Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-09-06

after the first, and another more violent
nine minutes later. The three shocks
occurred within sixteen minutes. | re-
manned in front of the hotel until M
o'clock. 1 did not know what to do. /
was 80 unneryed that l could hardly
stand. AS it became quieter, 40 moro
shocks occurring, l went up the street
to an open space and remained there
until three o'clock. There we had an
other slight shock. AT three O'Clock l
went to the park and found
it crowded, several Thousand terrified
people having assembled there. There
/ remained during the remainder of the
night. At 5 O'clock another faint shock
was felt. At daylight, /, like others.
felt more encouraged, and / moved
around to see what destruction had been
done. / found some OF the houses in
the city cracked from top to bottom and
snrne portions Of the buildings were de-
stroyed completely. ALI of the Charles
ton residences are built with porches in
front, many having substantial pillars,
and theee porches were thrown down,
There was not o house in the city that
k:a 81: chin stHnuIng. Inc terror
among the people during the night was
intense. They rushed through the
streets frantically calling or God to a v
them. People who perhaps, never prayed
before, then prayed aloud. Then to this
was added the shrieks of the wounded
and lamentations of those who had lost
friends. Here and the1c parties with
lights were looking through the ruins
for missing people. The greatest terror
and confusion reigned everywhere.
The people, when the shock came,
ran out into the streets in their
night clothing, and remained in that
way during the night huddled together
in the street. None would venture
back into the houses"
Mr.. ToIson said he thought the pub
.lishei estimate of damage was too low,
and that t~hree-fourths of the city would
have to be rebuilt. The people killed
were killed while leaving their houses
by the falling of debris. All who could
leave the CITY were leaving.
Mr.. P. Il. Bennett left Charleston yes
terday on the first outward train. There
was five oars packed with refugees. For
the first two miles the train moved very
slowly the rails being twisted. AS the
train went along the people IN the car
noticed another shock. This further
twisted the rails. 1t was, however, pcs
sible to proceed slowly. The people are
at work digging in the ruins for bodies,
and until the work is completed it will
be impossible to tell or even guess any
way accurately at the number of
casualties.
"Have the reports of the disaster been
exaggerated 2"
mot q bit of it. 1t would be impos-
,;I1a - -rk ;nko ,por1c onp dissemination
of the disaster. Ny wife and | spent
two nights on the commons, as did
thousands of others. To depict the
dreadful scene would be beyond any
mans power. There is not one house in
ten that will not have to be rebuilt
There was 8 peculiar difference in the
manner in which brick and frame
buildings went under. The walls OF the
brick buildings swayed and fell over
while the buildings OF wood simply
collapsed
"Were there any peculiar conditions
preceding the shook 2"
"Yes, il became terribly hot twent.
minutes before the shock. 1t was
peculiar searching heat that l neve
before felt. l saw people on the street
taking off ..hoir coats and vests rs the,
walked along. II was like q train of car
passing under o tunnel, on the top O
which one stands. This rumbling wa
followed by the shocks and the terribl
swaying movements, and then the fallin
of walls. On Wednesday all you conl
get to eat was canned goods. All til
stores were closed and no one would 6
into q hotel building"
In leaving Charleston Mr.. Bennett
noticed on both sides of the track ev
dences of volcanic eruption.