davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
GEORGETOWN.

GEORGETOWN. September 1.-The most vio-
lent earthquake shock known in the history
of GEORGETOWN was felt here at 047 last night.
There were no premonitory symptoms be-
yond the intense SultrinesS of the atmosphere
obs ervcd Il few minutes previous to the shock.
The earthquake wave seemed to come from ,1l
height was accompanied by loud rumbling
sounds. The shock lasted for about three
minutes and shook the whole town.
Scores of people ran In alarm from their
houses into the streets. Many Of the wooden
buildings swaycd and rocked violently. The
first shock was followed by three others In
rapid succession, none, however, rs severe as
the first. AT intervals during the night as
many as eighteen distinct shocks have oc-
CURED, ami there Is some apprehension OF fur"
ther trouble.
There was no loss of life or property, and
the visible effects were confined TO tho crack
ing of plastcring and the upsctling Of small
household articles.
The curIh subsidized to the depth of n foot or
more In two or three spots, covering an area
OF not more than ten feet square.
Great excitement prevails here over the
news of the terrible calamity that has bclal-
len Charleston.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
The Distressing Condition of Charles.
Third Dispatch.
co1.1-Mpr. Sonten,ber / 1855


COLUMBIA, September /, 1856.
Very few details of the earthquake have
been received. 1t is known however, that 1t
extended all over the Union, and was most
severe in Charleston. Over sixty persons
were killed and several hundred were wound
cd in the city by the wreckage of houses.
No house in the city escaped uninjured. 1t
is estimated that three-fourths of them are
so badly shattered that they will have TO be
rebuilt There were not one hundred houses
in the city which were occupied last night.
The people camped in the streets and parks in
tents made of bed clothes.
Only one store IS open in the city and that q
drug store. The houses are so badly injured
that the shopmen are afraid of their falling,
and will not risk going into them The peo-
pie are unable to buy supplies, and, as a con.
sequence there is great suffering for the nee
essary food supplies.
In consequence of the falling buildings five
fires occurred in the city, destroying about
twenty houses.
81. Michael's, st. Phillips, and the Unitari-
an church stecples, will come down, and the
buildings are otherwise badly shattered.
The shock was severe at Summervlle and
Sullivan's ISLAND, but so far no loss Of life has
been reportea, although many buildings were
wrecked.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
Prosperity.

PROSPERITY, Sept. 1.-At about 9.35 last
evening the first shock of the earthquake
was felt 1T this point. It's course was from
Northwest TO southeast. The motion was
vertical and lasted about three minutes. In
about i've or six minutes the second wave
struck us. IT was of shorter duration and
was less violent. There were five other
of this group came FROM North To South, and
the motion was lateral instead of vertical.
At o'clock there was another decided shock.
There were other slight movements during
the night. Quite a number of chmneys were
thrown down. Everybody was very much
frightened. There was ;llsoa decided ribrl-
tiOn at oil to day.
! There was II meet ing going ON III one OF the
! colorcd churches when the first shock came
last night All the outsiders made rush for
: the preachers right hand of fellowship, and
at this writing eighteen arc being baptized.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
FIssURES IN THE EARTH.
A Startling Story from Summerville
Confirmed.

The statement that tisSures had opened in
the earth about SumInervillc and that water
was issuing into the streets through the crc-
vasscs is confirmed. A Register reporter last
NIGHT M ct and couverSrd with several gentle
men who came up OH the train last night
from Summervllr. One OF them was Capt.
l.. j. Walker, formerly u member OF the Nall
road Commission, but now Deputy Collector
of the port Charleston. He has been making
his home in SnmmerVillc since summer set
IN, and was there during the quake OF Tues
day night. , - .,,o
streets and beneath the houses and that WA
Ter, mari ana sand crupted from them. He
stated, however, that no sulphurous ordnr
was observed and that the water was not
boiling, as reported. Fairly after the shock or
Tuesday night the water for several hours
shouted to IL considerable height.
Anoh her Summcrville man stated that sew
ernl wells overilOweu and that now wafer
conld be dipped from many wells which had
heretofore been deep down to water
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
WinnSbOrO.

