Daily Republican., 1886-09-06
CH LESION.
Devastated City-Scenes and In Incidents
Graphically Described by an Eye Wit
ness,

Graphically Described by an Eye Wit !
nets.
Mr.. Samuel r. Conner, formerly of
this city, but who has resided In Florida
With the exception OF q few months |
since 1883. arrived in Wilmington last
Saturday morning, and on hts way
passed through Charleston. He left
Hampton, Florida, at noon last We'd |
Desday. and arrived at SavaD nah about
8 O'Clock the same evening, where he |
was delayed on account of the earth
quake until 7.10 O'Clock Thursday
morning, when he started for Charles
ton.
On account of the condition of the
road the train was obliged to move very
slow, and Il ey we're about twelve hours
in passing over the 142 miles between
Savannah and Charleston. When about
20 miles from the city the railroad track
| was found TO be twisted like the letter
5, and the train was delayed three
hours while the tnen straightened 1t so
that the train could pass over
in safety. AT this place there we're great
assures in the earth from which masses
of yellow stuff, resembling soft clay, or
paint, and having strong sulphurous
smsll, was being thrown fully fifteen
feet high in the air.
Mr.. Conner arrived at Charleston at
z o'clock last Thursday evening, and
although he was prepared to witness o
lscens of ruin and desolation the reality
was far beyond anything he had ina
gined. He registered at the Charles
ton Hotel, and says that although there
we're but few external marks on the
building, the inside was badly wreck ed
and the ceiling in the dining room
looked as though it WAS liable to fall at
ANY minute, as it was cracked In every
direction. After supper, Mr.. Conner, IN
company with correspondent of the
New York World, procured hack and
4 was driven around the city.
He says that no pen can picture OF
, words describe the ruin that has beer
wrought; there is not u single chimney
; left standing, and the streets are blocked
: in many . aces by the debris of hun
. Idreds of fallen buildings, while mum
= : bers of other buildings are 30 badly
) ! wrecked that they will have to be takeI
down, If indeed they don't fall Of thei
. OWE accord. The spire on the Cathol!
lChurch seems to have been shaken from
its foundation, and now hangs at al
, anglo, which makes 1t dangerous 70
| passers by.
II 4ub lbOpl5 bCbm dC
u moralized, and rich and poor, blacl
and white, are mixed together and hud
Idled in a Heterogeneous mass In the park
Many OF these people have scRrcel
Ienough clothing saved from the genera
Iruin to protect them from the heav
ldews at night or the snB during th
: lday.
When M. Conner visited the par
y, the scene was terrible; some of tn
= lpeople had not recovered from thei
Il fright, and we're spending their time l.
u prayer, while others were bemoanin
. their losses. and the negroes added
n the din and confusion by chanting thei
II wild, weird songs and hymns. TIL
Savannah, Florida and Western Raj
road Company had all their availabl
a cars brought to Charleston and tor
=. dered the use OF them to the people fo
- temporary lodging places.
One man, a physician, told Mr.. Con
re- ner that he had but recently complete
AZ his home, and that 1t is now 50 badl
"a shattered that an architect, who ha
"a made an examination, estimated
~ would take at least $4,000 to put 1t
~ complete order. About midnigl
of several members of o well-to-do tamil
we're seen ing pillows, and Dearcl
ra ing for some lot or other open place
a. sleep, rs they were afraid to renal
A. where the buildings were, lest thel
= should be another shock. The buil(
re- inRs destroyed or damaged were eitht
an brick or stone, while the frame buil'
Is ings seemed to escape nninjured.
a. The people seemed panic stricken, ar
a although there we're soma who we
calm enough to speak of their plans [,
rebuilding as soon as possible, the m
ijori6y seemed undivided what course
pnrsue, and lived from hour to hour
deadly fear of recurrence of IL
dreadful scenes of the preceding night
Help is badly need led, and that at ono
in as hundreds OF persons are not only hon
IL less, but have lost their clothing al
to everything else OF their earthly posst
a sion.
'ly Mr.. Conner brought home some PEN
he zrauates and several green oranges fro
Florida, which he has been distributil
at among his friends. He owns an oran
ON grove In Florida, but during last wint
lsi he the zane as other growers lost SOL
Iii. of his finest and best trees. The crop
oranges he says will be light this seas
but what there Is will be large and We
fine.