The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-22
THREE SHARP SHOCKS.
THE ILL FATEO CITY AGAIN Wis.
ITED BY EARTHQUAKE.
Other Points Also Shaken-Subter-
ranean Thunder at COIum.
bia, ). G.

CaARLHtToN, S. c., Sfpt amber 2l.-
There were three shocssot earthquake
in Charleston last plight and early this
morning, the shock at 5 20 o'clock am.
beng quite sharp aud causing houses
to rattle uncomfort ibly. There was
no general alarm, but a good many
persons ran out OF their houses int }
the streats and remained there. At
Summerville there were three shocks
between 4:25 and $3.50 o'clock this
morning. there being a VIC ent shock
at b 20 o'c 'ock, as here. A loud deton-
alton similar to the report OF heavy
gun was heard at the beginning of the
severe shock here, and there were d =
tora ions or explosions with two of
the shocks at Summerville. tits report
ed that part OF the wall of The medical
college, already W ecked, was thrown
down by this mornings shocks, aud
much loose plssteriDg was also thrown
down, A colored man was injured by
the falling wall.
Night There was no mistaking the
charatte OF the disturbance that oc-
Cured at 5:15 o'clock this morning.
1t was a rude awakening for people of
this brave old city, but they bore il as
they have borne ell the other great
trials through which they have been
called upon to MS, with unhiuching
foIt.tude and courage. Most of the
people in the city were asleep at the
time, but the shock was sufficiently
strong to awaken them. The features
Of the phenomenon and the at
mospheric conditions were somewhat
peculiar. The weather on Sunday and
Monday nights was warm and
sultry. Alter 10 O'Clock at night
the wind seemed to have died out en-
tirely. On Monday night indications
OF chsnge in the weather were appa-
rent. Frequent fl shes Of sheet light
ming were seen in the North and oeca-
sionsl rolls of distant thunder we're
heard. In the opinion of some people
these were seismic detonations. But
there seems to be scarcely room to
doubt that they vera rolls OF distant
thunder. The sky over Charleston.all
this time was entirely clear and the
moon shone brilliantly. Shortly after
midnight the wind set in rather brisk
ly from the Z 81 and clouds began ID
gather in the sky. Some per-
cons state that there was a
slight shock about o'clock, but
if there was, it was not sufficient to
arouse any one who was asleep. 1t
was 5:15 o'clock when the shock ar
rived. This WAS about the severe st
That hoa hanY, falk ~. HharlaalA &,
over two weeks. The other vibrations
that many people alleged they have
felt were child's play compared with
the shock this morning. Houses were
very perceptibly shaken, and in many
houses plastering was shaken down.
The shock is variously estimated to
have lasted from three TO ten seconds.
There seems to be some question
whether it was accompanied by the
usual rumblipg sound. A gentleman
who was on the second foor of large
brick building states that the
shaking of the house, accompanied by
rattling of ssshes, the grinding OF the
jnists and the fall of plastering was all
that he heard. The policeman who
was stationed at the intersection Of
Broad and Meeting streets states, on
the contrary, that he felt very slight
movement Of the earth, but distinctly
heard noise. Another man who was
on the street on his way to bis place
of business states that the earth moved
violently and that the sound was like
the explosion of thousand pounds of
dynamite under ground. The worst
feature of the shock was the addi-
tional Injury to the Medical College,
OF which part of the wall fell. 1t is
now a gaping ruin, and apparently |
must come down to the ground.
A shock today is reported also from |
Summerville, Sumter, Blackville,
Orangeburg, Newbury, Augusta and
Savannah.
Within three minutes after the
shock there were good many people
on the streets, although comparatively
few of them were women and children.
The sidewalks WEI 30 cleared Of debris
that most pedestrians had returned to
the habit of using the pavements; it
was observed this morning, however,
that many persons kept the middle of
the roadways while walking through
the streets. There was little Interrupt
ton to business and none whatever in
the work of repair, which is progrecj-
ing as rapidly as can be expected un-
der the circumstances.
The weather today was cloudy, with
brlsk winds, which are to be expected
at this time Of year. The Relief Com
mittee is making considerable head
way with the arduous work before it.
Over $500 forms of applications for re-
Lief on account of injury by the earth
quake to houses and other property
nave been issued, and nearly zoo ap-
plications fully filed out have been
received. These applications come
rom every class in the community.
The custom house pediment has
been shored up and the postoffice made
Iaie for occupants. Architect Spier
8 satisfied Of the hopeless condition
II both the posteffice aud the United
states Engineers building on Meeting
trees, and will recommend that the
department. ask Congress at its next
ession to make an appropriation for
he erection of a public building Of
utticient size to accommodate all the
apartments Of the Government that
re not properly provided for.
Cheap excursions will be run from ,
ii points on the Atlantic Coast line /,
o Charleston on October I'd for the :
enefit Of the relief fund. !
I