The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-09-06


rian. Methodist, and other denominations
worship in the open air. All of the ser
mons treated of the calamity which has visi-
ted Charleston. At o'clock there was a
general mass meeting at the corner Of Broad
and East Bay streets. Thousands of people
attended and eloquent sermons were
preached by volunteer ministers.
The singing was beautiful and touching
and the teachings impressive. On heaps of
debris for nearly square In every direction
people were congregated, Before the ser
mon began many experiences OF Tuesday
night were given, some pitiful, some lqdl-
crous, and others heart-rending. A white
haired colored woman, who had spent two
thirds of her life in slavery, told how her
only son in fleeing from their home had been
Drained on the stoop by falling piazza.
What most strongly confronts the people
is the future of the city. If these buildings
are not rebuilt or repaired the city can ney-
er be what it was and may be ruined.
At times during the early exercises the old
post office building trembled before the
soughing sea breeze, and its cracked walls
threatened to crush every one within reach.
1t is now quite plain that that there will be
no suffering for day or two, although some
instances of hunger and want in poor fami-
lies are reported. Enough money Will prob
ably be received to meet the immediate
wants.
The relief committee will open a general
supply store and issue ratlons to the helpless
and needy.
OF the 900 buildings here, 5000 must be
rebuilt. Many of the owners of these can
not get money to rebuild, and, unless outside
aid IS given, at least 1000 vacant lots will
stand where buildings were on last Tuesday
HBw to get money, is the great problem. A
plan was proposed this afternoon by local
financier which seems to meet general ap-
prevail 1t is for the city to issue bonds for
$4,000 O0O,-the present estimated real loss
by the earthquake-the bonds to run say
from 80 to 30 years, and to draw three per
cent interest. 1t is believed Eastern and
Northern capital would take tne ponds az
par, and then the city could loan money to
citizens and take mortgages on the property.
A party of scientists, headed by Professors
Mendenhall and McGee, returned tonight at
o'clock from an exploring trip north OF the
city. They visited Ten Mile Hills. Summer
vile and Lincoln. They give no cheering
news. At Summerville they felt nine dis
tinct shocks, and say the people are terrified
and leaving that section of the country
Most of the 800 houses at Summerville are
wooden ones, and as a consequence the dam
age is largely confined to their interior.
A large number of geysers were found
some five feet in diameter and nothing has
been found long enough to probe their depth.
None are spouting while all are full OF
water. SumRerville has Jared worse than
any other part of the county hereabouts, and
will be almost depOpulated. The residence
of the late Congressman nj. P. O'COnnOr will
have to be rebuilt The old Charleston club
house, afterwards States court house is al
most a complete wreck Col. Batchellor of
the Quartermaster Department, who arrived
here to-day with Col Owens, has been over
the city, and in an interview tonight said :
Il have seen enough to say that the ruin is
widespread. The eastern part of the city is
damaged severely, and ! think there, is
scarcely house. but will have to be pulled
down. do not think that there has been
nvaOOnration tO the extent OF the
damages, and | think that the calamity Is
even greater than has been represented in
the press"
Profs. Mendenhall and MCGEE take friend
ly issue as to the cause of the earthquakes
The latter maintains that they are the result
of landslides, while the former believes that
they are the result of the readjustment of
the earth's crust to the basin of the earth, as
a conforming of the exterior to the interior
of the earth, and points to the geySers as
evidence that the earth is settling and the
surface lowering. Prof. Mendenhall antici-
pates another shock tonight between 1880
and 2o'clock, when the tide, which rises here
to a height of six feet is at full flood. He
shore line of Charleston, which is over five
miles in length, is the immediate determln-
ing power of the cause of the earthquakes.
The fact of the tide being in and the pressure
of the coast line, he says, might also pro-
woke shock.
Another Slight Shock at Charleston.
There was another shock at 11.O5 tonight.
1t was not very severe and its duration was
about two seconds.
