The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1886-09-09
LOUISA LAWRENCE co. KY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1886.

Very little sleep was had by any Of the in.
habltants OF Columbia. The negroes
thought the end OF the world had come and
they held prayer meetings on the street
corners. wa
Sumervllle, twenty-five miles from Charles
ton, was nearly destroyed by the earthquake.
The passenger train from Columbia to
Charleston was thrown from the track near
Suinmervllle and the engineer and fireman
killed. The passengers on the wrecked
train have not yet reached Charleston.
THE vEBY LATEST.
CHARLESTON. S. c.. Sept 1.-Two
slight earthquake shocks were felt during
the day yesterday. They were but slight
auakeS and neither OF them did any further
destruction. Not even during General Gil
more bombardment OF the city las there
ever been such deplorable state Of affairs
here. The city is literally In ruins and the
people are living In the open squares and
public parks. There Is great rush to the
railroad depots TO get away, but owing
TO the damage TO railroads no trains
have been able to be dispatched
from the city Telegraphic com
muncatlon Is also cut of save one wire of
the Southern Telegraph Company, which Is
crowded with anxious private messages IL
is impossible 10 depict the ruin and desola-
ton that prevails here Not single place
OF busineis In the city IS open save the drug
stores, which are busy preparing prescrlp-
tlons for tile wounded.
II Is impossible at this time 10 give any
correct estimate OF tile killed and wounded,
as bodies are constantly being dlsinterred
from the debris OF wrecked houses. One
Inr In tksaa "a gaatp1 that
lie had furnished eight collins up 10 noon
yesterday. Many OF the dead of the poorer
classes Of colored people lie unburied,
awaiting burial by tho county. There is not
half dozen tents In the city, and women
and children are experiencing great priya.
tions In consequence, and as night APP
preached most Of the heads Of families were
trying 10 constrnc, tents ont OF bed sheets,
spare awnings and any other material that
comes 10 their hands.
The alarm and apprehension among the
citizens continue unabated. The impression
spread among the people from some un.
known cause, that the shock OF Tuesday
night was likely 10 be repeated last night
and this added 10 the prevailing anxiety.
The streets stnlght presented n sad picture
OF desolation and ruin. The parks and open
places were camping grounds OF thousands
OF poorly clad and discouraged people.
There was n general desire among the more
well.to do classes 10 get away from the city
and MS soon as communication Is established
there will be an exodus This will be the
case independently OF the present feeling OF
panic, for even after this passes away there
will be many families who will remove tenn
porarily while the restoration OF the city is
being carried on. There are also many
visitors who see no charms In the place now
and will hasten to their homes North and
South.
A well.known citizen thus describes his
experience during the shock Tuesday night:
1--WE all made rush for the street. but
when we saw buildings swaylng and walls
toppllng into the streets In every direction,
a feeling OF despair seemed 10 seize upon
overy body. |, for one, realized the useless
ness OF attempting TO escape and saw
others stop and stand stlll as II giving them
selves up TO whatever rate had In store for
them. The sickening sensation caused by
the movement OF the earth was hardly more
appalling than the terrible noise which ac-
cotnpanlcd the shock. This was not very
loud but was like low and threatening
grow under the earth. The piercing cries
OF frightened women and children and the
frenzied shouts of men calling 20 one an
other and attempting TO organize some
means OF rescue formed a singular contrast
10 this subterranean thunder.
"People stood dcspRlring for moment
and then n tumultous rush was made for
open spaces. / ran as fast as anybody, yet
| recall vlvidly the horror pictured on the
faces OF those near mo. The thing has
made an Indeible impression on my mind,
and even now look for that ominous roar.
The weeping of women and the hoarse cries
OF the men as they ran hitler and thither
among tho wrecks OF walls and telegraph
wires can never be adequately described"
The largest crowd OF fligltlves collected
In Marion Square In the center OF the city.
Three shocks followed one another at short
intervals, and hardly had the panic caused
by one partially abated when anc.her tremor
OF the earth renewed the alarm. So fright
ened were the waiting crowd that they
hardly perceived that each shock was some
what lighter than Its predecessor. 1t was
only late in the morning that the prayetful
and despairing thropg, finding the earth
once more solid for many hours, gathered
courage enough 10 again seek the nelghbor-
hood OF their shattered homes
The principle danger seems to be that the
food supply may give out Already there
,isgreat scarcity OF food and none can be OBJ
:ained from outside the city as all railroad
communication Is shut of. Ills stated by
the railroad managers that there is not q
single road out OF here Inrunnlng condition.
The commissions of the earth are said TO have
wrecked The tracks so completely that there
Is not stretch of rail forty rods long In
any location for, miles around that Is moi
twisted out of shape so as TO make II impos'
sible TO run an engine over it.
Many people slept last night on board the
steamers and sailing vessels in the harbor,
but only small proportion Of the homeless:
can thus be accommodated. The rest will
have to spend another night under the stars,
dreading another earthquake Complaints
of hunger and the dread of starvation are
heard on all sides ns an addition to the hol'
rors OF the situation.
MORE SHOCKS.
At a quarter past five o'clock last even
ing, when thousands OF the people oi
Charleston were out In the open squares
and vacant places of the city, lingering ant
resigned 10 another night of anxiety, feal
and terror, the premonltory symptoms oi
an earthquake wer9 heard and felt in {
slight vlbratory wave and shock that passet
along over the city. No additional damage
or wreclsage of buildings followed, bu
men, women and children, out In the oper
spaces were for while greatly agitated
Fortunately the weather has been pleasant