Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-04
THE EARTHQUAKE.
The People Get Over Their Fright and
Begin to Clear Away the Wreck.

AL thS kuSets anu OLHtr occupants are safe
but it is difficult to find them, they being
camped somewhere in the streets. The peo-
pie this morning have apparently thrown of
fear and have gone to work clearing up the
debris and removing dangerous walls. The
city shows scene of great activity
There Is no special change in the situation
TINS morning, but as there were only two
shocks and very light ones during the night,
there is little more confidence than yester-
day. The sympathetic articles in the news
papers and offers of aid from ditfereut quar-
tiers are great encouragement to the strick-
en- people of Charleston. The most urgent
need, now. is for the early repair of the in
Jured buildings, so as to make them habita-
BILE. High winds and heavy rains might
bring many shattered buildings to the ground
and injure hundreds of residents who have
defective roofs. 1t would be of great service
II corps of government engineers could be
sent here at once, to examine the houses and
other buildings, and determine which of them
can be safely occupied or allowed to stand.
The situation of affairs here is deplorable.
Rudely improvised tents constructed princi-
pally OF bed clothing are TO be seen every
where. few persons have as yet slept in
doors and houses are deserted as if plague
stricken. Confidence is returning, however,
and should there not be return of the earth
quake, Charlestown will be in the usual hustle
OF business within twenty-four hours, al
though Inconvenience and delay will be ex-
perienced fer months.
The most alarming feature of the present
condition of affairs rests in the shaky condi.
tion of the buildings. Nine-tenths of the
brick structures are cracked through and
through and threaten to tumble The Chin
neys that have not actually fallen are badly
n rppnpd and f.n In
quiries continued to pour in from friends of
Charlestonians in different parts of the coun-
try concerning the loss of life. Search for
the dead is still progressing but it is believed
that all the bodies have been found.
WASHINGTON Sept. 8.
Col. R. M. Batchelder, department quar-
termaster, has been ordered to Charleston to
issue and distribute tents to the homeless,
and render such aid as it may be within the
power of the department to extend.
The following dispatch was received today
from Queen Victoria:
BALMoRAL, Sept. 3, 1886.
To the President of the United States.
desire to express my profound sympathy
with the sufferers by the late earthquakes,
and await with anxiety fuller intelligence
which hope may show the effects to have
been less disastrous than reported.
(Signed) The QUEEN.
Replying to request from Secretary Tap
ley of the British Association for the advance
ment of the science at Birmingham, Eng,
Prof. Powell sent the following in regard to
the earthquake today:
The earthquake was the most severe on
record in the United States, and affected the
greatest area. Its origin was along the line
of the post-quaternary dislocation on the
eastern flanks of the Apallachiaps, especially
where it crosses central North California.
Slight premonatory shocks were felt in the
Carolinas for several days, moderately severe
shocks occurring near Charleston, Aug. 81
and 29 The principal shock, causing great
destruction in Charleston, originated in cen
trail North Carolina, Aug 81, $50 P. NJ.
18th meridian time, thence shocks spread
with great rapidity in all directions, with
ute, over an area of nine hundred
thousand square miles, one-quarter
of the United States embracing 28 states
from the Gulf of Mexico to the great lakes
and southern New England and from the At
lantic seaport to southern Mississippi valleys.
In the Carolinas it was accompanied by land
slides, crevesses and great destruction of
property. Half of Charlestown is in ruins
and more than 40 lives are lost. No tidal
wave is vet reported. Chief Clerk Youmans
of the treasury department by permission OF
Assistant Secretary Fairchild has issued
circular today, informing employees that the
rule of prohibiting circulation of subscription
papers in the department would be suspended
in the case of the Charleston relief funds,
and the heads of bureas have been designated
to receive subscriptions.
Comptroller Trenholm fears that the terri
BILE plight of the people of Summerville, near
Charleston, has been overlooked in contem-
plation of a greater area of suffering in the
neighboring city. He received two kilograms
from town today. The first was from the
local relief committee, composed of John
Gadsden, chairman, and Gary, Hutchinson,
Boyle, and Perry and as follows:
Remember Summerville's distress is very
great. Immediate relief in tents and money
is needed"
The second despatch was sent by E. B.
Fishburne, and says:
''Send three hundred tents direct to this
place. The shocks still continue and many
families are homeless"
The president of the board Of district COM
missioners has issued an address to the pub
lie expressing desire that everything possi-
BILE will be done to manifest the sympathy of
the community for the sufferers from the late
terrible disaster in Charleston, and offering to
receive and properly distribute the contribu-
tions.
Special performances will be given in all