, 1886-09-09
A Heroic CITY.

CHARLESTON, Sept. S.-The mayor has
issued the following proclamation:
Il have this day returned TO my loved
| city amid the widespread desolation. Its
homes are shaken TO their foundations
many of them utterly wrecked. and few
without serious injuries, and | find many
OF you, my fellow citizens, with your dear
and tender families, living and sleeping
under frail shelters and some under the
sky, with the recent terrible calamity and
It's awful suspense still lingering in your
minds. Amid the ruins OF this far reach
ing and terrible calamity. | am profoundly
thankful that so much IT of lite and property
has been spared, and | rejoice that the
same furtitude and heroic patience which
trust in God and His providence has al
Ways characterized this people is now
their stay in this time of dire trouble. and
am thankful to add that during the past
week Of disaster good order and helpful
co operation of all classes of our citizens
has conduced to the maintenance of the
public veal.
1T is inspiring to behold amid these
grave difficulties the resumption of the
business life of the city and the quench-
less faith of our people in the future.
OBtn tANidiEtcs pohh't i'hNahk hOoSto
in all departments of business. u%ninter-
rupted of railroads, steamships
and sailing fleet. and ready wharves. busy
workshops and: the usual routine of all
avocations and e~mployments of our city
have proclaimed that we are already mov-
ing forward To a new future. That future
is based on work-not idleness, and call
on every one to seek work in any and
avar- ,r.u ,aso,Ila Tb.,rh rho citua-
ton is critical, it is not in~surmouutable.
1t demands from every citizen in our
midst a calm judgment, a broadcast char
ity, a resolved determination in word and
act. and an unfaltering trust in God TO
tide over the unparall, led calamity that
has 50 unexpectedly come upon us. lhis
disaster that reachts every home and
every part of our city can only De met
and overcome by moral courage and the
united effort OF the whole people.
The immediate and serious duty for us
is the protection and succor of the house
less, sick and INDECENT: the un%fortuDates
and helpless, that crowd around us. As
the executive of the city, it is my duty to
create an organization looking to dealing
with the different problems before us, aud
as | have to act at once, | have therefore
initiated this work, by asking the services
Of some Of my fellow citizens in the worthy
attempt 10 organize such plans as will
mitigate the suffering and distress SO uni
versally around us, and which threatens
such serious consequences to many of our
people. These plans will be explained if
found in any way wanting in com
pleteness as the work progresses. In this
effort it is a source of great gratitude to us
to know that we are not graphing with
this unspeakable disaster alone. The
sympathy Of this whole union of states
has touched us deeply, and the spontane-
GUS giving of practical and speedy aid in
this our struggle, shows that the large and
true heart of the people of this great
country beats with us now as it will here
after.
In this hope, and cheered with this
promising future as part Of the great peo-
pie whose helping hands are outstretched
to us, let us turn manfully ia our heri
tage and, as many times in the past on
this very spot, work out under the bless
ing of God a new future for our now
shattered but dearly love city.
Signed "WM. A C%ouRTENAY,
s-AIarnr ~