perhaps two or three seconds the occurrence ex-
cited no surprise or comment. Then, by tWift
tremor became more decided; the ear caught
the rattle of window-sashes. gas-fxtures, and
other loose objects. The me- in the office, with
perhaps u simultaneous flash Of recollection OF
the disturbance of the Friday before, glanced
hurr.edly ut each other and sprang to their
feet with startled questions and answers.
bewildernent and confusion Then the long
roll deepened and spread into an awful roar
that seemed to psrvade at once the troubled
earth and the still air above and around y,
agitated the whole building as though 1t were
being shaken by the hand Of an immeasurable
power, with intent to tear its joints ssnnder and
scatter its stones and bricks abroad. There was
no intermission in the vibration OF the mighty
subterranean engine. From the f1rst to the last
it was continuous jar, only adding force to ev,
AVID
the climax Of its manifestation, it seemed for a
few terrible seconds that no work of human
could possibly sgys the Tine
walls and partitions visibly swayed to
and fro, the crash of falling masses Of
stone and brick and mortar was heard
overhead and without the terrible roar
filled the ears. It is not given to many men to
look in the face Of the destroyer and yet live
but it is little to say that tho group OF strong
men who shared the experience above family
described will carry with them the recollection
OF that supreme movement to their dying day.
None expected to escape. sudden rush was
open mir and flee to place Of safety but before
the door was renched all reeled together to the
tottering wall and stopped. feeling that hope
was vain. That it was on q question OF death
within the building or without, to be buried by
the sinking roof or crushed by the topping
| walls AS We dashed down the stairway and out
| into the street already on every side arose the
| shrioks the cries Of pain and four, tho prayers
| and wnlings of terrified W, men and children,
comningled with the hoarso shouts of excited
men Out in the streets tho air was filled to
| the height of the houses with a whitish cloud
Of dry, sitting dust from the lime, mortar, and
shattered masonry, which, falling upon the
pavement una stone roadway, had been re-
auced to powder. Through this cloud, dsnse as
fog, the gaslights tlickercd dimly, shedding but
little light, so That you stumble ut every step
| over the piles of brick OF become entangled in
| the lines.of Telegraph wires that dep nded in
eyery direction from their broken supports. On
every side were hurrying forms of bareheaded
mon and women, pn. tally. dressed, some
| with fear or excitement
The first shock occurred ut 953 az was ind
| Gated by tho public clocks. The second shock
which was but faint and crisp echo of the
| first was folt eight minutes lator. As trasset
away tho writer st.ttel homeward, . ind tia
scenes enacted on Broad street around the Ner
| aug Courier Office repeated mt every sep OF tn
wny. St. Michael's ss&ople lowered hisl
| md white nbove TIE gloom, seem'ngl.
uniniured. The statiou-!;ouse, a MASSIVE