Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-02
Clall0StOl'S Crash!
Thirty to Forty People
Reported Killed.
FIVE MILLIONS IN LOSSES.
The Streets Blocked with
Fallen Buildings.
SHOCKS STILL IN PROGRESS.
More Structures Collapse at
Midnight.
FIRE ADDS IT'S HORRORS
The People Too Terrified to
Notice the Flames.
NAMES OF THE INJURED.
Further Details from the Strick-
FIRE ADDS IT'S HORRORS
The People Too Terrified to
Notice the Flames.
NAMES OF THE INJURED.
Further Details from the Strick-
en- City.

CHARLESTON, S. c., Sept. 1.-The COM
positOrs OF the News and Courier decline
to work tonight, expecting fresh shocks
of earthquake, and the paper cannot
therefore issue tomorrow.
The following article was prepared for
publication In the News and Courier. Ii
Is telegraphed almost in the writer's own
words:
Necessarily the only description that
Dan be gwen the disaster which has be-
fallen our city consists in the narration OF
experiences and observations of individ-
uals, and the subject being the same, and
the experiences of all being nearly alike,
the story told by one careful observer
may well stand for a hundred others with
slight variations. Probably the best idea
that can be had OF the character of dis.
turbance, therefore, may be obtained from
narrative Of the events and scenes oi
Tuesday night as they We're presented to
single person while engaged in his usual
duties in the second story of the News
aud Courier.
THE FIRST SHOCK,
At the time of the first shock the writ
ers attention was vaguely attracted by a
sound which seemed to come from the
office below, and which was supposed for
moment to be caused by the rapid move.
ment of heavy body like an iron safe OF
heavily laden truck over the floor. Ac.
cOmpanying the sound was perceptible
tremOr of the building, not more marked
However, than would be caused by the
N passage of a street car or a dray along the
street. For perhaps two or three seconds
4 the occurrence excited no surprise OF
comment. Then by swift degrees, or per.
y haps all at once, it is difficult to say
i which, the sound deepened in volume,
the tremOr became more decided, the eaI
caught the rattle of windows, gas fixtures
and other loose objects.
STAMPEDE OF THE MEN.
The men in the office, with perhaps a
Simultaneous fash OF recollection OF the
disturbance of the Friday before, glanced
II Lurredly at each other and sprang TO
"a their feet with the startled question and
answer, What is thatp' ''An earth.
4uaGeW And then all was bewilderment
and confusion. The long roll deepened
and spread into all awful roar that seemed
# TO pervade at once the troubled earth
and the still air above and around.
THE TERRoRIZING TREMoR.
The tremOr was now rude, rapid quiy-
sr' mat agitated the whole lofty strong.
walled building as though it were being
'uaNen by the hand OF an immeasurable
power with an intent to tear its joints as
under and scatter its stones and bricks
sDl0ad as tree casts i5s ripened fruit
ue'0Ie the breath OF a gale. There was
90 intermisslon in the vibration OF the
Mlglty engine. From first to last it was
continuous jar, only adding force al
III every moment, and as it approached its
cHmaX 1t seemed for few terrible Sec
Ouus that no work OF human hands
Goud possibly survive. The floors
we're heaving the surrounding
walls, and partitions vIsibly swayed, the
M s.esn OF railing masses of stone and brick
IA and mortar was overhead, and without a
n s@IifioIe sI roar filed the ears and seemed tc
uI ,Ge mind and heart, dazing perception
Nuu DeWlldering thought.
WAITING FOR DEATH.
F0r tew painting breaths or while you
ueIu your breath, In dreadful anticipation
immediate and cruel death, you felt
ii suaVHe was already past, aud waited for
~ emu as victim with his mead on th c
siuck awaits the tall Of the AK. 10 is not
| gwen TO many men to lcok in the face OF
II 10 cl anu yeJ i've, DuJ IL ~ llJllt
L say that the groun of strong
a LIN who stunned the experienc G
aoUe lalntly described will carry
WIN them recollection OF that supreme
,momeht to their dying day. None ex-
II pIcyeU TO escape. The people fed to
laces ~ safety. but before the door was
UvaHclngQ, lnNgQ, IN some places, they reeled over
ial nu leil, feeling that it was only ques.
EOp u death In the building, or without
IL, " buried by the sinking roof or crushed
%ppllng walls. The uproar slowly
ieu away IN the seeming distance.
sHRIEKs OF THE INJURED.
ine earth was still, and oh blessed re-
~ ol that stiffness! But how rudely the
euce was broken as we dashed down
s1dirs and out into the streetl Already
- Every side arose shrieks, cries of pain
uear, prayers and wailings OF terrified
nien and children, comma gled with
.Ee loarse shouts of men. Out In the
The air was filled to the
Mg1t OF the houses with whitish
uu OF dry, stifing dust
tm the lime and mortar and shattered
.onry, which, falling upon the pave.
~ anu stone roadway, had been re.