WINSsBoRo, September 1.-The first and
most violent wave Of the earthquake reached
US ut 9.55 O'Clock p. NJ. on Tuesday night II
was IL sudden, awful realization. The earth
shook, houses ratified, and their terrified In.
mates rushed to the middle of the street In
the dim light of the stars. The massive walls
of the great brick buildings were seen to
shake to their foundation. The dogs howled,
the cows lowed, and many men felt the i'm
pulse more or less irresistible to take an AIM
less flight. No two persons can agree as to
the duration of the first shake; some say
thirty seconds, others say two minutes.
Mems idca of time had fallen into confusion.
A dozen other shocks of diminished violence
were felt at more or less Irregular Intervals.
The wave came from the South, and the anK-
iaty of the situation was intensified when at
o'clock A. NJ. this morning 1t was learned
that telegraph communication with Charles
ton and Augusta had been broken of. No
very serious damage has been done. The
pIaStering in number OF houses was shaken
down and several flssures have been discov-
The country is quiet this evening.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
Lexington.

LEXINGTON, Sept. Ia heavy shock o
earthquake was here at 9:43 last night, dis
inantling and topplng over chimncys anc
breaking windows. People abandoned thei
heavy shocks were felt by IL o'clock and
slighter ones throughout the night. Severa
light ones occurred to-day, again increasing
in severity. at $50 this evening another
severe shock was felt, and our people are ap
pretending renewal in a more intense de
gree tonight. One colored woman was slight
~ wounded by chimney falling on her foot
No cuSuaItleS heard of,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
WQIIlaIIa.

WALHALLA, Sept. 1.-Five shocks OF earth
quake occurred here from 10 to l,o'clock Tues
day night. The first lasted fully two minutes
and was the scverest A loud rumbllng noise
before and during the shock. No damage
was done to persons or property In town, but
there was much fright among the darkeys
leading to fervent and boiSterous praying
The prisoners in the Jail prayed Justify. From
the country we hear OF no damage except
some stone chimncys partly wrecked. The
buildings in town rocked Sensibly, shaking
shocks except the first were slight and of one
half Il minutes duration.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08

eral CONSERVATION prevailed throughout the
night. IL has been the all.absorbing topic OF
con ersation to-day. The first shock was felt
q few minutes before 10 o'clock, and was fol.
lowed by three or four others within q hall
hour, and by still another about l o'clock.
The largest buildings rocked TO and fro like
a cradle, and in many cases their occupants
took to the streets or prepared for immediate
exit in case of imminent danger.
chimneys toppled, and in one or two stores
glassware was shaken from shelves. In one
bar room one hundred dollars worth OF
liquors and decanters were destroyed.
The partial accounts received here Of the
destruction of life and property in Charleston
have cast gloom over our city, and mos
every one is anxious for the facts. A restless
and anxious crowd are at the Western Union
office awaiting the news.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
I0urCnS.

LAURESs, Sept. Last night between
and ~ O'clock this community was visited by
an earthquake, the shock OF which was per.
ceptibly ielt by our entire population. Plas
tering rom the walls OF houses was shaken
down, wooden ceilings were cracked and dis
arranged, pictures fell from the walls, panes
of window glass were broken, lamps Knocked
from tables, and much other slight damage
done. The severity of the shock throughout
the County, as far as We can learn, was about
the same as experienced here. Thirteen OF
fourteen distinct shocks were felt from be-
tween and lU O'Clock Wednesday morning.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
TIE EXTENT AND FORCE OF THE EARTH.
QUAKE.
The Shocks rs Experienced in DIFF
ferent Sections, and the Damage
Sustained by them.
Columbia Register Sept. 2.

