The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-09-08

Chsrles,on Visited by Calamity ,nI'Esc; deH;'
ed in All Its Eistory-Par,icu!ars q: ;;'c
Dreadful Occurrence.
TIE earthquake shock experienced N
different parts OF the State on the n1ght
of Tuesday the 3lst ult., was felt with
dreadful effects in the city Of Charleston.
The loss OF property was dreadful, one
estimate putting it as high as five mi
lions of dollars-actual and incidental!
One report states that there arc only one
hundred houses left altogether u2injru-
ed. This IS perhaps an exagseraslon,
but it is safe to say that the number of
buildings injured viii include the larger
portion OF the structures in the city.
Twenty buildings, in different parts OF
the city, were destroyed by fire caused
by the overturning of lamps. Below
will be found an interesting account OF
the disaster, taken from the telegraph
reports to the oaily press:
CHARLESTON, S. c., September l.
The compositors of the News and Courl-
er decline to work tonight, expecting
fresh shocks of earthquake, and the
paper cannot issue tomorrow. The fol-
lowing article was prepared for publica-
ton in the News and Courier, and is
telegraphed almost in the writer's own
words, necessarily the only description
that can be given of the disaster which
has befallen our city. It consists Ii the
aarration of experiences and observa-
sions Of individuals, and the subject be-
ing the same and the experiences Of all
being nearly alike, the story told by one
careful observer may well stand for an
hundred others, with slight variations.
Probably the best idea that can be had
Of the character of the disturbance,
therefore, may be obtained from a mar
ration of the events and scenes OF Tues
day night as they were presented to g
single person while engaged in his usual
duties in the second story room Of the
News and Courier Office. At the time Of
the first shock the writer's attention was
vaguely attracted by sound which
seemed to come from the office below,
and which was supposed for moment
70 be caused by the rapid rolling of a
heavy body, as an iron safe or heavily
lade1 truck, owe, the floor. Accompa-
nvine the sound there was perceptible
tremor OF the building, not more mark
ed, however, than would be caused by
the massage of street car or dray along
the street. For perhaps two or three
seconds the occurrence excited no sur
prise or comment. Then, by swift de-
crees, or, perhaps, all at once, it IS
difficult to say which, the sound deep
ened in volume, the tremor became more
decided. the ear caught tie rattle OF
window sashes, gas fixtures, and other
loose objects. The men in the office,
with perhaps Spontaneous fash OF the
recollections of the disturbance Of the
Friday before, glanced hurriedly at each
other, and sprang to their teet with
startled questions and answers, sN hat
IS that?" stEarthquake!" And then az
was bewilderment and confusion.
The long roll deepened and spread
into an awful roar, that seemed to per
Tsde at ONCE the troubled earth and still
air above end around. The tremor was
now rude, rapid quiver, that agitated
the whole lofty stroag-walled building as
though it were being shaken by the hand
of an unreasonable power, S;th the IN
tent to tear its joints asunder and sc2tter
it's stone and bricks abroad as tres
casts its ripened fruit before the breath
of the gale.
There was no internission il the
vibration of the mighty subterranean
engine. From first to last it was a con-
tinuous lar, only adding force at every
moment; and as it approached and
reached the climax of its manifestation,
it seemed for q few terrible seconds that
no work of human hands could possibly
survive. Floors were under foot. the
surrounding walls and partitions ylslbiy
sgayed to and fro, the crash of falling
masses of stone and brick and mortar
was overhead and without; a terrible
rc;sr filed the ears and seeme2 to I'LL the
mind and heart, dazing perception, be-
wilds-ing thought, and for 3 few pant,
ing oseaths, or while you held your
brea4h In dreadful anticipation OF lmme'
date and excel death, you felt that Life
was already past, and waited for the end
as the victim with his head on the block
awaits the fell of the up Lifted axe.
It is not given to many men to look in
the face of the Destroyer and set live,
but It is little to say that the gang o.
strong men who shared the experience
above family described will carry with
them recollections of that supreme mo-
ment to their dying day. No one e5
pected to escape.
A sudden rush was simultaneously
made to endeavor to attain the open ali
and fee to a place of safety, 'ut before
the door wss reached aHn "a together
to the totte.iug wall and' :3opped, feeling
that hope was vain; that it was only 8
question of death in the building OF
without, to be buried by Tie sinking
roof or crushed by toppling walls.
The uproar slowly died away in the
seeming distance. The easth was still
and oh! the blessed relief Of that still
nessi But how rudely the silence was
broken. As We dashed down the stair.
way and out into the street, already, OF
every side, arose shrieks, cries oi pair
and fear, prayers and vaiings Of terrified
women and children, conmingled with
the hosrser shouts of excited men. Out
i, the street the air was filed to tht
bei,rht of house with vbiteish clouC
of dry, sitting dust, from the lime arc
mortar and shattered masonry, which