Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-09-10

| beat summoning them to die. Ii passes
away and again is experienced the
blessed feeling Of deliverance from i'm
pending calamity, which it may well be
believed will provoke mute but earn
est Offering of mingled prayer and
thanksgiving from every heart in the
/ throng.
Again, far along the street and up
| from the alleys that lead into it on
| either side. is heard that chorus of wall
ing and lamentation which, though it
had not ceased, WAS scarcely noticed a
moment before. 1t is dreadful sound,
| the sound Of helpless, horror stricken
humanity, old and young, .he strong
| and the feeble alike, where all are so
feeble, calling for help from their fell
low. w.creatUrcs and raising their an
| guishcd voices in petition to heaven for
mercy where no human aid could avail.
1t is not n scene to lie described by any
mortal tongue or pen; it is not scene
to be forgotten when the witness has
shared all It's dangers and felt all its
agony.
AMIDST THE CRASH OF BUILDINGS.
The first shock occurred at seven
minutes of ten, as was indicated this
morning by the public clocks, the hands
on all of " hich had stopped at that fate
full hour, us though to mark tho end OF
time for so many who had heard the
preceding hour pealed forth by st.
Michae's chimes without thought but
of long aud happy life. The second
shock, which was but faint and crisp
echo of the first, was felt eight minutes
later. AS it passed away the writer
stan ted homeward, to find the scenes
enacted on Broad street, around the
NeWS and Courier Office, repeated at ev-
cry step of the way. st. Michael's stce-
pie lowered high and white above the
gloom, seemingly uniajured. The sta
| ton house, massive brick building
across the street, had apparently lost its
roof, which had fallen around il. u
little further on the roof Of a portion of
the IIibernian Hall, Il handsome build
ing in the Grecan style, had crashed to
the ground, carrying down part of the
massive granite pillars with it. All tho
way up Meeting street, which in respect
of its general direction and Importance
NAV be called the Broadway of
Charleston" the roadway was piled
with debris from the tops of the walls.
In passing the Charleston Hotel, which,
to carry ou: the comparison above indi-
Gated, occupies the position of Stewards
uptown store in New York, the third
shock was felt about ten minutes after
the second and, Of course, caused the
greatest alarm in that neighborhood as
elsewhere.
At Marion Square, corresponding ex-
actly with Union Square, New York, n
great crown uhl tOiitNltu as CNNI bhC
edges OF the wide spaces embraced in it
could not be reached by the nearest
buildings in the event of their fall.
From this crowd, composed Of men,
women and children Of both races, arose
incessant calls and cries of lamenta-
tions, while over the motley, half
dressed throng was shed the lurid light
of the copflagration which had broken
out just beyond the square Immediately
after the first shock and hal nearly en-
veloped several buildings in flames. In
three other quarters of the town at the
same time similar large fires were OBJ
served under full headway, and the aw-
ful signific2nce of the earthquake may
most fully be appreciated, when il Is
said that with these awful fires blazing
ND all at once around them and threat
ening tie city with total destruction,
the people whom you met on the streets
or saw gathered together in groups in
the open place evidently did not give
them thought. No Que watched the
ruddy flames or the pillars of cloud ris-
ing high into the still night air. All
were too intent OF listening with
strained senses for the dreaded recur-
renee of that horrible growl or groan of
the power under the seas and under the
land to give thonghr 10 the new terror,
though it had threatened his own
home and many homes in the doomed
city.
CHARMED CIRCLE OF SAFETY.
The crowds poured in from every d.
rection 10 the square just described, as
though it had been indeed charmed
circle and life depended on passing
within its grassy bounds. Street cars,
carriages and other vehicles were rang
ed in lines on the streets, surrounding
/ the square. while the horses stood a.
/ though sriffing the ground in anxious
inquiry. The colored people every.
where were loud AID unceasing in theil
! declamations of alarm. in the singing
of hymns and in fervent appeals fol
Gods mercy, in which appeals, Coo
knows, many proud heart who besrt
them arising in the night, and In th'
hour of His wondrous might, devoutl,
and humbly and sincerely joined. Dan
ger brings all Of US to the level Of thu
lowliest.
Arrived at his home, .he writer foun'