Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-09-11
PEOPLE AFRAID TO SLEEP.

give the worn out, exhausted citizens
a chance to get peaceful nights
rest. At $50 tonight the rumbling
sounds were heard again, the earth
trembled and the shock lasted five
seconds. 1t was rot severe one,
bat it settled all hope of going to
bed in houses tonight. The air is
chilly and damp, and many of the
poor people have not sufficient
clothing to keep them warm in their
all-night stay ON the streets and in
the parks. The terrified people are
afraid to go to sleep even in the
squares or streets, lest they lie sum-
moned from slumber to death. They
keep awake just as long as they can,
until exhausted nature closes their
eyelids in spite of them and forces
the nervous mind into repose. The
shock tonight continues the reign
of terror. What will be the end p
! One woman was killed last night
in building that fell. She was
struck and crushed by falling tim
OCLSs 4uC SdkAC
sound was heard last night a second
before the ground trembled, and al
so during the vibrations. This fear
ful underground growing gives
strength to an idea growing in the
minds of many of the terrified cit
liens that the subterranean volcan-
&c fires under the city have doomed
it to destruction. The action on the
surface OF the earth between Charles
ton and Snmmervllle would seem to
encourage the volcano theory. One
cannot travel half a mile without
finding long cracks in the ground.
Sand has been belehed forth during
the commissions, and lies in piles
| like ant-hills. Some of this sand is
brick-dust red and fine as flour. In
places where there has been no rain
for ten days there are pools OF wa
ter the color OF white clabaugh whey.
Some of the little hills have holes in
the center, through which had squirt
ed blue oily mess, not unlike crude
petroleum, but having no odor.
Many persons residing IN the county
declare that on the night of the
great earthquake they saw jets OF
sulphurous fame shoot up ten and
twenty feet high from the cracks in
the earth. The sulphurous smell
was in the air the day after the
shocks, and even now you can de-
tect the strong odor OF sulphur by
putting your head close to the ground
near the assures. Several families
on the county roads leading out of
Charleston have been found living
under big trees, the leafy branches
OF which afford the only protection
they have. A short distance off
may be seen their houses in ruins.
The rising of the ground in some
parts and its falling in others is an
other remarkable feature of the dis
turbance. At Summeryllle this is
particularly noticeable. From the
roof of a citizen the orphan asylum
was pointed out. "That bnildlng,r
said the gentleman, "before the
earthquake was not visible from
here. Only the top of the roof could
be seen. Now the two upper stories
can plainly be seen.n A number of
other places were visited, and al
most every one seen is firmly of the
opinion that Summerville has risen,
or the swamp and lowlands between
it and Charleston have sunk. Ell
evations have been formed without
the ground being broken.
The great dread now is the APP
proach of the equinox. Il three
weeks the equator will balance the
sun, and Charleston will be in the
midst of the great storm era. The
equinoctial gales have always been
disastrous in Charleston in fact,
last years disaster was so great as
to attract national attention. 1t is
estimated that every house in the
city has had its foundation shaken
by the earthquake. Walls have
been rent, chimneys and church
steeples are off their square, and
there is nothing pllmb about the
city.
If an eqninoctial gale of the usual
severity should strike the city be.
fore considerable repairs can be
done, nearly every house i'm the city
would be blown down. The gale
comes sometimes as late as the first
week in October, bat last year it
came in the last week of August. 1t
will thus be seen that the city Is in
imminent danger at any moment.
This would cause such a crashing of
timber, brick and mortar as was
never before heard of. The tenn
perature has changed so as to warn
the people that the storm is at hand.
The effect OF weeks storm and
pelting rains upon the homeless
women and children would be ap-
palling.
There are two wretched objects of
pathetic interest to the people of
Charleston. They cannot keep back
the gathering tears when they look
upon st. Michael's aud st. Philips,
the two churches about which center
the most sacred associations of their
lives. Both must come down.
st. Philips hardly less dear to the
people than st. Michael's, is in a.
worse condition. 1t may be neces-
sary to blow up both buildings with
dynamite, as it is hardly possible to
do anything with the lofty. shattered
steeples.
To st. Micbael's the cornerstone
of which was laid in 1852, the Char
lesion people are most deeply attach
ed. Under its walls lie the remains
OF the forefathers OF the colony. The
injury done to this grand old church
by the cyclone of last year had Just
ben repaired. Now III stands crack.