The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-09-10
CHARLESTON in RUINS.
n, Commercial Pride of the Palmetto
state an Awful Scene Of Wreck
and Death.
d Lrpe-F0urths of Charleston Destroyed
by Earthquake and Upwards Of
Une hundred Lives Lost.

quake, Sucn as has never Derore Deen known
n the history of this city, swept over Charles
on last nigh shortly after 10 o'clock. caus-
10 mcse loss and injury to property and far
uore loss OF life than the cyclone of q year
,ssore. The city is wrecked, the streets are
mCuubered with masses Of fallen bricks
lad tangled telegraph and telephone wires.
md up to an early hour it was almost i'm
possible to pass from one part Of the city to
mother. The first shock was by far the
most severe. Most OF the people, with
heir families. passed the night in the
eraets, which this morning were crowded
With people afraid TO re-enter their homes.
0 add to the horror of the scene
MANY FIRES BROKE OUT
nd were Intellectually fought by the fire de-
,artnlent. The night was hideous with the
roans of the wounded and the prayers of
he untnjured. Fully two-t of the resi-
Iences in the city are u~ninhabited and
wrecked either totally or partially.
The loss by fire and earthquakes can be
placed safely
AT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS
As far as could be ascertained during the
.ight fifteen to twenty were killed and a
much greater number wounded in all sorts
# ways The loss Of human life will be
arge, and it will take days to get at the ac-
3urate number.
AN EDITORS IMPRESSIONS.
The compositors of the News and Courier
iecline to work tonight, expecting fresh
hooks Of earthquake, and the paper cannot,
therefore,, issue tomorrow. The following
rticle was prepared for publication in the
Jews and Courier:
Necessarily the description that can be given
Il the disaster which had befallen our city con-
lists OF the narration of experiences and obser-
ratiols OF individuals, and the subject being
he same and the experiences Of all being nearly
like, the story told by one careful observer
nay well stand for a hundred Others, with slight
a~rlations. Probably the best idea that can be had
he character of the disturbance, therefore, may
)e obtainei from narration of the events and
Genes Of Tuesday night as they were presented
o a single person. While engaged in his usual
Igtis' in and the co SECOND : o sscgy !. room tbs OF ,, Sns
II the first shock, the writer's atten-
ion was vaguely attracted by a sound
which seemed to come from the Office below, and
which was supposed for q moment to be caused
~ the rapid rolling of a heavy body, as an iron
afe or q heavily laden truck over the floor.
accompanying the sound, there was a percept-
however, than would be caused by the
Massage OF a street car or dray along the street.
Cor two or three seconds the occurrence excited
10 surprise or comment. Then the sound
leepeued in volume, the tremor became more
lecided, the ear caught the rattle OF window
ashes, gas fixtures and ether loose OBJ
Gets. The men in the Office, with per-
laps a simultaneous fash OF recollections,
# the disturbance OF the Friday before glanced
urriedly at each other sprang TO their feet with
tartled questions and answers. What is that?"
EarthquakeY" And then all was bewiiderment
md confusion. Then the long roar deepened
md spread into an awful roar that seemed
o pervade at once the troubled earth
md the still air above and around.
The tremor was now a rude. a rapid quiver that
gitated the whole lofty, strong walled building
10 though IL were being shaken by the hand OF
in immeasureable power with intent TO tear its
oints asunder and scatter its stone and bricks
broad as a tree casts It's over-ripened fruit be-
ore the breath of the gale. There was no inter
mission in the vibration OF the mighty sub
erTanean engine. From the first TO the last
Z WAS a continuous jar, only adding force at
very moment, and as 1t approached and reached
.nd reached the climax of its manifestation, IL
4eemed for a few terrible seconds that no work
u human hands could possibly survive the
shocks. The floors were heaving under foot, the
surrounding walls and partitions visibly swayed
o and fro.
THE CRASH OF FALLING STONE
md brick and mortar was heard overhead, and
without tho terrible roar filed the ears, and
eemed TO NIL the mind and heart. dazing percep-
Ion, bew1ldering thought, and for a few painting
,reaths, or while you held your breath in dread
ul anticipation Of immediate death, you
cit that life was already past and waited for the
md as the victim with his head on the block
waits the fall or the uplifted AK. 1t Ia not given
o many men to look in the face of the destroyer
md yet live, but IT is little to say that the group
II strong men who shared the experience
above family described. will carry with them
The recollection of that supreme moment to
heir dying day. None expeeted to escape. A
tudden rush was simultaneously made TO en-
ieayor to attain the open air and fee to
place OF safety, but before the door
"a. sas to rssched al rseled together to
hat hope was vain, that It was only . question
~ death within the building or without to be
buried by the sinking roof, or crushed by the
;oppltng walls. The uproar slowly died away
a seeming distance. The earth was stia, and oh.
me blessed relief OF that stiffness but how
;udely the silence was broken. As We
dashed down the stairway and out into the
street, already on every side arose the shrieks,
me cries OF pain and fear, the prayers and wall
ng OF terrified women and children, co-mingled
With the howe shouts of excited men. Out in
he street the cir was filed to the height Of the
louses with q whitish, dry, sitting dust from
ne lime and mortar and shattered masonry
which, falling upon the pavement and stone
0adway, had been reduced TO powder. Through
ibis cloud, dense as o fog. the gas lights flick
,on aimly; shedding but little light. 50 that
II telegraph wires that depended
lupports. On every side were hurrying forms
men and women, bareheaded, partially
dressed some almost nude and many OF whom
! woman saSa'1 is "'' supported aeor q bali fsintins IN
he arms Of her huspand. who vainly
ries to soothe her while he carries her
where 'p psess onsn saf seyr seems n 'a assu sssis' T SUsn'. !
woman lies on the pavement with up-turned
ace and out-stretched limbs. and the crowds
pass her by, not pausing to see whether she IL
tiive or dead. A sudden light flashes through .
sinlow overlooking the street. 1t becomes mo-
n~entarily brighter and
CHI OF FIRE
'esonnds from the multitude. A rush Is made
,oward the spot. A man is seen doubled up and
asip&5s against the wall; but this moment out
y sea. overhead, deep In the ground Is heard
gain the low omtnous roll which Is already too
we'll known to be mistaken. IL grows louder
IND nearer. Ike the growl OF q wild beast swiftly
approaching hls. prey, and Is forgotten again In
me Irenzied wish for the open space where alone
- the hope OF security. The "a. buildings on
htner hand blot out the skies and the stars.
md seem 10 OVERLAND ererx foot Of |