The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-09-02
An Earthquake in Anderson.

AQQerS0u DaS lelC q genuine 6arLil-
quake, and it is the general topic Of con-
versation. 1t happened on Tuesday
night, the first shock being felt about
five minutes before 10 o'clock, and was
followed, at brief intervals, for the next
hour, by five other shocks. Another
slight shock was felt at p. M, and
still another at Up. m. The first shock,
however, was the severest. There is q
diversity ofopinion as to which direction
the earthquake came from. Many per-
sons say it came from the Northeast,
while others say it came from the North
west. Persons who were on the street
said they first heard rumbling sound,
similar to that made by an approaching
train of cars, and in few seconds expe-
rienced a. peculiar feeling in their knees.
Those who were in the houses were the
most frightened. We were sitting in our
room writing when the first shock came.
At first the doors began to shake then
The sash ratified, and the house began to
crack and the dishes ratified. We moved
out at rapid pace, fearing that the house
was going to tumble down. The occr-
pants of neighboring houses also came
out, and their experience was similar to
ours. There seemed to be considerable
excitement all over the city. From
many directions could be heard the
screams and yells of the people, and all
the dogs Joined in TO increase the noise.
The commotion had not ceased when the
second shock was felt. This, of course,
increased the excitement. Each succeed
ing shock gradually grew less, the one at
ii o'clock being scarcely perceptible.
AS might have been expected, the con-
sternation among the colored population
was very great. Many Of them thought
that "de Judgment" had come, and that
in few seconds tho earth Woald open and
swallow them up. The lamentations of
some of them were exceedingly amusing,
despite the serious feelings Of everybody.
One or Two of their churches wero open
at the time, and the excitement among
the congregations was intense.
Nearly every house in the city was
emptied of it's occupants, many of whom
came out in their sleeping garments.
Nearly every person has an incident to
relate in reference to the shock. Very
little damage was done in the city. The
plastering in one of the rooms of Mr..
John E. Peoples reside enco was so badly
cracked that It will have TO be replaced
with new plaster. Several bricks tunl,
bled off of one Of DR.. P. A. Wilhite's
chimneys, and number of panes of glass
in his house were shattered. In other sec.
tions of the city brick were thrown from
the chimneys of several houses. The
shocks caused the bell in the Court House
tower to tap twice. In Broadway Town
ship we learn that chimney Of q dwell
ing house was demolished. a gcntloman
writes US from lenyer that the shock
there was severe and that bricks fell off
Of his chimney. The clocks in many OF
the houses in the city were stopped. Not
few families, who were asleo. when the
shock came, dressed and rem aimed up
throughout the night, fearing that an.
other shock would come.
Wednesday morning great many per-
sons came into the city from tho country,
and from every section great excitement
is reported, especially among the negroes,
many Of whom in vsrious sections held
religious services throughout the night.
Previous to the shake.up the night had
been remarkably still; the skies were
clear and it was very warm. Immediate
ly after the first shoeE 1t turned cool.
IT was truly night of terror, and one
that will long be remembered in Ander-
son by all those who experienced it.
The Greenville Nous, of Wednesday
morning, in speaking of the shake in that
city says:
dispatches received here last night say
the shocks were distinctly felt in every