The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-09-04

| Wednesday. Those were sent from the ill
| fated CITY before the shock occurred. The
| non-reception of mails is due to two causes
| one, because the railroad communications
| have been destroyed, and another, it is sup
| posed, because no one in Charleston has
| fonnd the time or had the inclination to write
| letters. The mails from this city for Charles
| ton have been and will be forwarded as usu-
al. They are now, and will be, sent to the
| tion. Mr.. L. M. Ferrill, the superintendent
| of the fourth postal division, comprising
| South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama,
| Mississippi and Louisiana will make all pos
| sible arrangements for forwarding the mails
| as soon as he can be assured that the persons
| to whom they are addressed can be found
| The incurring of extra expense for this pur-
pose is of course in the hands of the post
office department at Washington, but some
discretion is left to the division superintend-
ent. As Mr.. Terrills headquarters is located
atAtlanta, and as telegraphic communication
between that city and Washington is unin-
terrupted, it is believed here that he has re-
ceiyed full authority to restore mail facilities
at the earliest moment.
The Area Affected by the Earth
quake.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Sept. 3.-Replying to
request from Secretary Topley of the
British Association for the Advancement of
Science, at Birmingham England, Prof.
Powell sent the following in regard to the
earthquake today:
1.-THE earthquake was the most severe on
record in the United States, and ffected the
greatest area. The origin was along the line
of the post quarternary dislocation on the
eastern fianks of the Appalachians, especially
where it crosses central North Carolina.
Slight premonitory shocks were felt in the
Carolinas for several days, moderately
severe shock occurring near Charleston,
August 27 and 2S. The principal shock,
causing great destruction in Charleston
originated in central North Carolina, Aug.
81, at $50 p. M, in 10Th meridian time
Thence the shocks spread with great rapid
ity in all directions, with velocity varying
from 25 to 65 miles a minute over an area OF
100000 square miles, one-quarter of the
United States embracing % States, from the
Gulf of Mexico to the great lakes and
Southern New England, and from the Allan
tic seaboard to the Central Mississippi Val
ley. In the Carolinas it was accompanied
by land-slideS, crevasseS and great deStruc-
tion of property Half of Charleston is in
ruins and more than forty lives were lost.
No tidal wave is yet reported"
Fears of More Commotion In Sum-
mervilIe.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3.-Remarkable re-
ports reached here relative to the earthquake.
One dispatch from Summerville, S. c., says
the earth is cracked in many places, but the
rushing water and sand has ceased, The
town has been the most alarming scene of
the earthquake, not house being tenable.
The forces or the gas of the earthquake
found a vent here The first train from
Charleston since Tuesday night arrived here
at noon to-day with few refugees. The en-
gineer says that when ten or twelve miles
Charleston the earth perceptiblY yielded to
the weight of the engine, and he put on all
tho steam possible to shoot over the heaving
ground. There is an indescribable dread of
something yet to happen in Summerville
which fills the refugees from that town with
apprehension for those who are camping un-
der improvised tents. 1t is believed from
the vomiting of water and mud there that
the pent-up subterranean gases will explode
at that point Special dispatches from
every town in the State give accounts of the
earthquake, which describe scenes and in
juries to property similar to those which oc-
Cured in Columbia.
Another Shake on the Atlantic Coast.
WASHINGTON, Sept. Sat about II o'elk
tonight another shock of earthquake was
felt all along the Southern Atlantic coast.
1t was not attended by any damage so far as
can be learned, but it was strong enough to
cause stampede from their instruments of
the telegraph operators in Charleston, Au-
gusta and Columbia and other places. They
soon returned, however, and resumed buSl-
ness. The shake was felt from Jacksonville
to Washington. 1t was plainly perceptible
in Washington, but not so strongly as on
Tuesday night.
Relief for the Sufferers.
WASHINGTON, Sept S-Secretary Fair
child issued circular letter today informing
the employees that the rule prohibiting the
circulations of subscription papers in the de-
partment would be suspended in the case of
the Charleston relief fund. and heads OF
bureaus would be designated to receive sub
scriptions. Comptroller Trenholm fears
that the terrible plight of the people Of Sum-
merville, near Charleston, has been.Over-
looked in contemplation of the greater area
of suffering in the neighboring city. He has
received two kilograms from that town to-
day. The first was from local relief COM
mittee composed Of John Gadsten, chairman,
and Gary Hutchinson Boyle and Perry, and
reads as follows;
Remember Summerville's distress is very
great. Prompt relief in tents and money is
needed.
The second despatch was sent by E. S.
Fishburne and says:
Send 200 tents direct TO this place. Shocks
still continue and many families are homeless.
The president of the board of district com
missioners has issued an address to the
possible shall be done to manifest the SYM
pathy of the community for the sufferers
from the late terrible disaster in Charleston
and Offering to receive and properly distri-
butte contributions. Special performances
will be given in all principal theatres and
places of amusement in the city for the bene
fit of the Charleston sufferers.
NEW YORK. Sept. 3.-The Chamber OF
Commerce will hold special meeting Mon
day at O'Clock to devise means for aiding
the Charleston sufferers. The cotton, pro-
duce and petroleum exchanges are doing
what they can for the wrecked city.
A Message from Queen Victoria.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3.-The following
despatch was received by cable today from
Queen Victoria:
BALMoRAL. Sept. 3, 1886.
To the President of the United States:
desire to express my profound sympathy with
the sufferers by the late earthquakes, and await
with anxiety fuller intelligence, which hope may
show the effects to have been less disastrous than
reported.
THE OITEEN