Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-02

taneous fash Of recollections OF the
distuibanc Of tho Friday before.
glanced hurriedly at each other and
sprapg TO their feet with startled ques-
tions and answers" What Is that9
Earthquake !''--and then all vas De-
wilderment and confusion. The long
roll deepened and spread into an awfal
roar that seemed TO peryade at once the
troubled earth and the still air above
and around. The tremor was nov
rude, rapid quiver that agitated
the whole lofty, strong-walled build
ing as though it were being shaken
by the hand OF en- immeasuraole
power, with intent to tear its joints
asunder and scatter its stones and
bricks abroad as tree casts its H.
poned fruit before the breath Of a gale.
There was no intermission in the yibra
ton Of The mighty subterranean en-
CINE. From first TO last it was con-
tinuous jar, only adding force at every
movement, and, as it approached aud
reached
| THE CLIMAX or ITS MANIFESTATIONS
il seemed for few terrible seconds
that no work Of human hands could
possibly survive. Floors we're heagi1g
under foot; surrounding walls and par
titions yisibly swayed to and fro; the
crash Of falling masses Of stone and
| brick and mortar was overhead and
without; the terrible roar filed the
ears and seemed 10 ill the mind AID
heart, daziDg perception, begildering
thought, and for few painting breaths,
or while one held his breath in dread
ful anticipation of immediate aud cruel
death, he felt that life was already past,
and waited Tor the end as victim with
his head On the block awaits the fall OF
the uplifted axe. 1t is not given to
many men to look in the face Of the
destroyer and yet live but it is little
to say that groups of strong men who
shared the experience above family
described will carry with them recol.
lection Of that supreme moment to
their dying day. None expected 20
escape. 4 sudden rush was simulta-
neously made to en6eayOr TO attain the
open air and flee to places of safety,
but before the door was reached ali
Ieeled together to the tOtteTlBg val,
and stopped, feeling that hope was
vain that it was only a question of
death in the building or without-tO be
buried by the sinking roof or
CRUSHED BY TOPPLING WALLS.
The uproar slowly died away in
seeming distance, The earth was still,
and oh ! the blessed relief of that still
ness; but how rudely the silence was
broken as We dashed down the stair
way and out into the street. Already
on every side arose ssrieks, cries Of
pain and fear, prayers and wailings OF
terrified women and children, commin-
gled with hoarse shouts Of excited
men. Out in the street the air was
filed TO the height of,the house with a
whitish cloud Of dry, sitting dust
from the lime and mortar and shattef-
ed masonry, which, falling upon the
pavement and stone roadway, had been
reduced TO powder. Through this
cloud, dense as a fog, the gaslightS
Gickered dimly, shedding but little
light, so that people stumbled at every
step over piles OF brick or became ell
tangled in The lines of telegraph-wires
that depended in every direction from
thlir broken supports.
4 GRAPHIC PICTURE.
On every side were hurryiug forms
Of men and women bareheaded, par
italy dressed, some almost nude, and
many Of whom were crszed with fear
or excitement. Here woman is sup
ported half faiDting in the arms of her
husband, who vainly tries to sOothe her
while he carries her into an open space
at the street corner where present safe
ty seems assured. There woman
lies on the pavement with upturned
face and outstretched limbs, and
the crowd passes her by for the
time, not pausiDg to see whether
she be alive or dead. a sudden light
flashes through the window overlooking
the street. 1t becomes momentarily
brighter, and the cry of " Fire " re-
sounds from the multitude. A rush IS
made towards the spot. A man is seen
doubled up and helpless against q
wall; but at this moment, somewhere
out at SEQ, overhead, deep in the ground,
is heard again the low, Ominous roll.
which is already too well known to be
mistaken. 1t grows louder and nearer
like the growl of wild beast swiftly
approaching his prey, and all is
forgotten sgain in the ffenzied
rush for the open space where
alone there is hope Of security, faint
though it be. The tall buildings on
either hand blot out the skies and stars
and seem to oyerhang every foot Of
ground between them. Shattered cor
nices and copings, the tops of their
frownirg walls, seem piled from both
sides to the centre Of the street. IL
seems that O touch would now send th3
battered masses left standing down
upon the people below, who look up TO
them and shrink together as the tremor
Of the earthquake again passes undec
them ard the mysterious Ieyerberations
swell and roll along
LIKE SOME INTERNAL DRUM-BEAT.
summoning them to die and it passe.
away, and again is experienced the
blessed feeling Of deliverauce from the
impending calamity which it may well
be believed evokes mute but earnest
offering of mingled prayer and thanks
giving from every heart in the throng.
Again, from along street and up from
alleys that lead into it on either side, IA
heard the chorus Of wailing and
lamentation which, though it hal
not ceased, was scarcely noticed a
moment before. 1t is dreadful
sound-the sound Of helpless, hor-
ror-stricken humanity, old and young,
strong and feeble alike, where all are 50
feeble, calling for help from their fellow
creatures, and raising their anguished
voices in petition to Heaven for mercy,
when no human aid could avail. 1t is