Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-08-31

uruS store Ioll 70 the H0Or, plaster
ing was also shaken to the floor in
tho residence of THE OBSERVERS as,
sociate editor. on Seventh street and
in number of houses in the neighs
borhood. In every frame house, the
timb9rs cracked, and in many ins
stances bricks were loosened from
chimreys. AT the residence of Mr..
Frank Snidcr three lamps were OVER
turned and the pltstering cracked
From all sections Of the city similar
reports were received.
At the opera house. tho play "Uns
der the Lssh." was in progress. and
the second ecene was being en-
acted, when the building be-
gan to crack. Tho people
arose in their seats, but all appeared
to be calm and collected, and fears
that were at first entertained of a
stampede were at once allayed. The
second shock came, and then there
was hurried, but orderly exit from
the building. In two minutes the
house was cleared, the lights were
out, the play was ended.
The scene where the greatest ex-
citement ensued was at Biddle In
stitute, where colored campmeet
ing was in progress. AS the first
shock came, the congregation were
in the midst of q hymn, and every
voice was instantly stilled. Another
shock came, and there was stam-
pede from the building. The shock
was sufficient to rock the building
with such force that the bell in the
tower sounded twice.
At the Tryon street Baptist church,
congregational meeting was in
progress, when the building began to
rock, and there was rush for the
street The church was cleared of
its occupants almosts in a moment,
and without accident to any one.
A meeting of colored people was in
progress at the city hall and they
stampeded in lively manner
About ten minutes after the first
series Of shocks, four in number,
were over, still another, but lights
er shock was felt, and this only
served to increase the alarm Of the
people. Many of our citizens, fear
ing that the danger was not yet over.
moved out into their front yards, and
as late as ~ o'clock. whole house
holds could be seen camped out in
the open air. Especially was this
the case in the Sml.hville
section. where the alarm
appeared to be greatest, if it were
possible for the people OF one section
Of our city to b. more seriously
frightened than others.
Not a few families, who were asleep
when the shake came, dressed and
remained up throughout the night,
dreading another shock, yet prepar-
ed as best they could to receive 1t,
The hotel Office was thronged with
men recountiDg their experiences
and the incidents of the quake until
long after midnight, and even at that
hour the streets were alive with peo-
pie.
From the best indications obtaina
BILE, it seems certain that the course
of the shock was from South to North.
The first foru came In quick suc-
cession and lasted for 60 seconds Af-
ter that there was a lull for ten or
twelve minutes, when another shock,
almost as severe as was the first came.
In the limited time at our disposal
it is impossible to present all the
scenes aud incidents in Charlotte, of
this remarkable occurrence; but il
was in truth night Of terror, and
one that will be remembered for
aye, by all who experienced it.