Singular Incidents at Atlanta.
ATLANTA, Ca, Sept. 4. "A singular incl
dent happened on Hutchinson's Island.
Capt w. d. Hutchinson was investigating
there at noon After swearing the jury
they were all to take seats in the cabin.
David Moore, a negre, the only Witness be-
gan giving his evidence and had got about
down to the time when Campbell was last
seen, when the cabin; commenced to rattle,
s'tben sheer again. said the witness His
eyes grew double their ordinary size, He
started for the door, leaving his evidence
half finished. The juror nearest the door
waited about half second and gave leap
out. The other jurors gave one look at the
corpse and they saw it move; they went out
in a bunch, leaving the coroner and the
corpse to finish the inquest. A good deal of
persuasion was required to get the jurors
back after the quiver was over. Lamenta-
BILE occurrences growing out of the shocks
operatives daughter, has lost her mind and
is hopelessly insane. j. G. Oakman, collector
of this city, has become insane. q. ii. Muir
ply, of N. W. Murphy q Co., shoe dealers,
was terribly frightened by the Tuesday
shock Yesterday he deliberately blew out
his brains. His mother was the only person
in the house at the time, and this shock will
end her life in all probability. A negro
name unknown, went to his house and tolo
his wife that he, too, would end his anguish
by death, and then, locking himself in his
room made an attempt to hang himself, but
Bpoliee officer burst into the room ano
| pulled him down.
Vibrations Felt at Savannah.
SAVANNAH, Ga, Sept. 4.-Since last last
| felt in the upper stories of the Morning
| News building. They were almost contin
| uous, the intervals between being only from
| five to ten minutes at the most. While there
was general stampede at the flrst shock,
| the editorial force nevertheless returned t
| their places and stuck to them. The build
| ing is the highest and largest in the city.
| At93O O'Clock tonight another shock o.
| earthquake was felt here. While not severe
| it was everywhere suSpectlble, and people
rushed from their houses Hundreds OF peo
| ple are again spending the night out O.
Shocks were felt at Raleigh, N. c., and a
| Augusta, Ca, tonight.
Aid for the Charleston Sufferers.
| COLUMBIA, S. c., Sept 5-Another yer.
| distinct earthquake shock was felt in thu
| city tonight at 9.25 o'clock, the Vibration
| continuing about Is seconds. The shocl
| succeeded as usual in clearing all larg
houses in the city of their occupants. The
city council, tonight, appropriated $1,000 fo
| the Charleston sufferers.
NEW YORK, Sept 5.-William A. Courte
nav, mayor of Charleston, S. c., arrived ol
the steamer from Liverpool and proceeded
| by the first train for Charleston. He author
| lied the statement that he will receipt ant
be responsible for all tents that may be fol-
Warded to Charleston where they are imper
atiyely needed by many suffering and home
less people. To secure this end he has ap
pointed the following gentlemen to act as
committee of ar arrangements: William ID
Hastie, of Charleston, 5, O., w. w. Rhet
and l. B. Lanneau. The headquarters 0
the committee are at No. 317 Broadway
New York. The tents will be forwarded b
steamer Delaware Pier No. 27 North River
of the Charleston line, free of charge o
Wednesday, September Sth or by express
they can be procured sooner. In an lnte
view Mayor Courtenay says: knowing tn
endurance of our people as l do, their coo
ness and bravery under all circumstances,
am satisfied from the news | found here Q
my arrival up to Saturday afternoon that IL
sufferers require immediate and substantii
relief. Many thousands of people must
provided for with shelter from the weathe
at once Hundreds of houses will have
be rebuilt and very much larger numb'
cannot be inhabited until extensive repair
are made. 1t is a case of urgency and
fully understood will, l am sure, be fnl
met
Another Shock at Savannah.
SAVANNAH, Ga, Sept. 5.-At 1910 anoth
shock was felt. Hundreds of people are ST
aompad in the SQUARE The continuance