Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-09-09
the EARTHQUAKE.

: Charlestonians-"The Handfwork of tn
Lord - Scientific Theories Surveyin
the Wreck-The Injured Patients-Th
Heath List-Another Shock and Anothe
| Wei
CHARLESTON, S. c., Sept. 4.-Distress
Ing scenes have been witnessed all alon
the railroads leading into Charleston
during the last twenty-four hours. Man
of the best-to-do citizens were in thu
North at the time of the shocks, spendin;
the heated term. Being unable to receive
any definite information as to the exten
| of the loss of either life or property, they
started on their return. At every stol
| of the train they rushed pell-mell into
telegraph offices, called for and sent mes
| sages, and gave the people along the way
a tinge of the excitement. They coult
learn nothing. kilograms were banked
up IN the offices here and were not de
| liyered. In many instances the message:
| were not sent. AS the returning citizen:
| neared Charleston, they learned less anC
| less of the true condition of affairs, anC
| their suspense became agonizing. They
could not sleep and paced the floors
| Of the coaches Wrfngine
| their hands and evincing painful
alarm. Even the outgoing passengers
who were hailed by those incoming could
give no accurate or useful Information
| Only the most courageous of the citizens
returned TO the city. Many stopped a,
suburban places and opened up unsatis-
| factory communication by telephone OF
telegraph.
Up to yesterday it was with difficulty
that the railroads could run trains in the
city, owing to the fact that employees, and
especially the colored ones, feared to
enter the city. An old colored porter,
when informed at one of the cities above
Charleston that he had been ordered on a
run. turned pale as death and stammereG
to his superintendent: "'Scuse me, cap
ting, but doan wants to 60 10 Charles
TONI When informed that he must, he
took off his cap, laid it down, and, bow
ing with Difference, said: "Then 1 re-
signs, sab; 1 doan 90 down thar to be
killed by the quakes, sah."
Huddled about one of the parks we're a
lot of colored men and woman yesterday
afternoon discussing the future probable
tiles. When asked if he knew what
caused the earthquake, one of the bright
est of the crowd turned up his eyes and
replied:
sit is the handiwork of the Lord. We
are not to know whence it cometh or
whittier it goeth.''
Prof. w. J. MCGEE, of the United
States Geological Survey, arrived yester-
day morning from Washington.
81 came" said he to United Press re-
porter, ''to ascertain the origin of the
earthquake. The effect of it is of little
moment to science. The origin is of
great interest to the entire scientific
world. People want to know the condi-
ton of the earth under which earth
quakes occur. 1t seems to be settling
of the earth"
Prof. McGee, as well as local scientists,
discredlts all statements about atmos-
pheric pressure of any character, and
boiling water or sulphuric discoveries at
points where assures appear in the earth.
1t was reported yesterday afternoon that
at one place in the city hot water had
gushed from the ground, scalding peo-
pie, who were compelled to rush through
it.
There is but one theory advanced by
enon. and that is some kind of settlement
in the earth. There were no upheavals
at all in places where surface indications
of trouble are visible. The earth is
sunken for several miles Immediately
outside OF the city. This sinking was so
positive that the railroad tracks were
thrown out of level, and section hands
have been at work putting in new rail.
road ties, raising old ones and reballast-
ing the road. In Il number of instances
culyerts and bridges were thrown out of
keller and had to be repaired.
At special meeting of the City Coun-
Gil yesterday the mayor and aldermen
were constituted committee to investi-
oral 10 nf mil in hni
respective wards, and to order any un-
safe walls or buildings to be taken down.
They continued their work far into the
night. 1t is estimated that over five hun
dred buildings will be condemned. A
prominent real estate agent says that
while some of the wooden buildings are
habitable under fair circumstances, mos
of them are badly wrecked, and that
there is scarcely sale brick building in
the city. The same gentleman estimates
the loss and damage of real and personal
property in the city at from $l0,000,00G
90 Sl5,O0O,O00.
Yesterday morning the patients were
all moved from the City hospital to the
Agricultural hall, where they are being
made as comfortable as possible. No
more deaths or new cases were reported
at the hospital during the morning. At
present there are in the hospital 119 pa
tients, 100 of whom are suffering from
injuries sustained Tuesday night. About
half of them were bruised by falling build
mgs, and the others are Frustrated by
the excitement. The bulk of the earth
quake sufferers are being cared for at
their homes. There is considerable ILL
ness among children, resulting from
exposure and sleeping out at night.
sEarthquakeana" is the name sug-
aested from little girl brought INTO
the world four hours before the great up
heaval. Mother and child, it may be
said, are doing we'll, notwith standing the
fact that they are quartered in Washing
ton square.
The deaths from injuries by the earth.
quake up to ten O'Clock last night in
creased the list to twenty-five. Most of
them are colorcd people.
Yesterday afternoon the Charleston
Cotton and Produce exchanges issued an
address to the commercial men of the
country, setting forth that Charleston is
fully equipped for business. They also
ask Congress to loan the citizens $751;
600, 900 with which to rebuild. One hum
dred tents are expected to arrive from
the War Department to-day, but will fall
five hundred short of the requirement.
The Secretary of War is requested to
send Government engineers to inspect
buildings and ascertain the needs.