The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-09-17
NMD Star
THE AWFUL
Remarknble Phenomena.

A special report from Mount
Pleasant, opposite Charleston, SAYS
that "A Siuk neal the German Church,
which, on Tuesday, was perfectly
dry sand, is now full of fresh water.
Near Shell street there is a cabin
occupied 10y ii colored man that is
completely surrounded by yaynimy
chasms, extending through the
earth's surface for ten feet aud over.
All around this there are sinks of
fresh water and masses of mnd
with queer looking soft Substances
that have never seen before. 1t is
commended by many that HE mud
and other substances found arounl
the village are volcanic matter.
just after the first great shock on
Tuesday night there was a decided
and distinct smell of escaping sui
phuric acid gas over the entire vii
lage. The smell lasted throughout
the night and was distinct in those
localities where the cavities in the
earth were most numerous. Some
say that portions of the mud thrown
up by the water spoutS are strongly
Impregnated with sulphur, and that |
small portions of sulphur can be
found in the mud. Not far from
Charleston on the road to Summer
vile extensive mounds of clay
were thrown up, as also hillOckS of
sand, in most cases in the shape of
inverted cones, the hollow parts
which had evidently been formed
by the action of the water returning
into the depths from which it had
been raised. In many cases the
erupted matter had StIeamed away
from the breaks in the surface of
Jhe earth to a distance of from
twenty to fifty feet. In other places
there were assures almost ~invaria-
bly, extending from north to south.
These cracks were not wide, and
extended ~dOwnwardS always in a
slanting direction. The matter that
was thrown up was of 4 dull, dark
slaty color, and was mixed with
gravel. There was also IA little
shale, and in general the mud re-
sembled that which is thrown from
the bottom of the phosphate pits
along the river. The water in some
places had the taste Of u arteSian
water. but III many instances it was
Just as clear and limpid as from a
mountain spring.
CURIOUS JETS OF WATER.
These evidences of the great con
v1lsion are not sporadic they ex-
tend tar and near in every direc-
ton from the city limits of Charles
ton TO Summerville, aud at the lat
ter place it was found, from trust, !
worthy information, that the cracks :
and assures were everywhere visi- /
BILE for miles and miles around. 8
enough, some of these I
were in active operation, and the {
constant shocks that were felt at
S~ummervllle sent the water out of
these assures TO the height of from i
fifteen to twenty feet. This was Z
evidently the result of the cracks 2
being filled with water and theu the Z
sides opening aud closing by each
succeeding shock. These appear y
lDces were, of course, suggestive of
still more violent eIuptIOnS, and
here was a constant dread every A
where that there would be a general
nundation caused by some extraor-
force of the earthquake. +
Not only was the water emitted in
he low places where it might be
expected to exist all the time, but
~ the tops of the highest elevations D
he mud could be seen. This latter .,
act indicated that The force was l.,
being eXerted at rather more than or
he depth that was at first thought "
be it's limit. Near Ten Mile Hill nj
fatal accident occurred on Tues. to
lay night. The down Columbia
rain jumped the track. The en-
Burns, aud the fireman, -
Arnold, colored, were badly injured W
" the tremendous leap which the IA
rain took in the dark under the n
Unseen influence Of the shock that =
the road. 1t is SAID the
arth suddenly gave way, and that G
he engine first plunged down the
temporary decliyIty. 1t was then
aised Oh the top of the succeeding
errestrial undulatiOn, aud having gr
cached the top of the wave a sud e.
.en swerving of the force to the "a
ight and left, hurled the ill-fated
rain down the embankment. w,
wi