davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-09-07
St. Michael's Stccplc.

City Engineer Barbot made an cxa,ni.
nation Of the stecple Of st Michacl.S
Church yesterday morning. The circular
window on the north side Of the stecplc,
just above the roof Of the church, was
taken MS the basis Of observation, and q
perpendicular line from the centre OF
the window upward struck the sillcn
ball on its side. The diameter Of the
ball is about three feet, so the DETECTION
from the perpendicular Of the steeplc is
only one foot and six inches towards
the west. n ,conditin which may have
existed before either cyclone or earth
quake. This should reassure the thous-
nnds Of citizens who would look upon
the removal Of the steeple as n per, onal
calamity. Another observation will be
taken to-day and the change in position,
If any, published.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-09-07
\ StT'HnH%p incident.
Register.

SrSlSi'r.
Gem. G.rv.l Ellison Carrrs oc G:nrn-
vito. arrived in Columbia yesterday from
Charleston. He was on the Charleston
bound train Tuesday ni.nt when it had
such Il thrilling experience near Sum
mcrville, ana from him the information
was had which Was continued in The
press dispatch from Charleston printed
yesterday morning in the Hcyisfer.
In addition t" the graphic narrative
contained in that disoalch. Gen. Carers
stated yesterday to Il Ncyistel' reporter
that at the first shock. when the train
was within u mile Of Summervilic, the
engineer blew on breaks. believing the
train had met with Il fearful accident.
VI hen tiir train was at y StanEStill. the
train people took lights and went back
examining the cars to see what bad hap
pcned. When they had got about half
way 'iown the train the second shock
occurred, AMI thew the cause of the viu-
Tent piunglHg oi the train was OWNED.
hen thing! had qu;":cI down the
engineer pulled his train cautiously
ahea,i, but s""n found thr track ahead
twisted! into the shape Of an ). lie rari,..
to Il halt and decided to return to Jed.
burg. y party was sent ahnti 10 SOC
that the track waS all right. Wien they
got within four miles o: .Irlhrr. the
party came across another twisted l,iacc
in the track, and further p:nyyrsS was
ilnpedcd.
The superintendent was notified and
went up to repair th" track. In putting
back the three rails which, were twisted.
he found that the rails ha,! been e]lonra-
ted six inches each and had To cut or
the ends 10 make them fit the places
wh'ch they had h"rrin!nr" occupied in
IN" track. NJ. Avarv. the SuI.vrintrn-
dent. say. that in cutting OK the rails he
used his best tools. but he found the
r"n harder than he aad ever ,urt with
before in any rail. Another peculiar
circumstance also was that the c.usS;irS
III the break near Summrrvillc had been
showed toward that place, white in that
near J"tilnurg the ties had been showed
coward the latter place.
General C"pcrs left Charleston yoStrr-
d;.y morning. He says very few people
had returned 20 their homes. ai.d that
many people would still camp out last
night. He states that the damage has
not ''e"n exaggerated. but that there is
miSSla'"mcnt about the injury to the
Sp!re of ~. Michacl's Church.. 1t is 4
separate structure on n separate founda.
ton from either the body or the por,ico
OF the church, and that, while the latter
have suffered terribly, the Spire is per-
tcctlv intact and plumb.
General CaperS is ut Wri.ht'S Hotel.
but will depart for Grccnviilc this morn.
ing.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-09-07
The Origin Of Earthquake.
News aad Cuuricr.l

