, 1886-09-02

sOothe her, while he carries her into al
open space at the street corner, wher,
present safety seems assured. There ,
woman lies on the pavement with up
turned face and outstretched limbs. ant
the crowd passes her by for n time, moi
pausing to see whether she be alive OF
dead.
Suddenly light flashes through a win.
dow overlooking the street. Ii becomes
momentarlly brighter and the cry of fire
resounds from the multitude. A rush is
made toward the spot. A man is seen
doubled up and helpless against the wall
But at this moment, somewhere out at
sea, overhead, and down in the ground,
is heard again a low. ominous roll, which
Is already too well known to be mistaken.
1t grows louder and nearer. like the growl
oil a Wild beast softly approaching his
prey, and is forgotten again in a frenzied
rush Tor an open space. where alone there
is hope of security, faint though it be.
Tall buildings on either hand blot out
the skies and stars. and seem to over
hang. Hibernian hall, a handsome build
ing on the Grecian style, had crashed to
the ground, carrying down a part of the
massive granite pillars with it. The third
shock was felt about ten minutes after the
second, and, of course, caused the great
est alarm in that neighborhood as else.
where. AT Marion square, corresponding
exactly with Union square. N.ew York, a
great crowd had collected, as even the
edges OF the wide spaces could not be
reached by the nearest buildings in event
of their fall. From this crowd, composed
OF men, women and children of both
races, arose incessant calls and cries and
lamentations, while over the motley, halt
dressed throng was shed a lurid light of
of confsgration which had broken
out just beyond the square Immediately
after the first shock, and had now
Illuminated the city. Crowds poured in
from every direction to the square Just
described, as though it had been indeed a
charmed circle, and life depended on pas
sing its grassy bounds. Street cars, car
riages and other vehicles were ranged in
lines on the streets surrounding the square.
while horses stood as i fsnifing the ground
in anxious inquiry. Colored people
everywhere were loud and increasing in
their declarations of alarm, in singing of
hymns and fervent appeals for Gods
mercy, in which appeals, God knows,
MANY a proud heart who heard them aris-
M III tiC llklt dlu III lllt nOuI Vi Ills
wondrous might, devoutly, and humbly
and sincerely joined.
Danger brings all of us to the level of
the luwliest. There were no distinctions
nj place or power, pride or caste, in the
assemblages that were gathered together
in Charleston on Tuesday night. 1t wasa
curious spectacle to look back upon. It'll
a good one to remember for white and
black alike. There were instances OF un.
selfish devotion, kind aud loving regard
between master and servant, mistress and
maid in the presence of a common Ill, and
threatened ruin, that showed as nothing
else could show, how strong is the tie that
binds our white people and our black peo-
Pile together.
Arrived at his home the writer found
the same scenes of destruction and wreck
which marked nearly every home in the
city. All the houses in the neighborhood
had suffered seriously, and the streets,
yards, and gardens weree filled with fallen
chimneys and fragments of walls, while
the walls that were left standing were
rent asunder, in many cases from top to
bottom and we're badly shattered in every
instance.
Until long after midnight the streets
were filed with fugitives. Through the
long hours that followed. few were the
eyes even of childhood, that were closed
in sleep. Charleston was full of those
who watched for morn, and never in any
city, in any land. did the first gray shades
that mark the approach of dawn appear
so beautiful and so welcome to the eyes as
they appeared tie the thousands of people
who hailed them this morning from the
midst of the countless wrecked homes in
our thrice scourged, but still patient, still
brave, still hopeful, still beautiful, city by
the sea.
CHARLESTON, Sept 2,-Another shock
has just occurred, rather more severe than
any since last night at 9:55, knocking
down several house.