Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-03
HEARING THE NEWS.
The First Trains from Charleston
People Who Were There.

HO n hst ATuinS from CnarieSCOn--
People Who Were There.
All yesterday and last night there were
anxious crowds around the bulletin
boards eager for the latest news from the
wrecked city. The MORNING NEWS of.
flee was besieged with inquirers, and
when the first edition was placed ON sale
in the morning there was a repetition OF
the scenes OF Wednesday afternoon, when
the NEWS extra, which contained the
first definite information of the condi-
tion OF affairs in Charleston, was given to
the public. AT the telegraph offices and
at the Charleston and Savannah railway
depot crowds waited all day for any news
that might be heard.
THE FIRST TRAIN THROUGH,
The first train out OF Savannah fol
Charleston since Tuesday night left yes
terday morning. Although il was moi
certain that the train would get through
anything like on schedule time, a large
number OF Savannahians, who have rela.
tlves and friends in Charleston, were pas.
sengers on it. Large packages of the
MORNING NEWS were carried out, tOI
there was no issue Of the Charleston News
aud Courier yesterday.
with the first tram the schedule was
resumed, and at 40 a second train left,
1t carried Judge Chisholm, Col. j. ii. Es.
till and Councilman Herman Myers. the
relief committee appointed by Mayor Les.
ter.
ALMOST AN ACCIDENT.
About l O'Clock a passenger train ar
rived, bringing the first passengers from
the stricken city since the big earthquake
OF Tuesday night. A singular accident
happened to this train near Hardee
willie. As NJ WaQ GIOwing nm m atar
at the station one OF the wheels OF the
baggage car broke nearly half in two. BY
a strange chance the upper half flew up
against the brake, aud before the lower
half turned over got wedged In so that the
broken wheel could not turn over, and II
slipped along on the track as a wheel does
when the brakes are on tight. There was
a slight jarring motion, which startled
the nervous passengers, but there was no
shock. 1t was a most remarkable accI.
dent, and the passengers were grateful
that the piece OF broken wheel caught as
IL did. Had the half wheel turned over
and struck the rail the baggage car, and
possibly all the other cars, would have
been thrown off the track.
A NARROW ESCAPE.
The trainmen said that they had never
seen anything OF tho kind before. and
would have hardly imagined such pecu.
liar accident possible. AS IL was, no one
was hurt and there was only short de.
lay. At 0:40 last night so. AZ on the
Charleston and Savannah arrived, bring.
ing the delayed mail and passengers OF
No. 40 delayed. 1t brought the Northern
mail OF Tuesday and Wednesday, all OF
which was delayed north of Charleston.
No. AZ, which left Savannah for Charles
ton in the morning, was delayed eighty
minutes at the 2l-mile post, counting
from Charleston.
THE TRACK SHIFTED.
The point is known as Berry Hill, and
when the train got there 1t found that the
track mad shifted out OF line. 1t was
attributed to movement of the esrtn,
and 1t looked as If there bad been another
shock there. Twenty minutes before No.
AZ arrived at that point two trains had
passed over 1t safely and it was In good
line. The railroad authorities hope now
shat there will be no further trouble, and
they expect to run trains between the
two cities on schedule. On Sunday a big
excursion will go to Charleston to carry
those who want TO see the wreck.
The track between Florence and
Charleston was opened yesterday, and
continuous rail communication was re.
stored.
A sAVANNAHIAN's EXPERIENCE.
Col. X. ID. Walker arrived from Charles.
ton yesterday afternoon. De left here on
Saturday TO spend week at his old home.
lie was there when the earthquake swept
over the city, and his story OF the terrible
disaster is full OF interest. The Colonel
was visiting his brother, who lives on
Charlotte street, In the upper part OF the
town. On the night OF the earthquake
the family was seated ON the
porch in front OF the house chatting and
talking. All at once there came low.
rumbling sound and the next moment the
building began to rock ana weave about.
Chairs were upset and the lamps were
thrown from the tables. The swaying
had hardly ceased when violent tremor
began.
DURING THE SHOCK
windows and doors rattled. The
floor seemed to sink, and tue
wrenchiDg of the timbers and cracking of
the walls was heard. Then came a loud
crash as the chimneys fell and the whole
building seemed TO be giving way. The
people rushed into the street. Every.
thing was confusion. A terrible roar
filed the air, and for several seconds the
earth shook with violent tremor. The
pediments Of st. Luke's church near by
with the noise OF falling walls and
the roar OF the earthquake were the
shouts and cries Of the people,
The Colonel and his brothers. family hud.
died together until the shocks were over
and then chairs we're brought from the
house and the night was spent in the
street.
NIGHT OF TERROR.
II was night Of terror. The succeed
ing shocks were less violent but none
knew what was to come, and the night
was one of anxious suspense. At day
light the force OF the earthquake was
everywhere visible. Buildings were rent
and twisted, walls were thrown down and
the streets were filed WI the debris OF
ruined buildings. None dRrei To etlrn
TO their homes.
In the rear OF Mr.. Walkers house is a
large garden. In it rude shelter or shed
was built OF boards and there the family
spent the day and Wednesday night.
There was little sleep. Tue city was cut
of from the outside world and no one
knew how far the earthquake extended.
ANXIETY FOR FRIENDS.