There can be no doubt that the vari
Gus earthquake shocks we have expert
encedihau their origin in the islands of the
hlcuitrErancan and III Greece and Italy
In The Su"doy Nems of August 20 was
reported the occurrence of Il destructive
earthquake throughout Greece and italy,
and also that there had been two eruu-
tons OF FcsuviuS, and that the Volcano
was still very active. These eruptions
gave vent to the internal CONJUNCTION
which had produced the quaking of the
earth III that vicinity, but the shocks
being communicated to the earth have
travelled IN various directions, in some
with moro violence than in others. as
they were felt the same day throughout
Egypt: but doing little damage. The
SHOCKS seem to have extended westward
with more rapidly and violence than in
any other direction, the vibration of the
particles of the earth'S surface being
transmitted under the sea ut the rate OF
about one hundred miles an hour. occu-
pylnS about Scventy-two hours in travel
ling Il distance Of $500 miles before
reaching the western shores of the
Atlantic. Travelling as it did, almost due
west. one of the first points on the shore
line which it could reach was the coast
OF South Carolina. But we see that il
was telt along the entire coast rs far
north as Boston, and spreads across the
continent with diminishing force as the
various more solid and rocky portions
OF the surface crust retarded the vibra-
tons, until it seems to have been almost
entirely stopped by friction in the cx-
IRENE Northwestern States.
The reason why the shocks were
more violent in the vicinity of Charles
ton and Summerville is that there is
more Of a soft, yielding nature in the
superficial upper strata which conduc-
ted the vibrations, and the forward
movements Of the earth waves, meeting
With less resistance here than from the
hard substances farther in the interior.
were more rapid and jerkey, and shook
the surface with more violence. The
presence of the innumerablc assures
observable III the city. and in the coun-
try as far as Suinmerville and beyond, is
accounted for by this same soft material
yielding readily to the pressure of the
earth waves, which pushed up the thin
crust and squeezed out, as it were, the
water and sand subject to the pressure.
The blue sand and the yellow sand thus
elected are found in the upper strata,
and that it came from rear the surface is
proven b.! the fact that no mari is found
in it. and that il begins at from IS to 80
feet below the surface, and extends to
nearly 1910 feet deep. To show still
more conclusiveIy that the wave motions
were confined toa very limited depth
beneath the surface, it is only necessary
stae that none Of the shallow or four
hundred feet Artesinn wells are at all
Effected, nor is there any change notice
abie ~ the flow or quality of the water
rom the two deep Arltsian wells. us
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-09-07
SpOlltinE Wells.

one OF tn" most singular features of
the terribl" shaking-up was observed in
many parts OF the ciiy-the Spouting
wells. In Deaufain street the covers
wcr" torn from the wells and sent iiviay
III the air. Their came Il huge column
of water and mud, which was sent M +,
Il height of Is or 20 feet. Most of the
wells were speedily retil.cd. After the
shock the surface Of the streets in the
vicinity OF these wells was covered in.
Variably by a yellowi.h clay deposit.
when may have come from the bottom
OF the wells or from a lower stratum of
the earth. The water was in these cases
forced upward, it is supposed, by me
Subfrrrancan agencies Mt work below and
sent flying up into the air.
sAtlcr the collapse the theory is thu,
the wells were again filled from the
watcrhraring strata which updprlic
Charleston. In some cases, al instance,
occurring IN Gihbes street III the yard OF
Mr.. HaSel lleyward's house, huge VOL
nrncs OF water were elected. it is sap.
posed. from Il dry well in The lot. The
well was used for sanitary purposes and
mad no water in it rs FAR as was known
he entrance was covered by Il heavy
granite slab. This was thrown nm and
the entire lot inundated By the vas, lets
OF water and fine yellow sand that was
elected. 1t is difficult to say whore the
water came from.
In other portions Of the city vast lets
OF water were thrown up from creviccs
formed by the force Of the earth,s move.
ment. After the shock most of these
closed, soon afterwards leaving exposed
a kind Of mound OF earth Of. an entirely
different character from the s%urrounding
soil.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-09-07
THE EARTHQUAKE in ABBEvILLE.

