The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-02
fore may be obtained from a narration Of
the events and scenes Of Wednesday night
as they were presented to a single person.
RxpRRT TRSTIMoNY.


second story room Of the NeEs and Courier
office at the time Of the lrst shock the
writer's attention was vaguely attracted
bya sound which Geemed TO come from
the Office below, and which was supposed
for q moment TO be caused by the rapid
rolling Of a heavy body, as an iron
over the floor, Accompanying the sound
there was o perceptible tremor Of the
building, not more marked, however, than
would be caused by the passage OF street
car or dFay along the Streets For perhaps
two or three seGonds the occurrence ex-
cited no surprise or comment. Then by
swift degrees, or perhaps all ut once, 1t ia
difficult to say which, the sound deepened
In volume, the tTemOr became more do
clded, the ear caught the rattle OF WIN
dows, and gas fixtures and other loose
objects swung,
TUE FIRST REALIZATION.
The men in Offices with perhaps q
simultaneous aash Of reColleCtions OF the
disturbance OF the Friday before glanced
hurriedly at each other and dspraug to their
feet with startled questions and answers,
whats that2 EarthquakeW And then
all waa beWilderment and confusion. Then
tho long roll despened and spread into
one awful roar that seemed to perVade at
once the troubled earth and tue still air
above and around, The trsmor was now a
rude, rapid culver that agitated the whole
lofty strong walled building as
though it were heavily shaken
by the hand Of an immeasurable
power with intent to tear Its joints Rsun.
der and scatter Its stone and brick around
as a tree casts It's DER rlpened fruit before
the breath OF the gale. There was no In.
termission in the vibration OF the mighty
subterranean engine. From the first to
the last II was u continuous jar, only ad'
ding force at every moment, and as 1t ap'
preached and reached the climax OF It's
manifestation 1t seemed for few terrible
seconds that no work Of human hands
could possibly survive the shocks.
THE FLOORS HEAyISd.
The floors were heavi1g aud the sur.
rounding walls and partitions visibly
swayed to and fro. The crash OF falling
masses oil stone and brick and mortar was
heard overhead and without the terrible
roar filed the ears, and seemed to dill
mind aud heart, daziug perception, be.
wildering thought and for few painting
breaths, or when you held your breath In
dreadful anticipation OF Immediate death,
you felt that life was already past, and
waited for the ends as victim with his
head on the block awaits the fall Of tho
up lifted axe.
It is given to many men to look In the
face OF the destroyer and yet live, but 1t Is
littlo to say that tho group OF strong men
who shared the experience above family
described, will carry with them tho recol.
lectionso OF that supreme moment to their
dying day. None expected to escape. A
sudden rush WAS simultaneously made to
endeavor to attain tho open air and fee
to a place Of safety, but before the door
was reached all reeled together to the tot.
tering wall aud then stopped, feeling
that hope was vain; that 1t was only q
question OF death within the building, or
without, to be buried by the sinking roof,
or crushed by thetoppling walls. The up.
roar slowly died away 10 seeming distance.
Tho earth was still, and oh, the blessed re-
liel OF that stiffness.
CRIES OF DISTRESS.
But how rudely was the silence broken
as we dashed down the stairway and out
into the street. Already on every aide
arose shrieks, the cries Of pain and fear,
and the prayers OF the terrified women
and children mingled with the hoarse
shouts OF excited men. Out In tho streets
the air was filled to the heighth OF houses
with the cloud Of dry, sitting dust from
lime and mortar and shattered masonry,
which falling on the pavement and some
roadway had been reduced to powder.
Through the cloud as dense as fog the gas
lights pierced dimly shedding but little
light 30 that you stumbled at every step
over the piles OF brick or became en-.
tangled III the lines Of telegraph wire that
depended in every direction from their
broken supports.
THE PEOPLE CRAzHD.
On every side were hurrylnG forms OIL
men and women, bareheaded, partially
dressed, some almost nude and many oI
whom were cra2sd with fear or excite,
ment. Here a woman ls supported hall
iainting In the arms Of her husband who
vainly tries 10 Booth her while he carries
her into an open space at tho street cor.
nor where present safety seems assured
There o woman lies on the pavement
with upturned face and outstreatChed
limbs, aud tho crowds passes her by, fol
the time not pauSing to see whether she
be alive or dead.
A sudden light flares through window
overlooking the street. It becomes
brighter, aud the cry Of fire resouuds from
the multitude. A rush Is made toward
the spot. A man is seen doubled up and
helpless against the wall, but at this mo.
ment tho low roll which Is already toe
we'll knownt 10 be mistaken, Is heard again
S9aE SECOND SHOCK.
1t grows nearer and nearer like the
growl Of a wild beast, swiftly approaching
his prey aud is forgotten again in the fren'
zled rush for the open space where alone
there Ia hope Of security, faint though Il
be. The tall buildings on either hand
DlOt Oub Lu6 bhleb hnu tHo bthlh anu beeul
to overhang every foot Of ground between
them and their shattered cornices and
copings. The tops Of their irowning walls
seemed to pile from both sides TO the
centre Of tho street. 1t Beemg
that touch would now send
the shattered masses left standing down
upon the people below who looked up TO
them and shrek as the tremor Of the
earthquake again passes under them, and
the myaterioua vibrations swell and roll
along like some internal drum beat on
summoning them TO die, aud Il paeses
away, and again iB experienced the bless
ed feeling from impending calamity which
II may well be believed evokos tiuto bul
earnest Offering OF mingled prayer aud
Thanksgiving from every heart In the
throng.
wAIL1Nd AND LAMRSTATioN.
Again far along the street and up from
the alley ways that lead into II on eithsl
side is heard that chorus Of wailing ant
lamentatlon which though II had mol
ceased was scarcely noticed d moment be