Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-01

panic at the First African church are in
fair way to recovery. No other
casualties than were announced in the
NEWS this morning have been reported.
Many people were slightly injured by
falling bricks and debris from the roofs
OF houses but none seriously.
Sergeant killourhy, oil the police, stated
that the policemen this morning reported
no additional accidents to persons or pro-
perty other than those described in the
NEWS.
THE FIRST NEWS FROM CHARLESTON.
At the Savannah, Florida and Western
railway Office the officials were besieged
for information. A few minutes before 10
this morning Superintendent Fleming re-
celved dispatch from Capt. j. w. Craig,
Master OF Roadway and Train Service OF
the Charleston and Savannah railway. 1t
was dated Ravenels, and Mr.. Craig went
along the road this morning on foot the
greater part OF the way.
The dispatch is as follows:
"We have suffered serious damage from
an earthquake which struck Charleston
at 10 O'clock last night. We need all the
assistance you can render us. Our track
from Ashley junction to Ravenels, "a
miles, is impassable in many places, OWING
to the shifting of the road bed from one to
two ieet. The expansion and contraction
has bent our rails in many places so that
they cannot be used. Ihope TO be able to
pass trans at speed Of ten miles per
hour tonight or early tomorrow morn
ing.
IL cannot find language able quite to eX-
press the damage and suffering In Charles
ton. Many are killed and wounded aud
the suffering is terrible. The people are
all hndllad tOppthpr in the niHIla Of tho
streets.
''Since last night the South Carolina
railway has had two trains off the
track between Charleston and Summer
vile. Atlantic Coast Line No. 40 not yet
arrived. No telling when 1t Will. From
what can learn the earthquake eXten-
ded in radius OF so to 100 miles. Our
trains have not met with an accident 80
far. Later on l will wire you further as
to the damage in Charleston"
SENDING OUT RELIEF TRAINS.
1t was not long before Capt. Fleming
had an extra with large force Of hands
and utensils ready, and the extra with
the force left the depot at 1915. standard
time tor the scene to aid the Charleston
and Savannah Railway in repairing dam
ages.
Capt. Fleming was in the telegraph Of
fee when a reporter of the MORNING
NEWS called on him, where he could be
in constant communication with all
points along the lines OF railway affected
by the great break this side OF Charleston.
An anxious crowd of officials and others
interested were in the office
impatiently awaiting further details, and
discussing the extraordinary phenomena,
exhibited here and elsewhere, so far as
heard from. The serious disturbance of
the railway service by an earthquake is
by no means common. The information
that the officers of the road have is very
meagre, but from all that can be learned
the shock was more severe on the South
Carolina coast than anywhere else.
AT THE TELEGRAPH OFFICERS.
The Western Union telegraph Office
was thronged all night, and Manager Dill
lon, the operators and employees remained
faithfully at their posts. Messages were
rapidly piled up on the desks, and the
business was handled with great speed
and prOmptness. Early this morning
fresh crowds gathered in the lobby and
about the building. Still the seemingly
untiring officials and employees remained
at their posts, and never for an instant
did they flag, or hesitate or show impa-
tience. Early in the night Manager Dill
lon called on the neighboring offices for
assistance, which will be received by the
afternoon trains.
The Southern Telegraph Company got a
wire open to Charleston by way OF Rich
| mond about 8 O'Clock, and 1t was at once
overwhelmed, as it were, with private
messages announcing the results of the
earthquake and individual experiences.
Scores of messages were received at the
Savannah Office saying: "We are safe"
! THANK the Lord, our family escaped q
terrible visitation" etc. Up TO ~ O'Clock
no names of persons killed or injured
were received at the Savannah Office.
Manager Gustin and his assistants were
kept busy sending and receiving messa-
ges and attending to persons anxious to
INQUIRE as to the fate or safety of loved
ones in the City by the Sea.
The Columbia manager of the Southern
Telegraph Company reached Summerville
this morning, and Immediately Dulletined
the scene exhibited at that place. The
beautiful town appeared to be almost de-
molished. Sixty lives were reported lost
in Charleston and the city almost de-
stroyed. The widest terror prevailed.
and all sorts of reports were circulated
and credulOusly received.
WHAT THE SIGNAL oEFICERs SAY.
The Signal Service men were at sea on
the subject, 80 TO speak. There is noway
to tell the approach or the duration OF an
earthquake. The only thing that can be
done is to draw inferences from past
earthquakes. In the earthquake belt
shocks are liable to be felt for two or three
davs at VARYING intervals. The meteoro-
loy,cal department has never made a spe-
cIaI study of seismic disturbances, as
they are technically termed. The jspa-
nese nave devoted more time to that than
any other people, and tie study is more
advanced there.
OF the present disturbance Messrs.
| Graham and David said that they were
unable to make any forecast. 1t is most
! likely that the worst is over and that only
! tremors and slight shocks will be felt
| until the disturbance Is wholly over and
| the forces in the interior OF the earth re-
| sumo their normal state so far as the
crust is concerned. A marked rise IN the
barometer wRs a noticeable incident TO
| to the signal men in connection with the
upheaval. The atmospheric pressure be-
! gan TO increase Tuesday forenoon and
I continued throughout the afternoon and
! night, and 1t was still increasing at II
| O'Clock this morning.
EFFECT ON THE WEATHER.
! Between midnight and O'Clock the ba.
rometer rose one-eig nth OF an inch, and
| from noon yesterday until noon to-day IL
! rose a quarter OF an inch. A fall OF B de-
! grees in the temperature also occurred at
! this point, and there seemed to DO cool
wave travelling from the northwest when
the upheaval came. The disturbance and
the barometric and thermal changes may
| or NAV not have been related. On that
4 al nRnN. sod 49,