Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-09-01
VIOLENT EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS.


three distinct shocks of earthquake.
In this vicinity the shocks were ex.
ceedingly violent, and the Experiences"
of different parties are being recited over
and over some of which are amusing, while
the scare depicted on the countenances OF
others is an index to the fact that their
nervous systems have not been restored to
the normal equilibrium.
In Washington the shock produced qnlte
q panic. Persons employed in the building
where the Republican, Post, Critic ana ca
zett are published rushed pell NELL into the
streets while the structure was vibrating
from the seismic disturbance. When the
floors gan swaying gas chandeliers Vlbra-
ted, and men felt the chairs move in which
thew were sitting instant alarm was no.
ticeabe on every side. In the two compos-
ing rooms the printers standing at their
cases were amazed at seeing the frames
move, and on each floor the same conclu-
sion was reached-that the building was
trembling and about to collapse. Self
preseryati on was the next thought, and on
each floor there was q general rush for the
stairway Amidst great excitement, the
club men, editors reporters, and printers
made rapid strides down the stairway and
fastened into the street. The composltors
and those stripped for work in the news
papers Offices did not stop to change their
clothes, but grabbed their clothing and rush
ed from the building, carrying their ward.
robe under their arms. Similar stampedes
from various other ediices also took place,
while in some instances during the shake
upn pedestrians with difficulty kept on their
feet. Quite panic prevailed when people
began to comp rehend that this portion OF
the planet was undergoing one of natures
commissions; women tainted, and in numer-
Gus cases strong men suddenly felt as
though their systems were about to succumb
to some sort of cmetic. At Albaugh's Opera
House tho Mascot" was in progress when
heavy swaying shock WAS felt which lasted
full half minute. In the galleries it was
heaviest where it seemed as if the building
was swayiug 10 and fro. Those sitting on
the edge of their chairs were tilted forward
so as to lose their balance. The entire au-
dience was seized with uncomfortable fear,
and with one accord nearly all arose and
started on rush for the doors. Five ladies
in the galleries tainted, and in few mo-
ments the Railways were crowded with the
panic-stricken audience. 1t was some time
before the idea that an earthquake had oc-
Cured became prevalent, and many bellev-
cd that the building had been SHAKEN from
some other cause. After quiet was restored,
between two and three hundred people left
| the theatre not to return. 1t was 1O:lo
| o'clock when the shaking sensation again
commenced, and the thoroughly frightened
audience again made for tho doors. This vas
| at the end of the second act, and when the
third act opened not more than bali the
| audience present during the early part
| ip hair
was no cutlery during the evening,
| the fright showing itself in another manner.
4 There was third shock at 1880 o'clock,
but not 90 heavy. The shock seemed great.
! er in that section Of the city running north
and south between the capitol aud the ex-
ecutive mansion The officers on duty at
the workhouse and at the Jail in the extreme
eastern part Of washington say many people
| were thrown out of their beds and chairs
At the Insane Asylum the big buildings
shook frightfully and momentary panic
| took place among the inmates. Every pub.
| lie building in the city was shaken percept-
| bly,, as we'll as every other structure, though
| in some localities the shock was less marked
than in Others. The question which seemed
to be propounded most was, us the Wash
ington monument standing?n
| The disturbance seems to have been gen
eral throughout the country, dispatches
| from New York, New Jersey, Massachu-
sets, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, lndl-
ana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Geor-
| sia, Florida, Alabama, West Virginia, Ken
lucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa and other
States having been received, giving graphic
descriptions Of the shocks and tho scare
produced by them. A bridge near Charles
ton, S. c., was shaken from its foundation,
and the telegraphic wires displaced, inter
ruptipg communication with that section.
Up to 3 o'clock this morning there bad been
no communication from Charleston. The
bridge that fell carried the telegraph wires
into the city. A report has been received
| from point twenty. FIVE miles from the city
that the railroad tracks leading from there
to Charleston have been submerged. Tele-
grams from cities in South Carolina and
Georgia say the utmost CONSERVATION pre-
walls on account of the non.receipt OF news
from Charleston, and many fear that ter.
rible calamity has happened there. AT
Langley, on the South Carolina Railroad,
| fifteen miles from Augusta and l23 miles
from Charleston, the earthquake destroyed
the mildam, and the water washed away
the road he'd. A train dashed into the flood
and the engineer and fireman were drown
ed. The engine ia now forty feet under
water.
The disturbance seems to have been gen
eral throughout Virginia. 10 Richmond
people were thrown from their feet and bricks
shaken from houses. The shock felt there
was twenty seconds in coming from Angus
ia. Ga, and was severest about Greensboro,
I'm. C. In Richmond nearly the entire pop
ulace was soon on the streets excitedly dis
cussipg the event. An alarm of fire was
turned in by shock from a box near the
state prison, aud in response to it the fire
department turned out. The excitement
consequent on the approach of the fire en-
gines and the earthquake frightened the
convicts. They made q break for the outer
walls and the guards rang the call for the
militia. This gave the grounds for the re-
port Of the disturbance among the seven
hundred convicts confined there. The mil
itia turned out and thousands of people
focked to the hills about the prison 10 see
the result. Things, however, were soon
-& ~Nf1 HIN