The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-02


night. The city is complete wreck. ST.
Michaeps Church and ST Phillips Church, two of
ruins as is also the Hibernian Hall. The police
station and many other public buildings, and
fully two thirds of the residences in the city are
inhabitable-wrecked either totally or partial
ly. 1t is impossible at this time, to give a cor
rect estimate of the casualties It is expected
that between fifty and one hundred per-
sons have been killed, and several hundred
wounded. At the time of the first shock fires
broke out in Eve different parts of the city.
About twenty houses were destroyed by fire.
Scarcely one hundred houses in the city are oc
cupied at this time The people are all encamped
in open places. All the stores are closed, and
scarcity of provisions is feared, not from want
of provisions but because no one can be got to
reach the stores to sell them.
Not even during Gen. Quincy A. Gilmore's
bombardment Of the city has there ever been
such deplorable state of affairs here. The city
is literally in ruins and the people are living IN
the open squares and public parks. There is a
great rush to the railroad depots to get away,
but owing to the earthquakes no trains have
been able to be dispatched from the city. Tele-
graphic communication is also cut of, save one
wire of the Southern Telegraph Company,
which is crowded with anxious private mes
sages. 1t is impossible to depict the ruin
and desolation that prevail here. Not single
place of business is open in the city save
drug store, which is busy preparing prescrip-
tions for the wounded. 1t is impossible also to
give any correct estimate of the killed and
wounded. as bodies are constantly being dis
Inferred from the debris of wrecked houses One
undertaken who was interviewed, stated that he
had furnished eight cofins up to noon to-day.
Many of the dead are lying unburied, these
being of the poorer classes of colored people,
who await burial by the county. There are not
a half dozen tents in the city, and the women
and children are experiencing great privations in
consequence. AS night approaches, most heads
of families are trying to construct tents out of
bed sheets, spare awnings, and any other ma
terial that comes in their hands. The sun is
about to set upon another night of horror for
poor Charleston-heaven only knows what it
may bring forth. Without any violent shock of
earthquake it is calculated that at least three
fourths Of the city will have to be rebuilt en-
tirely. if the houses are to be inhabited
Women and children are running about in the
open air terribly agitated. There are three or
four steamers in port, including che buoy-tender,
and many Of the inhabitants are provided with
berths on these boats. Fortunately, the weather
has. seen, good, and the hardships are not as
severe as they might have been. The situation,
however, is becoming horrible. Cut off from
communication with the rest of the world
afflicted and haunted with the prospect of i'm
mediate death, that is about the condition of
this community. No trains have departed or
arrived here in twenty four hours. It is said
that all the railroads leading into the city are
crippled. The statement is made that all the
railway tracks are twisted into the shape of
snakes.