Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-04

materially from the shock. Unsii son'
time has elapsed and confidence is fully
restored most Of the shattered build
ipgs will not be entered, as shock at
this time would be more disastrous
than all of those which have already
been experienced. The buildings could
easily be shaken to atoms. An ex-
animation Of the material from the
wrecked structures shows them
to have oil been frail. The NOR
tar is brittle by age, the brick
soft and porous, and had the
buildings been taller they would have
fallen from their own weight. The
damsse. owing to the character OF the
buildings destroyed, cannot DO ap-
proximsted. If the buildings are not
| rebsbilitated or succeeded by new ones
the estimate Of sl0 900, ,000is probably
not excessive. If they are rebuilt the
loss will not exceed twenty per cent.
of this sum. To q northern city the |
destruction of many Of these old frsil
and filthy structures would be god
send but here they are valuable since
rebuilding will be slow.
FIFTY YEARS TO RECOVER.
The business men say it will take |
fifty years to make Charleston as good
as she was three days ago. There are
few visitors here to-day. Confidence
has not been sufficiently restored to
invite strangers to the city. The
Charleston and one or two Of the other
leading hotels have begun to receive
guests, although but small
proportion of their houses are
tenantable. Inquiries continue to pour
in from friends Of the Charleston
citizens in different parts Of the
country concerning the loss of life. The
search for the dead is progressing, but
it is believed that the bodies have all
been found. This forenoon the South
ern Telegraph Company returned to
their commodious main office, on Broad
street, and resumed the operation Of all
their instruments, cleared up delayed
work, and resumed unharpered service.
MEETING OF BUSINESSMEN.
At Joint meeting Of the Charleston
Exchange and Merchants Exchange
to- day, the following was unanimously
adopted:
To All Exchanges and Commercial
Bodies:
Our banks, warehouses, cotton
presses, wharves, railroads, rice
mills, and everything else necessary |
for handling business, though damaged,
are in working order. We fear no
further disturbances. The destruction
Of property will cause great distress |
and suffering, but will not interfere
with the dispatch of business.
[Siguedl A. w. TAFT,
President Of the Charleston Exchange; |
B. BoLLMANN, |
President of the Merchants Exchange.
A LOAN FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
The joint meeting also adopted a
resolution to apply to the President and |
Congress for national loan to aid the |
citizens Of Charleston in rebuilding the |
city.
The City Council to-day adopted the |
following
Resolred, That in response to nu-
merous eflers of assistance and sympa-
thy from our sister-cities, and from
citizens Of this and other States, the
mayor is authorized to state that great
distress exists among our citizens In
consequence of the earthquake, and
that we gratefully accept the aid thus
rendered us.
DAMAGE TO CATHOLIC INSTITU-
TIONS.
Several Catholic churches have been |
seriously injured. The cathedral chapel |
will not be used for services Sunday. |
A temporary altar will be erected on
the cathedral. grounds, where the con-
gregation will attend mass. Repairs
will be made as soon as the condition
of affairs will admit. The Catholic
schools have all been injured. The
Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, on
Meeting street; the Central School, on
George street; st. Mary's School, on
Society street, and st. Peters school,
have sustained such damages as will
not permit of studies being resumed, as
announced. The Convent Of the Sis
ters of Mercy, on Queen street, was
also damaged. The Sisters and chill
dren have all been camping out. st.
Francis Xavier Iniirmary, on Cal
houn street, was very badly dam
aged, and there were several providen-
tial escapes. The episcopal residence,
on Broad street, is rendered unin-
habitable. The clergy who were in
the building during the shock had a
miraculous escape, and have since been
the guests of the Brothers of the Sacred |
Heart, and have camped with q large |
portion of the congregation on the |
cathedral grounds. The Catholic Male |
Orphan Asylum also suffered, but in no
instance did loss OF life result. The
churches and schools, as well as the |
episcopal residence, need immediate re-
pairs to render them habitable and to
allow Of the conduct of religious SER
vices and educational exercises. The
misfortune is more keen for the
reason. on account OF the general loss
throughout the community, that it will
be almost impossible at this time to OBJ
tain funds here for repairs so impera-
lively required.
Any further information on the sub
ject will be given by Rev. p. L. Duffy,
vicar-general Of Charleston. Father
Duffy himself was slightly injured at
the time of the shock, but is able to at
tend to his duties.
HOSPITAL WRECKED.
The Roper Hospital is wrecked and
will probably be condemned, and the
building Of the training school for
nurses is seriously damaged. The hos
pital patients were removed to Agricul-
tural Hall. The injuries to the county
jail are wellnigh irreparable. Thirty
six prisoners escaped, six Of whom have
returned.
ADDITIONAL CASUALTIES.
Everett Lively of Richmond, Va,