q COtunl0ld lccglSteT Sept. q
LANCASTER, Sept, 1.-The first shock OF the
earthquake was felt at l0:U5 p. NJ, Tuesday
night, and lasted about two minutes. 1t was
very severe. Houses rocked and articles were
shak en- from shelves The people were great
ly frightened aud rushed into the streets.
There was great fear that the Catawba Hotel
would fall. A stampede from the hotel by the
Congressional delegates, fOrty-two in number.
There was wailing and prayers by the negroes
on all sides, the thirteen negroes in the jail
pleading to get out pitifuliy. There was no
damage to property In the town except the
tops OF chimneys. Fifty chlmneys were
shaken down. In the County six other
shocks occurred before IL o'clock last night,
not severe as the first. Five since that time,
the last Mt $40 this afternoon.
The Congressional Convention met to-day.
]. T. Hay was called as chairman, and j. E.
McLure OF Chester. secretary, no nomination
was made. It was decided TO have q primary
by a vote of twenty-three to nineteen. The
candidates are all mere.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
Union.

UNION, Sept. Ian earthquake occurred
here last night at 10 o'clock. Every house in
town was rocked. Persons fled TO the streets
in great fright. From eight to ten shocks oc-
Cured. The rock jail shook as If To fall.
While writing this (5.25 p. ny another dis
tinct shock has occurred. ATS this morning
there was a hard shock. The first shock was
felt in every part OF this County. Much eX-
element still prevails. No damage was done
except the falling Of bricks and plasterlng
from houses,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
SDartanburs.

SPARTANBURG, Sept. 1-This town like all
her sisters, was badly shaken up by the earth
quake last night. The first and severcst
shock was felt at 9:46 P. NJ, lasting three min
utes. There have been five smaller shock
since midnight, the last being about 5:12 P. NJ.
Terrora and awe were upon the face OF every
inhabitant People rushed into the streets,
some clad and others unclad. Our people did
not close their eyes in sleep, fearing recur-
renee of the quake. No one injured, nor Is
properly damaged. a few walls OF brick
buildings were cracked.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
Anderson.

ANDERSON, September 1.-Several earth
quake shocks occurred here last night and to-
day. The first shock and the worst was Mt
9.5i, the second at 10, the third at 1912, the
fourth at 1O.3O. the fifth ut 1915. Then our
count was lost until one o'clock, which was
one Of the worst excepting the first Every
body was badly frightened, but no damage or
breakage has been reported. Another Slight
but decided shock was felt ut $40 P. NJ. Great
excitement still prevails and purse has been
made up to get news from Charleston.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
Johnson.

JOHNSON, Sept 1.-The first shock, ut $3.50
last night, lasted about two or three minutes.
Several cliimncys were partly shaken down
occurred last night and to-day. No consider
able amount of damage WAS done here or in
the surrounding country. The negroes here
were very much frightened The meeting at
the Methodist Church was 'tery much excit7
ed, but no panic ensued, The town Is resing
quiet tonight. Some crockery was broken
and doors opened.
The result of the Democratic primary for
the Legislature is as follows: Boozer, Reedy,
Puriloy, Blackwell and Gary.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
ECHOES OF THE EARTHQUAKE.
The Situation in COIumbia..-Further
List of CasuaItics-..The Night ut
the Penitentiary and the Llnatic
Asylum.
Columbia Register.


The tcrrors of the last night of August, 1856,
will never be erased from the memory of any
living being In this region of country, and es-
pccially of those whose fortune it WAS to bc in
our own beautiful city or in our sister city by
the sea. The experiences of that night have
impressed themselves on the susceptible con-
seriousness OF our tender women and innocent
children with Il vivldnesS and Il force which
was only equalled by their sympathy and So
llcitude for the diStreSScS and Suffur!lgs In the
metropolis when ii was known that Charles
ton had experienced Il greater disaster than
had bciilicu us.
Afrcr The first shock on Tuesday night, and
it was found that the successive oncS were uf
diminished violence, the panic, which WAS
the first result naturally. subsided, and most
of the women and children who had been
driven into the streets by their fears returned Il
to their houses by daylight, but not to sleep.
Just about I.:D y. NJ. there was distinct
shock, which served to start again the apprc-
hpnsi0n which had been somewhat allaycd.
and again, at $40. and between . and III
o'clock, pronounced shocks rex kiudlrd the fear
thai the danger WAS still impending.
AT an early hour IL WAS ;lSCcrtHi med that
communication with Charleston by telegraph
and rail was entirely cut of, and then the
most frrerished anxiety was exhibited as 10
the condition of things in the city.
The telegraph stations Of tho Western I'm
ion and Southern und the railroad wires wer!
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
How IL has Been With the Observer.
Charlotte Observer.

