Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-02
VIRGINIA'S VISIT.
Experiences With the Earthquake in MiM
Portions Of the State.
A GREAT SHAKING UP.
Luckily, However, No Great
Damage Done.
ALL QUIET AT THE PENITENTIARY.
The Prisoners All Safe and Sound
and Quiet.
PERSONAL INCIDENTS.
Readable Accounts from a Number
PERSONAL INCIDENTS.
Readable Accounts from a Number
of Persons, &C., SC, sc.

/
Charleston's, the occurrence will not
soon be forgotten.
The shocks were felt in all parts of
the city. Many people who were in
bed and fast asleep were aroused and
rushed into the streets. Others calmly
slept through it all. In 4 few houses
pictures and mantel ornaments were
thrown to the floor. Bricks fell from
number of chimneys, and in some in
stances doors were swung open. Win
dow. panes everywhere rattled. Many
persons report that the quivering Of
their houses almost reached a point
near to collapse.
A prominent citizen, who states that
he watched the effect upon his room,
declares that, had the vibration here
continued a few seconds longer. Rich
mond would have suffered calamity
like to Charleston.
The first shock was felt here about
seven minutes to 10 o'clock. That
there was a second shock all cOncede.
Some speak of third shock ; others
assert that there were but two.
The rolling motion Of the earth--or
possibly the terror that that inspired
made hundreds feel a slight nausea.
Nearly every one who speaks of the
quake mentions experiencing a faint
ing, sea-sicky feeling. Quite q num-
Der of ladies were made i'll by the ex-
citement Of the night, and one or two
of these are yet suffering greatly.
TIE PENITENTIARY OUTBREAK.
BY long odds the most exciting Incl
dent in our city's experience Tuesday
night was the attempt of terror-strlcken
conyicts to break from thslr cells in the
penitentisry.
Soon after the shocks passed over a
number Of men in cells ON the upper
tiers of the east side of the prison be-
gan crying aloud 10 be released, and
followed their supplications by cner-
getic attacks upon the doors and tran
SONS. Then all over the institution a
great racket began.
That ten or twenty did break ont
has already been stated; also, that
coming into the yard and approachlrg
the gate ard refusing to return TO then
cells, they we're fired upon and dis
persed by Superintendent Moses. Will,
lusty cries came from all the cells, 81
examination made yesterday shove,
that only seventeen cells were damage
by the convicts hammering upon them
There are only about $50 cells in tn,
mems department. There are four OF
five men in each, and, taking the plAnks
from their hunks, they were able to
assail the doors and transoms with
| flerceness-in many cases with success.
Some of the prisoners, after thus libe-
rating themselves, went about the gal
leries attempting to break in other
doors, so as to free their tellow-prison-
ers.
With all this going on, fearing thai
his own force was inadequate, Superin-
tendent Moses did the correct thing ID
turning in the fire-alarm, which wa
followed a few minutes later by the
ringing of the military alarm.
TIE MILITARY.
The Carney Guards, colOred mill
tary company, were out drilling whe.
the military alarm was sounded, an
} their commander promptly marched
them to the penitentiary, as ne learnec
that it was from that institution the cal
for troops came. They were received
with great cheers by the thousands o
people assembled about the prison.
All the companies OF the First regl
ment and the Howitzers and the Blue
also responded, and to command these
brave soldier-boys there We're present
Brigadier. General Anderson, COlOne
NJ. L. Spotswood, Lieutenant-ColOne
Tazewoll Elicit, and Major Bidgood
Governor Lee was also present for ;
time.
In the nature Of the case the ClrneJ
Guard came without ammunition, and 81
their services were not made use o
when the detail was made TO remain a
the peniteutlary during the night.
This detail under Captain Spence
remained on duty until 6 O'Clock yester
day mOrDing-haying discharged thel
duty satisfactorily.
The promptness of the military anC
the value of their services were signal
demonstrated on this occasisn, which
facts ought to secure for them from ouI
people increased consideration. L
may often happen that in case lik'
this the military may in one hour repay
all that the city has spent upon them il
. a score Of years.
When the military assembled--com
pany by company-at the Armory tn
I men did not know where or for wha
= their services were needed. But the.
were ready for any service. They wer
prompt, they were Jealous, and, il
moving through the streets, they ais
; showed speed.
THE RESULT.
/, Not a prisoner was able to escap
, from the penitentiary; none Of ther
, were hurt, and yesterday nearly a.
their excitement was quieted down.
The experiences of night before las
, shows that the officers Of the peniten
tiary have enly to make use OF the lire
alarm and police-telegrapb to summo
, from this city all the help they need 70
an emergency. IL shows also-wha
=, is not so fattering-that tn
!, old, rust eaten bars and locks o
the peniientiary are not to b
relied on, nor, indeed, are they. Tn
ease with which the convicts burst ope
a number Of cells demonstrates thei
: insecurity. True, in this instance, a
the inmates of a cell worked togethe
y and were not hindered by the fact tbs
they were making a great deal OF nois
in their operations; but had they bee
!, in a modem prison they would hav
!, : found breaking out Of cells an alto
: getber different matter.
= The new women's ward IS secur
= enough, but the mems prison is q poor
, weak, cramped, overcrowded building
u not creditable to Virginia in this sg'
,houoh the officers do all they can {