The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1886-09-21
THE EARTHQUAKE.
Graphic story of an Eye Witness

A Charleston, 5. c., despatch OF
September Ist contains the following
graphic account of the experience of a
newspaper man in the great catas-
trophe:--
The composilors of the AeaOs and
Courier declined to work to night, ex-
pecting fresh shocks of earthquake
and the paper cannot therefore be
issued tomorrow The following arti-
Gle was prepared for publication in the
Meas and Courier. and is telegraphed
almost IN the writer's own words:
Necessarily the best description that
can be given of the disaster which has
befallen our city consists in the nara
ton of the experiences and observances
of individuals, 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 the disturbance,
therefore, may be obtained from the
narration of the events and scenes of
Wednesday night, as they were pre-
sented to a single person.
While engaged in his usual duties in
a second-story room of the NcatY and
Courier office at the time of the first
shock the witness attention was vaguely
attracted by sound which seemed TO
come from the office below, and which
was supposed for a moment to be
caused by the rapid rolling of heavy
body, as an iron safe or heavy-laden
truck over the floor. Accompanying
the sound there was perceptible
tremor of the building, not more
marked, however, than would be caused
by the passage of street car or dray
along the street. For perhaps two OF
three seconds the occurrence excited
no surprise or comment. Then by
swift degrees, and perhaps all at once,
it is difficult to say which, the sound
deepened in volume, the tremor be.
came more decided, the ear caught the
rattle Of window-sashes, gasfixtures and
other loose objects. The men in the
office with perhaps a simultaneous flash
of recollection of the disturbance of the
Friday before, glanced hurriedly al
each other and sprang to their feet,
with startled questions and answers
"What is thatP can earthquake p
And then all was bewilderment and
confusion.
Then the long roll dcepened and
spread into an awful roar that seemed
to pervade at once the troubled earth
and the still air above and around
The tremor was now a rude, rapid
culver that agitated the whole lofty
strong walled building. The floors
we're heaving under foot; the surround
ing walls and partitions visibly swerved
to and fro; the crash of falling masses
of stone and brick and mortar was
heard overhead, and without there was
a terrible roar. A rush was simulta
neously made to endeavor to attain the
open air and flee to a place of safety
and we dashed down the stairway anc
out into the street Already on every
side arose the shrlekS, prayers and wall
lngs OF terrified womenand children com
mingled with the shouts of excited
men. Out in the street the air wa.
filled to the height of the houses with &
whitish cloud of dry dust from the lime
and mortar and shattered masonry
which, falling upon the pavement anc
stone roadway, had been reduced t
powder. Through this cloud, dense az
a fog, the 'gaslights flickered dimly
shedding but little light, SO that one
stumbled at every step over piles o.
brick, or became entangled in lines o
telegraph wires that depended in every
direction from their broken supports
On every side were the hurrying ferns
Of men and women, bareheaded, parti
ally dressed, some almost nude, ano
many Of whom were crazed with fear o.
excitement.
A sudden light flashes through ;
window overlooking the street. 1t be
comes momentarily brighter, and thu
cry Of fire resounds from the multitude
and rush is made toward the spot
AT this moment is heard again the
low ominous roll, which is already toe
we'll known to be mistake !. 1t grow:
louder and nearer, and is forgotten
again in frenzied rush for an oper
space, where alone there Is hope o.
security. The people shrink together
as tremor OF an earthquake again
passes under them. Again, far along
the street and up from the alleyways
that lead into it, on either side is heard
that chorus of wailing and lamentation
which, though it had not ceased, was
scarcely noticed moment before.
The first shock occurred at o;53
O'Clock, as was indicated this morning
by the public clocks, the hands on all
OF which had stopped at that hour.
| The second shock which was but faint