Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-09-02

again that slow 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 the
tre is forgotten again in the frenzied rush
for the open space where alone there ishOpe
Ofsecurity, faint though it be. The tall
buildings on either hand blot out the skies
and the stars and seem to overhang every
foot of ground between them. Their
shattered cornices and copings and the tops
of their frowning walls seemed to reach
from both sides to the centre Of the street.
1t seems that touch would now send
THE SHATTERED MASSES
left standing down upon the people below,
who look up to them and shrek as the
tremOr of the earthquake again passes un-
der them, and the mysterious rever-
berations swell and roll along like some
internal drum beat summOning them TO
die. But it passes away and again is ex-
perieneed the blessed cling Of freedom
from impending calamity which 1t may
well b, believed evoked q mute but earnest
Offering of mingled prayer and thanksglv-
ing from every heart in the throng, and
again far along the street and up from the
alley-ways that lead into it on either
side is heard that chorus of wailing and
famentation which, though it had not
closed, was scarcely noticed a moment be
fore. 1t is dreadful sound-the sound OF
HELPLESS, HORROR STRICKEN HUMANITY,
the old and young, the strong and the
feeble alike, where all are so feeble, calling
for help from their fellow creatures
and raising their anguished voices in
petition to heaven for mercy where no
human aid could prevail. 1t is not scene
to be described by any mortal tongue or
pen. 1t iS.nOt scene to be forgotten when
it has been witnessed and when the witness
has shared all its danger and felt all its
agony. The first shock occurred ut seven
minutes of ten, as indicated this morning
by the public clocks, the hands
on all of which had stopped
at that fateful hour, as though
to mark the end Of time for 50
many who had heard the preceding hour
pealed forth by ST. Michael chimes with
out a thought but OF q long and happy life.
THE SECOND SHOCK,
which was but q faint and crisp echo of
the first, was felt eight minutes later. As
it passed away the writer started home
ward to find the scenes enacted on Broad
street around the NerS and Courier
office repeated at every step
of the way. st. NIichael's
steeple lowered high and white above the
gloom, seemingly uniujured. The sta
ton house, a massive brick building across
the street, had apparently lost its root,
which had fallen around it. A little fur
ther on the roof and portico of the Hiber-
nian Hall, handsome building i'll the
Grecian style, had crashed to the ground,
carrying down part of the massive granite
pillars with it, All the way up Milling
street, which in respect of its general direc-
ton and importance, may be called the
Broadway" Of Charleston, the roadway
was
PILED WITH DEBRIS
from the tops of the walls. In passing
the Charleston hotel, which, 10 carry out
the comparison above indicated, occupies
the epositiOn of Stewards uptown store III
New York, the third shock was felt
about 10 minutes after the second, and of
course caused the greatest alarm III that
neighbOrhOod, as elsewhere. At Narrow
square great crowd had collected, as
even the edges of the wide space embraced,
could not be reached by the nearest
buildings in the event of their fall.
From this crowd, composed Of men and
women, and children OF both sexes, arose
calls and cries and lamentations, while
over the motley, half dressed throng was
shed the
LURID LIGHT OF THE CONTEMPLATION
which had broken out just beyond the
square Immediately after the first shock,
and had now wholly enyeloped several
buildings in flames. In three other
quarters OF the town at the
same time, similar and larger
fires were observed under full headway,
and the awful significance OF the earth
quage may be most fully appreciated, per
haps when it is said that with the tremen-
dous fires blazing up all at once around
them and threatening the city with total
destruction the people whom you meet on
the streets or saw gathered in groups in the
open places evidently did not give
them thought. There were no dlstlnc-
tions of place or power, pride or caste, IN
the assemblages that were gathered to-
gether in Charleston Tuesday night. 1t
was curious spectacle TO look upon. II
is good one to remember for white and
black. There were instances Of
UNSELFISH DEVOTION
and of kind and loving regard between
master and servant, mistress and maid, as
in the presence Of common i'll and OF 4
threatened ruin to ALL Until long after
midnight the streets were filled with
fugitives in sight OF their homes
Through the long hours that fol-
lowed few We're the eyes that
were closed in sleep. Charleston
was full OF those who watched for morn
ing, and never, in any city in any land,
did the first gray shadows that marked the
approach of dawn appear so beautiful and
welcome to eyes as they appeared to the
thousands who hailed them this morning
from the midst of the countless wrecked
homes in our thrice Scourged but still pa
tient. still brave, still hopeful, still beau
tiful city by the sea.
The Battle With the Flames.
CHARLESTON, ). G., September IA
large fire at the corner of NanderpOrt and
King streets started after the earthquake
shock and was burning tiercely for about
two hours, when at last three streams
could be directed against it, but this being
found unavailing. the tidal drain was
opened and another stream put on. At
least ten houses were on fire and all OF
them completely burned. The fire still
advanced and it appeared as if the whole
block would be burned down unless sutfi-
cient aid could be given. The Fire De
partment Chief, O'Neil,
PRESSED INTO SERVICE
every negro that could be found. Another
serious fire broke out on corner of George
and st. Phillips, and two two story houses
were completely destroyed. The fire burned
! for about an hour before the arrival OF the
fire engines, such was the demand for them
all over the city. A number of hands
| assisted the firemen in stretching the hose,
and with one stream of water the fire was
| hn nf