Yesterday and the day before, the Observer
sold 3,iUO copies of extras, over and above the
regular editions. Up To ten O'Clock last night,
orders were received at the office for Do extra
cuurs of this mornings issue: Our presses
this morning ran oil SOo copies in addition to
the usual number printed for regular sub
scribrrs. It. is Il singular fact, that OF all the
reular and extra issues. not Il single copy re-
manned unSold, and the only copies to he
found in the office last night were The ones
preserved for the file, one paper ol each cdl'
IiL,n
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
Sulslter.

SUMTER, September Last night several
shocks of earthquake were felt in the town
and country. The first shock occurred about
10 o'clock, alarming our citizens, the shocks
recurring occasionally throughout the night.
and one at eight o'clock this morning. Sew
eral buildings were damaged slightly. Re.
ports from the country are that damage had
also been done to several buildings. The
first shock last night lasted about three min
ntnS.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
Fearful State of Affairs I'm Summer
willie.
Fourth und last Dispatch.

Fourth und last Dispatch
StMMERvILLE, Sept. l, 1856,
The ground in many places In and around
Summerville is cracked, and blue mud is is
suing from them, flowing over the earth.
Citizens are leaving here and going to COL
umbia to get away from danger, and to find
shelter. They report fearful condition Of
affairs in Charleston. Property and busidess
interests have been greatly damaged.
No further shocks reported since five
o'clock. There were eight
The people are afraid to go in their houses
and stores for fear of their falling in.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
prOstrati0n from Fright.

II tranSpirrs that the physicians of this city
h; yr "A number OF cases Uf nrOSll;itinn rom
fright rCsu;tin" from the r:lrlhquakr, anG two
of the patients, both ladies' are reported /" Er
in n serious condition. From the best ininr-
nation which we can obtain, fourteen ladies
were so severely unncrvcd as ~ require The
attention OF physicians.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
Property Ruined ..- Lives Lost--.The
Cave In.
Second DisDdtch.


Sept. ], 1856.
About two-thirds OF the residences in Char.
Eeston are either totally or partially wrecked
Business parts of the city are badly damaged
The streets are almost impossible on account
of bricks and timbers.
II is supposed that from fifty to one hun.
dred lives have been lost, and that several
hundred persons have been wounded.
Sullivans Island is reported to have been
submerged, and that many lives have been
lost.
The South Carolina Railroad track above
and below Summcrville is twisted in places
like snake.
Ravennels Railroad between the city and
the Island Is under water in some places
The land has caved in in several places near
Ravennel's.
The people in Charleston are preparing to
camp ont tonight.
There arc many wild rumors in circulation,
and IL is hoped that the first accounts are en-
aggerated.
About twenty houses have been burned.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
HalnNtOn.

HAMPTON, September lat 915 last night
an earthquake visited this place. The shocF
was severe lasting about one minute, causing
plastering to full from some of the buildings.
Six distinct shocks were felt. The vibrations
were slight, except In the first shock. The
people were considerably excited. The col
ored people were greatly alarmed. No seri-
Gus damage resulted.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
Peak.

PEAK, September l - Eleven earthquake
shocks were felt here between 9.53 last night
and 10 o'clock this morning. The first shock
Mt 9.53 last night damaged a few chimneyS
and broke some crockery, &c. No further
damages have been reported. 1t hns caused
quite panic among the superstltlous OF this
vicinity.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
LANGLEY, S. c.
An Engine In the Ditch and the Fire
man Killed.
augusta Chronicle.

