West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-09-10

Y m
m'Ic,s b"mhardmeut OF the city has there
ever bcen such deplorahle state OF affairs
here. The city is literally In ruins and the
people ar living In the open squares and
pubNC parks. There Is n great rush TO the
railroad depois 20 get away, but owing
To the damage TO railroads no trains
have been able to be dispatched
from the city. Telegraphc com
mun.cation is also cut of save one wire of
the Southern Telegraph Company which is
crowded with anxious private messages. IL
is impossible 20 depict the ruin and desola-
ton that prevails here No, a single place
OF business in the city is open save the drug
stores, which are busy preparing prescrip-
tons for the wounded.
Ii is impossible az this time to give any
correct estimate OF the killed and wounded
as bodies are constantly being dsinterred
from the debris OF wrecked houses One
undertaken who was interviewed stated that
he had furnished eight collins up To noon
yesterday. Many of the dead Of the poorer
classes of colored people lie unburied.
awaiting burial 10y the county. There is not
half dozen tents in the city, and women
and children are experiencing great priya-
tlons In consequence, and as night ap-
preached most OF the heads Of families were
trying TO construct tents out OF bed sheets.
spare awnings and any other material that
comes To their hands
The alarm and apprehension among the
citizens continue undated. The impression
spread among tho people from some uu-
known cause, that the shock of Tuesday
night was likely 20 be- repeated last night
and this added TO the prevailing anxiety.
The streets lastnight presented a sad picture
OF desolation aud ruin. The parks and open
places were camping grounds Of thousands
OF poorly clad and discouraged people
There was q general desire among the more
wcll-to do classes to get away from the city
and as soon As communication is established
there Will be an exodus. This will be the
case independently OF the present feeling of
panic Tor even after this passes away there
will bc many families who will remove tenn
porarly 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 10 their homes North and
South.
a well-known citizen thus describes his
experience during the shock Tuesday night:
1--WE all made a rush for the street but
when we saw buildings swaying and walls
topping into the streets i'm every direction.
feeling OF despair seemed to seize upon
everybody. /, for one, realized the useless
ness OF attempting TO escape and l saw
others stop and stand stll as II giving them
selves up TO whatever fate had I'm store for
them. The sickcnng sensation caused by
the movement of the earth was hardly more
appalling than the terrible noise which ac-
cOmpaued the shock. This was not very
loud but was like low and threatening
growl under the earth The piercing cries
OF frightened women and children and the
frenZied shouts OF men calling 10 one an
other and attempting To organize some
means OF rescue formed a singular contrast
tO this subteTTanean thunder.
People stood dcspairng for a moment
and then tumultOus rush was made for
open spaces. ran as fast as anybody, yet
J recall vividly the horror pictured on the
faces OF those near me. The thing has
made an indeiibe impression on my mind,
and even now look for that Omiuous roar.
The weeping of women and the hOarse cries
OF the men az they ran hither and thithcr
among the wrecks of walls and telegraph
wires can never be adequately described
The largest crowd OF fugtiyes 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 another tremOT
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 It's predecessor. II was
only late i'm the morning that the prayerful
and despairng throng, finding the earth
once more solid for many hours. gathered
courage enough 10 again seek the neighbor-
hood OF their shattered homes.
The principle danger seems 10 he that the
food supply may give out Already there
Is great scarcity Of food and none can be oh
tanned from outside the city as all railroad
communication Is shut Off. II Is stated by
the railroad managers that there Is not
single road out OF here in running condition.
The convulsOns Of the earth are said TO have
wrecked the tracks 50 completely that there
is not a stretch OF rail forty rods long In
any location for miles around that is not
twisted out OF shape so as to make it impos-
sible tO run an engine over it
Many people slept last night on board the
steamers and sailing vessels In the haTbOr
but only n 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 ~ an addition to the hor-
rOrs OF the situation
Nfoi,r SHOCKS.
At a quarter past FIVE % clock las. even
ing, when thousands Of the people Of
Charleston were ont I'M tie open squares
and vacant places Of the city. lingering and
resigned tO another night Of anxiety, fear
and terror the premOuiiOry symptoms OF
an earthquake wCr5 heard and felt in a
slight vibratOTy wave aud shock that passed
along over the city No additional damage
or wreckage Of buildings followed. but
men. women and children, out In the open
spaces. were for a while greatly agitated
Fortunately the weather has been pleasant
and the privatiOns and hardships attending
outdoor exposures not severe. However
the situation is becoming desperate, with
whole city campel out in q terrible state Of
fear The negroes have taken possession Of
all tho parks and vacant lots and are hold
ing excited payer meetings
II may now be stated That all the damage
10 property and an loss Of life was caused
by the first shock AZ q.5j Tuesday night
and vet, owing to the repeated shocks and
lack " systematic effort 10 unearth casu-
aiites. 10 s impossible n give details
Many OF the dead It Is believed are vet
buried n the debris. and no regular relief
parties have been organized tO recover their
bodies. Unfortunately the Mayor OF the
city is now % Europe and his place Ia in
differently filled. The Chief Of Police. too.
10 seems. is unable 90 meet the emergencies.
lt.45 81. ~ Repeated shocks Of earth
quake Of a mild character arc passing 10 the
west Of the city umblng noise can be
ID