Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-09-16
DEMoRALIzED NEGROES.
Effect of the Earthquake on the Colored
People of Charleston.


People of Charleston.
It would be simply impossible to exaggerate
or to depict in sufficiently descriptive language
the effect Of the earthquake on the colored peo-
pie OF Charleston, says another correspondent
hither and thither through binding clouds OF
pulverized mortar, which was shaken from
houses and arose again from the streets, they
sns sr with saas as srGsas Ss
with them in their funeral devotions the name
Jesus was most frequently used. and, as II
supplicating God face to face, they shrieked
out in the very helplessness and pathos Of de-
spair such sentences as DO, my Master Jesus,
have mercy on mel oh, sweet Jesus.
through this night. dear God, my Savior !"
Hold me up once more, thou blessed Christ,
my MasterF and other fearful supplications,
which intensified the horror OF the situation,
and went far toward demoralizing the white
people, who were also rushing blindly hither
and thither.. As usual, the faces of the white
man and white woman in the time OF danger
was a sight of sudden JOY In the gloom to many
q poor wandering colored boy or girl, who
endeavored to stop their white friends as they
ran by in the confusion TO suplicate that they
would remain with them until the Judgment
was DONE" In many an instant trembling
girl sank down on her knees and seized with
frantic energy the folds Of some white lady's
dress, and failing to express their terror in words
with scarcely moving lips, that they wanted
only the moral support OF friend in the hour
Immediately after the first shock there was
an exhibition OF Joy and the voice Of congratu-
lation were heard on every side, and all mingled
with words OF Thanksgiving 70 the divine Provt-
dence. People clung to each other like brothers
and sisters. There were no strangers there.
They all knew each other as part and parcel OF
q community that had escaped terrible fate.
Some with tears OF repentance and Joy in their
eyes embraced each other. Women fell on
each others necks, and, with hearts too full to
speak, rocked 70 and fro in the happy embrace,
devoutly thanking God in silence for His bless
ing in the dreadful hour.
Not 80 with the trembling and demoralized
colored people. After the hand OF Providence
had been apparently removed they began to
prophesy and to recall all they knew, in a con-
fused way, of Bible scenes and Bible history.
Its the night Of Sodom and Gomorrah," shouted
one, in a frenzy Of apparent delight. -The city
Of st. Michael 10 down to the ground" yelled
another. Il told you soP cried third. "Hal
how about my wife's dream now?" said fourth.
Look for the rock OF Horeb to split" said an
other. pray, my white people, why don't you
pray?" said another. For fully five minutes in
never ceased to utter what might be considered
torrent OF prophetic interpretations and
unintelligible prayers. In the dismal gloom
80 sog the us erson oi1eu and almost in tw;nhin@
the colofed people made rush lor that haven
Of safety. IL seemed as II all Charleston was
their little charges by their hands, in all kinds
OF night apparel. 1t was only, however, when
the older class of the colored people arrived
that a characteristic scene took place. .y They
.I on yopr tass d9wn on 49ug 1kpaes miserable
pray, pray, pray don't 1 tell you, the night is
come" Prayer meetings were organized, and
the singing and screaming were kept up until
daylight.
Thursday night, on Marion Square, the sights
and scenes baffled description. The colored
people were uprestrained and committed all
manner Of riotous and frenzied eXcesses A re-
port of their actions as they took place would
perhaps be considered blasphemous. The first
object and one that arrested eveTybody's at
49, l.Ias.A Of aFInR Rn1 hnN
about a half dozen in number, who had fallen
to the ground in paroxysm OF religious .renzy.
They were groveling with their feces down in
the grass, and were singing q HYMN in u loud
voice. The hymn was The Angels A'rappin at
the Door," and the refrain sung rapidly was
"Oh. tell ole Noah to bill on de ark to bill on de
ark, to bill ON de ark" This song they repeated
over and over again until they were worn out,
and then ceased from utter exhaustion.