Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-09-02
THE EARTHQUAKE.
Widespread Desolation Upon
the Atlantic SeabOard.
FROM MAINE TO TEXAS.
Great Loss Of Life and Destruction
Of Property.
FAMILIES RENDERED HOMELESS.
Railroads Wrecked-Telegraph Com
munication Cut Off-Mirl- dams
Broken by the Shock.
WILD SCENES OF A NIGHT OF TERROR.
| rne People Threatened With q
Famine-Graphic Account
of the Conyulsion.
WILD SCENES OF A NIGHT OF TERROR.
Tne People Threatened With q
Famine-Graphic Account
of the Conyulsion.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE REooRD-usIoS.I

CHARLESTON Is. C.), September 1st.-
There was a terrible earthquake here last
night at $50 o'clock. The principal bust
ness portion of the city was destroyed, and
hundreds of people rendered homeless:
Men were frantic, women were beseeching
mercy from the Almighty, and children
were in tears. The main station-house,
City Hall, Hibernia Hail and many other
well-known public buildings, including
st. Michael's Church, were irreparably
damaged. Many people were seriously, if
not fatally, injured. Broad street pre-
sented a spectacle of the utmost horror.
Even women, armed with hatchets, fought
vailiantly to rescue the imprisoned unfor-
tunates. Meeting street. from Broad to
Hazel is wreck and is lined with unfor-
tunates To add to the horror of the
scene, many fires broke out, and were in
effectually fought by the fire department.
Night is hideous with the groans of the
dying and the screams Of the wounded
and the prayers of the uninjured. 1t is i'm
possible to estimate the losses of persons
or property at present. Up to Ia. NJ. there
had been ten dlSunct SHOCKS.
Shocks equally severe were felt at dis
tance of thirty-five miles, and have done
inestimable damage to the railroads and
telegraph property. Charleston is now en-
tirely isolated from the outside world.
CHARLESTON, September 1st-11 A. M
An earthquake such as has never before
been known in the history of this city,
swept over Charleston last night, shortly
after 10 o'clock, causing more loss and in
jury to property, and far more loss of life,
than the cyclone of a year ago. The city is
wrecked, the streets are incumbered with
masses Of fallen bricks and tangled tele-
graph and telephone wires, and up to an
early hour it was almost impossible to pass
from one part of the city to the other.
Most of the people passed the night in the
streets, which even this morning are
crowded with people afraid to re-enter
their homes. More than sixty persons were
killed and wounded, chiefly colored
Among the whites killed and fatally
wounded are NJ. ]. Lynch, DIR. r. Alexan-
der Hamlon and Ainsley Robson. Fires
broke out in different parts Of the city i'm
mediateIy after the earthquake, and some
are still burning, but there is no danger oi
spreading. There is no way of leaving the
city at present.
CHARLESTON, September 1st.-Not to ex-
ceed 100 houses in the city are occupied at
this time. The people are all camped in
the open places. All the stores are closed,
and a scarcity of provisions is feared, be-
cause no one can be got to go to the stores
to sell them. Three or four fires started in
as many sections with the first shock, and
very soon illuminated the city with flames,
thus leading all to believe that what was left
by the earthquake would be devoured by fire.
However, the fire department was SO well
divided and handled that the fires were
under control by daylight. From 125 TO
$50 of the residences and stores were
consumed. The loss by fire and earth
quake cannot be accurately estimated, but
it can safely be placed at 100000. As far
as could be ascertained during the night
fifteen to twenty were killed and a much
greater number wounded in all sorts of
ways. The loss of human life will be
large, and it will take day TO get the
accurate number.
CHARLESTON, September 1st.-Hardly a
house in the city escaped injury, and many
were so shaken and cracked that hard blow
would bring them to the ground. The
shock was severe at Summerville, Mt.
Pleasant and Sullivan's Island. Fissures
in some parts are noticed, from which fine
sand, apparently from great depth ex-
udes. A sulphurous smell is very notice
able. The city is wrapped in gloom, and
business is entirely suspended. People
under improvised shelters, and will camp
out tonight fearing another shock.
MORE sHocKs-A DEPLoRABLE STATE OF AZ