The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-09-07
provisions, but because no one can be
got to reach the stores to sell them.
FISSURES IN THE EARTH,

provisions, but because no one can be
got to reach the stores to sell them.
FIssUREs IN THE EARTH.
The city is wrapped in gloom, and
business is entirely suppressed. People
generally remain in the streets in tents
and under improvised shelter, and will
camp out tonight, fearing another
shock. The gas works are injured, and
probably the city will be without light
tonight. St Michacl's church is shat
tered and the stccple will come down,
likewise the steeple of st. Phillips. The
stecple Of tie Unitarian church has fall
en-. The porticos Of the Hibernian Hall
and the main station house are demol-
ished. There is much injury to man
sions on East and South Battery. The
portico Of the Ravenel mansion is down.
Hardly house in the city escaped in
jury, and many are so shaken and crack.
ed that hard blow would bring them
to the ground. The shock was severe
at Sullivan's Island, but no loss of life
is reported there. Fissurcs in the earth
are noticed from which fine sand, appa-
rently from great depth, exudes.
A sulphurous smell is very notice
able.
THE SHOCK coNTINUlNG
Two slight shocks Of earthquake were
felt here since morning. The first ut
e:25 a. m' and one at about 1:3O p. M,
neither Of them di! any further dcstruc-
ton. Not even during General Gill
morc's bor:bardmcnt of the city has
there ever been such dcplorable state
of affairs here. The city is literally in
rn'ns, and the people arc living in tho
open squares and in the public park
There is great rush to the depot to get
away, but owing to the earthquake no
trains have been able to be dispatched
from the city.
IcleSraphic communication is also
cut off excepting wir. of the Southern
Telegraph Company, which is crowded
with anxious private messages. 1t is
impossible tc depict the ruin and DESC
lation that prevail here; not a single
place Of business in the city, save a drug
store, which is busy preparing prescrip.
tons Tor the wounded, il; open. 1t is
impossible also to give any correct esti-
Innate Of the killed and wounded. as
bodies are constantly being disinterrcd
from the debris Of the wrecked houses.
One undertaken stated that he had
eight coffins up to noon to-
day.
Many Of the dead arc lying unburied
the poorer classes of coIorcd
people, who will be buried by the coun
Ly. There are not half dozen tents in
he city, and the women and children
ire experiencing great privations in con-
sequence.
As night approaches, many of the
heads of families arc trying to construct
'ents out Of bed sheets, spare awnings
'r any other material that comes to their
hands. The sun is about ~ set upon
mother night Of horror for poor Charles
on. 1t is calculated that at least three
'ourths Of the city will have to be re-
Quilt i: the houses are to be inhabited.
The colored people everywhere were
o"d and increasing in their declama-
ions of alarm, in singing of HYMNS and
ervrnt appeals for Gods mercy, in
which appeals. God knows, many a
proud heart who heard them arising in
he night and in the hour of His won
lrous might devoutly and humbly and
sincerely joined. Danger brings all of
is to the level Of the lowlest.
There were no distinctions of place or
'oweEs'pride or caste, in the assemblages
hat were gathered together in Charles
on on Tuesday night. 1t was curious
pcctaclc to look back upon. 1t is
'ood one to remember, for white and
black alike. There were instances Of
lnselfish devotions, Of kind and loving
egard between master and servant. mis-
ress and maid, in tho presence of the
common i'll and Of the threatened ruin.
hat showed, as nothing else could show
low strong is he that binds our white
'eople and our black people together
md this lesson Of the dread visitor we
aope, too. will never be forgotten. Ar
lived at his home. the writer found the
same scenes Of distraction and wreck
which marked nearly