The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-09
rEAruREs or rlIE QUAKE. /
Adventures of Scientific Exports-AdmlnIS,
trntlUn StIngIness,

Adventures of Scientific Exports-AdmlnIs.
tratlon stIngIness.
CISClNNATI, Sept. S.-A Commercial Ga.
'S@ correspondent telegraphs from
Charleston as follows:
one OF the great features OF the earth.
quake has been the advent, adventures
and emanations Of The sCientillc gentle.
men who are supposed to know all about
earthquakes, Prof. Moore came down
here and Immediately took the earthouake
by tho tail. Ha knew all about it, and In
ten minutes had 1t all explained-thst the
coastal plain. with Its sub.layer OF irsg.
mentsry rock, had slipped on the Pied,
mont eECarpnent in general tendency
toward an intermediate depression
and final precipiIous descent three
hundred miles out at sea. He ex.
planned that the main step had been
made, and there would be no more
trouble, though slight tremors might
occur While he was talking, the great
shock OF Friday night came booming In,
and the Professor adjourned with won.
deriul Glacrity, lis Coat.tails at right
angles to his body, and wild, hungry
look in his eye. Since then he has been
more subdued. Prof. MCGee Is a nice
gentleman and an enthusiastic worker,
He will not be as all.knowing after his
Charleston experience, but he will have q
heap more Information about EARTHQUAKES
than he ever. had before.
One OF the most unfortunate things Of
the week was the sending OF a dispatch by
Prot. Newcomb, Of Washington, announc.
ing that the next shock would bs followed
by tidal wave. This foolish and busy.
body dispatch got into the NewS and
Courier by accident in the demoral;zed
and torn up condition Of that newspaper,
and 1t was the cause Of a world Of need.
less terror and distress. To men who
had escaped from the awful
upfoar oil the earthquake and seen
their homes and their business
houses lying in ruins; whose families had
been living for days and nights upon the
Cobble-stones OF the streets, in suCh con.
slant fear and dread that the rumble Of a
dray would throw the women into parox.
ysms Of fright, that dispatch was the cul.
mination Of disaster. Every effort was
made TO keep 1t away from the women
and children, but without avail.
In the excitement and anxiety eeyery
statement was clothed with authority,
aud especially terrifying was a dispatch
given the dignity Of a place in the Asso.
ciated Press kilograms, and purportipg to
come from some great governmental ex.
pert. II Prof. NewComb could have heard
the course Bhowered upon his head by
the men Of Charleston he would pei haps
pause and consider before he sent another
such dispatch under such circumstances,
even though by neglecting to send It he
missed chance for q little notorlety and
advertisement.
One thing In this connection should be
said In justice 10 Professor MCGEE. His
influence ever since he arrived here has
been excellent, and by bis reassuring re-.
marks he has done world ot good. Prob.
ably his theory Of the earthquake and its
causes is no better than that OF other peo.
pie, and every person has his theory, and
he Is open 10 the assaults Of the
iun.makets, but he certainly aid
much to allay the excitement, and many
poor woman got her first sleep since the
earthquake after Prof. MCGEE declared
that all serious trouble was over. What.
ever may be tho worth Of Prol. McGee's
geological, meteorological, astronomical and
seismetiC calculation, the credit must be
given him oidoing 10 allay the hystor.
fcal terror Of the people. Prof. Mendenhall
s1an tpnrknd In Ika satan Jt.aaIt.,, III
the influence q both Of the gentlemen has
been for good. But whenever another
earthquake oOOurs the first order given by
the authorities should be ono iorbidding
the approach oil any sClsnti6C sharp
They come clothed with false authority,
and II they happen 10 take the wrong
course they can do an infinite amount OF
damage. oAsd
The treatment Of these people by the
Administration has been on stingy and
niggardly basis. The losses fell largely
upon the property owners aud wellio.do
class. What was wanted was prompt pro.
vision for shelter ior women aud children.
Up 10 date the Government has not
cent o ship, has not even answer.
ed tho telegrans from hero, and seventy.
Ave tents iS oil Conlrlbnted-is all the
Government has done. When the British
iron steamship Amethyst cane into the
harbor Saturday she cast AnChor at Quar-.
antine inside Of Fort Sumter, and of
James Island. As soon as che was ln.
formed Of tue earthquake she Bignaled
tugs and came up 10 the city. She
was tied up 10 Che wharf, aud i'm.
mgdiAtely her decks we're cleared and
cleaned. HRmmOCka were swung and
blankets laid down. and provisions were
made for Tho shelter and accommodation
Of Ave hundred people. While our Gov.
efnnOtlt sheltered seven OF eight hundred
people, one British steamer took care ol
nearly tho same number, and not United
States vessel ol any kind was In the hAt.
Dor, or ordered here,