Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-09-10

'eloIe thp Dreatn OF the gale. nvis
was % intermlssion in the vibrs .onyo OF the
mighty subterranean engine From the
FIRST to the last 1t was n cnaunuous jar, only
adding fofce at every moment, and as it APP
preached the climax of its manifestation
it seemed for few terrible seconds that no
work of human hands could possibly sur
vive the shocks. The floors were heaving
under foot, the surrounding walls and par
titions visibly swayed TO and fro, the crash
oil falling masses of stone and brick and
mortar was heard overhead, and without
the terrible roar filled the ears and seemed
to fill the mind and heart, dazing perception,
bewildering thought, and for a few painting
breaths, or while you held your breath in
dreadful anticipation of immediate and cruel
death, you felt that life was already past,
and waited for the end, as the victim with
his head on the block awaits the fall of the
uplifted axe.
ut is not given TO many men to look in
the face of the destroyer and yet live, but it
is little to say that the group Of strong men
who shared the experience above family des-
cribed will carry with them the recollection
OF that supreme moment TO their dying day
None expected to escape. A sudden rush
was simultaneously made to endeavor to
attain the open air and flee TO a place of
safety; but before the door was reached all
reeled together to the tottering wall and
stopped, feeling that hope was vain; that it
was only question of death within the
building or without, to be buried by the
sinking roof or crushed by the topping
walls. The uproar slowly died away in
seeming distance. The earth was still-and,
oh, the blessed relief of that stillness-but
how rudely the silence was broken AS we
dashed down the stairway and out into the
street, already on every side arose the shrieks,
the cries OF pain and fear, the prayers and
wailings of terrified women and children,
commlngled with the hoarse shouts of ex-
cited men,
"Out in the street the air is filled TO the
height of the houses with whitish cloud of
dry, sitting dust from the lime and mortar
and shattered masonry, which, falling upon
the pavement and stone roadway, is reduced
to powder. Through this cloud, dense as
fog, the gas lights flicker dimly, shedding
but little light, so that you stumble at every
step over the piles of brick, or become en-.
tangled in the lines of telegraph wires that
depend in every direction from the broken
supports. On every side are hurrying forms
OF men and women bareheaded, partially
dressed, some almost nude, and many OF
whom are crazed with fear or excitement
Here woman is supported, half fainting,
in the arms of her husband, who vainly tries
TO soothe her, while he carries her into the
open space at the street corner, where pres.
ent safety seems assured there a woman
lies on the pavement with upturned face
and outstretched limbs, and the crowd passes
her by for the time, not pausing to see
whether she be alive or dead.
"a sudden light flares through a window
OF
tarily brighter, and the cry of 'Firer re.
sounds from the multitude A rush is made
toward the spot. A man is seen doubled up
and helpless against the walls. But at this
moment, somewhere out at sea, overhead,
deep in the ground, is heard again the low,
ominous roll which is already too well
known to be mistaken. 1t grows louder
and nearer, like the growl of wild beast,
swiftly approaching his prey and is for
gotten again in the frenZied rush for the
open space, where alone there is hope of sc
curity, faint though it be. The tall build
ings on either hand blot out the skies and
the stars, and seem to overhang every foot
of ground between them; their shattered
cornices and copings, the tops of their frown
ing walls, seem piled from both sides 10 the
centre of the street. 1t seems that touch
would now send the shattered masses left
standing down upon the people below, who
look up 10 them, and shrink together as the
tremor of the earthquake again passes under
them, and the mysterious reverberations
swell and roll along like some Internal drum
beat summoning them to die, and it passes
away, and again is experienced the blessed
feeling of deiverance from impending ca
lamity, which il may well be believed evokes
a mute but earnest offering of mingled prayer
and thanksgiving from every heart in the
throng.
Again, far along the street and up FROM
the alleys that lead into it on either side, Is
heard that chorus of waling and lamenta
ton which, though 1t had not ceased, was
scarcely noticed a moment before. Ii is
dreadful sound, the sound of helpless, horror
stricken humanity; old and young, the
strong and the feeble alike, where all are SO
feeble, calling for help from their fellow
creatures and raising their anguished voices
In petition TO heaven for mercy, where no !
human aid could avail. 1t is not scene 20
be described by any mortal tongue or pen
II is not a scene 70 be forgotten when once
II has been witnessed, and when the witness
has shared all It's danger and feels ali its
agony.
There were no distinctions of place or
power, pride or caste, in the assemb, ages that
were gathered together in Charleston on |
Tuesday night II was a curious spectacle
to look back upon. 1t is a good one to re- |
member for white and black alike. There |
were instances of unselfish devotion, of kind
and loving regard between master and SER
want, mistress and maid, in the presence Ola
common i'll, and Of threatened ruin. that
showed, as nothing else could show. how |
strong is the tie that binds our white people |
n IL.