LANGLEY, s. c., Sept. 1.-[Special.l-A se.
we're shock was felt here at 9.55. Houses were
badly shaken up and glasses broken.
The dam was broken in about dozen
places, and the South Carolina track is wash.
away for Il thousand feet. The engine OF the
Charleston train is laying IN about fifteen feet
of water on its size. The fireman Is killed
Tho body has not bern found yet. The en-
gineer is badly injured. The Bath dam Is
broken also.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
Camden.

CAMDEN, September l = About twenty
shocks of carthq quake were felt here last night:
The only damage Is broken chimneys and
three or four upLurned houses. No harm or
loss
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
Charleston Nearly Destroyed.

FIfSt DtSpdtcH.
CHARLESTON, Sept. l, 1856.
I2eu. g 4. Weber, A6bepiYe.:
Charleston is nearly destroyed by the earth
quake. Many persons are killed or wounded.
John and leland are perfectly safe.
LELAND MOORE.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08

4 messenger on horseback reports the out.
going train on the South Carolina RuilrOud
under water near Horse Greek, The trestlc at
thut point gave way.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
GreenYilIe.

GREENvlLLE, Sept. 1.-Our city was
thoroughly shaken up last night by n success.
sion ol shocks from All earthquake, and gen
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
Nature Of the Earthquake Shock.

The discovery Of the true nature of the
earthquake, to say nothing Of its ultimate Or
igin or cause, for a long time baffied the labors
Of mankind; the. application OF a purely in
ductive train OF reasoning has always been
difficult, because OF our own inability to ex-
pertinent OIL the earth on so large a scale as
was necessary, and because OF the absence OF
exact observations and records The princi-
pal results arrived at previous to or indepenG-
emily of Malet's dynamical studies have been
already given in the generalizations under
the head of geographical distribution, &c. o..
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08

Lace tiouncing for fronts Of dresses In white,
cream and tan, with narrow laccs to inatch.
I WnI. L. Bell
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
Connection Between Earthquakes
and Volcanoes.
american Cyclopaetlia.

The intimate relation of these phenomena
Is apparent at once 10 even the most careless
observer, but correct and eX;ut ideas on the
subject lave been attained only within the
present are. On The one hand, earthquakes
are most numerous i'll the volcanic regions OF
the globe; on the other, they are not ut all
con fined TO these centres; they yare sonnet mes
att ended by the growth or formation of vol
canoes, and i'm general no volcanic activity is
manifested without being attended by more
or less notable earthquakes, the qulk ingS be-
iny however tO II great degree confined 10 the
volcano in cruptiun: tic only exception III
the latter statement can indeed he shown Ia
he cXplcihe in such way ;lS to give further
con nlirmatiUn of the general St;tcmcnt that
! the strains, prrSSiirS, and explosions occur
ring within the depth. Of the solid earth give
rise ut the surface of the globe, il feeble, tn
S.i.ht earthquakes, and il stronger, To more
severe shocks accompanied 10y uphcareiS and
Idcprc->iUnS: il yet stronger, though not par.
IoEES:Hal. to the formation of ilsSurcS, volcan-
| ic vrat>, and crupt:OmS of steam, gases, hot
water, mud, scori:r. ashes lava, aud flying
stones. \ Slight rIrlhuuaEr crnir;! in Il non
volcanic region is IAN uncniHpl"ird ritnrt Ia
establish Il volcano" The presence ri II vol
/ cauu is ucmonStraiirc ul Il previous earth
Quake, and the volcanic vent, Offering as II
does II way of easy escape for gases, &C., Is
unless il becomes clOggcu up, to Soule extent
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08

This term is commonly applied to the great
oceanic waves that attend such earthquakes
as originate under the ocean. These waves
decided swells; In traversing shoal water
they become more marked, and ON nearing
the shores often break most dsastrousy upon
them, being in this case preceded by q rapid
breakers