The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-02
THE CHARLESTON CALAMITY.
Three-Fourths of the City Ruined and an
Unknown Number of People Killed.

Three-Fourths of the City Ruined and an
Unknown Number of People Killed.
CHARLESTON, S. c., Seps There was ter
rible earthquake last night at 95O The princi-
pal business portion of the city was destroyed,
and hundreds of persons were rendered home
less. Men were frantic women were beseech-
ing mercy from the Almighty and children were
in tears. The main station-house, the City Hall,
Hibernian Hall and many other Unknown
public buildings including st. Michaels Church,
were irreparably damaged. Many people were
seriously. if not fatally injured. Broad street
presented a spectacle Of the utmost horror.
Even women, armed with hatchets, fought val
iantly to rescue the imprisoned unfortunates.
Meeting street, from Broad to Hasel, is wreck,
and is lined with unfortunates. To add to the
horror of the scene, many fires broke out,
and were Intellectually fought by tae
FIRE department The night was hideous
screams of the wounded, and the prayers of the
uninjured. It is impossible to estimate the
losses of person or property at present Up to
10 A. M. to-day there had been ten distinct
shocks. The city is wrapped in gloom and bust.
ness suspended. People generally remain in
the streets, in tents and under improvised shell
ters, and will camp out tonight, fearing another
shock The gas works are injured, and prob
ably the city will be without light tonight. ST.
Michaels Church is shattered, and the steeple
will come down; likewise the steeple Of St
Phillips The steeple of the Unitarian Church
has fallen. The porticos of Hibernian Hall and
the main station-house are demolished There
is much injury to mansions on the East and
South Battery. The portico of the Ravenal
mansion is down. Hardly house in the city
escaped injury, and many are so shaken and
cracked that hard blow would bring them to
the ground.
The shock was severe at Sommerville, Mt
Pleasant and Sullvan's island, but no loss of
life is reported there. Fissures in the earth are
noticed from which fine sand, apparently from
a great depth, exudes, and sulphurous smell is
very noticeable
Three or four fires started in as many sections
with the first shock, and the city was illuminated
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
we'll divided and handled that the fires were
under control by daylight From fifteen to
twenty residences and stores were consumed.
The loss by fire and earthquake cannot be accu-
rately estimated, but can be placed safely at
S., 100000. AS far as could be ascertained dur
ing the night, fifteen 70 twenty were killed and
much greater number were wounded in all
sorts of ways. The loss of human life will be
large and it will take days to get at the accu-
rate number Shocks equally severe were felt
at a distance of thirty-fve miles, and have done
inestimable damage to railroad and telegraph
property. Charleston is now entirely isolated
from the outside world
At S:25 this morning, another wave swept over
the city. coming, as the other did, from the
southeast, and going in a northwest direction
By that time the people, who had been out on the
public parks and open places all night, had
ventured into their homes to get clothing and
something to eat The approach of the quake
was heralded by the usual rumbling sound. ra-
senbling distant thunder. Then it gradually
approached. the earth quivered and heaved, and
in three seconds it had passed, the sound dying
out in the distance. This is the only wave felt
since $50 this morning. Il was not destructive,