The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-06

at ALL Impoverished to a pitiful degree, with
no aptitude for the new methods of business,
| they held their splendid homes proudly kept
their counsel there. 1t is their homes that are
now ruined and these people who are now help
! less Inc shock of the earthquake has thrown
them out as birds shaken from q falling ruin.
| Ihey can neither rebuild nor recuDerate
Our people, said prominent citizen, ttare
neither enterprsing nor energetic, in the accept
! ed sense OF those words They were crippled by
! the war, impoverished by the enormous decline
of city values, and depressed by repeated disas-
ters, until they have largely lost the power OF
recovery. Our young men have left US. We
have drawn in no new blood and opened no new
avenues. We have lost control of every railroad
that leads into the city, and trade has stead
lily diminished The phosphate industry re-
vived things somewhat but this last disaster,
and what will assuredly follow. puts US back
worse than ever. We have a few determined and
hopeful men who will rally our people, but it ap-
pears to me that our city is doomed. / do not
speak entirely to the discredit of Charleston
when say 1t, but it is strange that the same
section should hold aud the same people inhabit
two cities 50 dissmilar at every point as Charles
ton and Atlanta"
In talk with Mr. Brown, the pastor of the
Unitarian Church in Charleston, he said: sT
have been In Charleston for twelve years, and
there are fewer outside people there now than
there were when 1 went there. New people. as
a rule, appear to have failed there and left in
despair.
The battery walls are without visible crack or
blemish Over their smooth top Sumter looked
TRANQUILITY as if to say, "rhe conflict that ragged
around my walls was child's play to this" The
sea wall was not popular with outdoor dodgers
through fear of the tidal wave. A curious phase
OF Charlestons earquake is the entire absence of
high water. Immediately after the shock there
was unusually low tide. and to-day unusually
full tide. Everybody was looking for the earth
quake all the time. A sudden football would
startle crowd. The sharp ring of telephone
would make men jump. The quick roll of the
burglar alarm would empty half the desks in the
telegraph offices. The drop of piece of plas-
terng in hotel would bring the few guests
rolling down stairs. Strangers would meet in
the street:
'No"
Excuse me; l felt like did,"
Drinking in the bar-rooms has ceased almost
entirely, and the few bibbers who venture are
careful not to call for milk shakes-straight
whisky slowly poured and delcately stirred, ID
the thing The restaurants are closed. In what
ever building business may call you. you find
the map of the world executed in cracks on the
walls. the ceilings half stripped and proprietor
and assistants in light marching order. The
fear is universal, ever present and narrowing
Work is done with hat in hand and one eye kept
on the nearest door
Let us assume that the earthquake is over, as
In all human probability is. The coastal plain
has taken its seaward slip and adjusted itself to
its new quarters. but Charleston's trials have
just begun Her deplo1able condition, which
must become more wretched as the winter storms
approach and the full damage is disclosed, en-
titles her to the sympathy of every American
citizen. The heartiest sympathy and support
from all the people will be needed to prevent her
falling under the disasters that have overtaken
her.