On last Tuesday Evening, about five
minutes to Ten O'Clock, when the town
was all quiet, and its Inhabitants resting
peacefully under their own roofs, with
the exception Of those who had congre-
gated at the Methodist church to wor-
ship the God who made them, a roaring
noise was heard in the distance, and soon
everything began to trcmhle as an aspen
leaf. Things gradually grew worse, and
everyone realized they were experience
ing the manifestation Of the power of
God in an earthquake Houses were
quickly deserted, and the town was
soon alive with citizens with blanched
faces, and trembling hearts, wondering
if the shock would come again.
The scene in the Methodist church
bcgyarS description. a serious, solemn
awful sermon had just been preached by
Presiding Elder Smart On the ext. ''Prc-
pare to meet thy God,' and as the earth
began to quake. the already excited con-
SrrSat;on, rushed with screams and
means to the doors Of the church. For
tunatriy no one WAS hurt III the STAN
pc,ic from the church. y f,w persons
remained quiet, and the lcnrd:ction was
pronounced ovcr these, and they re-
turned 70 their houses.
When everything had quirtci down
and all had begun to hope there would
he no repetition Of the awful occurrence,
another shock vas felt, and shortly Sf-
forwards still another. 1t was notice.
able. however. that each succeeding
shock was lighter. Many Il person, old
and young, male and female. spent u
restless, if not slccplcSs, night in Abbc-
Vile. Several more shocks were felt
during the night, and we have had them
more or less up to Sunday night.
At the first shock, in many places,
cows, mules, horses and chickens mani
tested great fear, and by their lowing
following and cackling, served TO in
crease the Consideration Of the people
Such a time Of universal fright has
never been experienced before in Able
willie, and we know we re-ccho the heart
felt sentiments Of our whole people
when W" pray that an all-wi,e Creator
may spare us from another such mani
festation Of his power.
No damage was done to property and
lives were lost, and in this we have
much to be thankful for.
The center OF the shock seems to have
been in the neighborho ID of Charleston
and Summorville, aud these places sur-
Tered greatly, both as to property and
the number Of lives that were lost. Va
rlo"s are the theories concerning it's or
Igin. We give II number Of them below.
Full accounts may be found on our out
side Of the state Of affairs in Charleston
and other places.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-09-07
STRICKEN

BY this time all of our readers are
aware that the earthquake which we
felt on the night of the 3lst of August
had wrought fearful havoc of life and
property in Charleston and Summcrvillc
We need not reproduce the narrowing
details. Suffice it to say that more than
forty lives have been lost. and that
thousands Of people are exposed by
night and by day to the dangers Incl
don't to this period of :he year. The
September Gales always terrible on
the coast, are near at hand, and thou
sands of our brethren in Charleston and
SuMmerville are houseless and unpru-
tected from the elements. save by II
makeshift covering or awning construct
ed of sheets and quilts. and what is left
of their household furniture. Delicate
women and tender children are sleepinr
under ~tcnts-which when the storms
come, will furnish almost no protection.
Suffering and death must follow.
The loss in property will exceed $5.-
OUO,OOO. There is scarcely a brick
house in the city Of Charleston. that is
deemed safe for habitation. Very many
are irreparably injured. Poor old city !
1T is scarcely n year ago that the cyclone
worked n destruction that destroyed life
and millions Of dollars worth of prop
.Arty. But with indomitable pluck and
pride her people built upthe waste places
about forgetting the story Of their loss,
when there comes this terrible calami-
tY.
And yet despite their suferings and
their losses, our Charleston friends are
brave and hopeful. They have gone
manfully to work to repair the damage.
And that they are still pre-
pared to transact business.
But they need help, and need it at
once! 70 avoid serious danger and
great suffering, they must have immedi-
ate assistance. Already the generous
North thrills with the generous impulse
of charity and is pouring into Charles
ton her offers Of aid. The officers. the
cities and the people Of our sister States
are responding with a%lacrity to the dis
tress call" It behooves us not to stand
idle. Let every person give what he
can. and in what form ne can. Give if
willingly, cheerfu'ly, and promptly.
Captain MCGOWAN has already started n
subscription and forwarded 3 to the
relief committee, and will gladly re-
.ceivc further contributions. The Coun-
Gil has contributed $50. Let us all re-
,spopd in the same spirit. And as VIC
consider those fraii women and little
canning beneath the st ars with
nothing above them save the cuno-
OF heaven, we shall hear the still
small voice" within us reminding US of
the promise, ''inasmuch ms We have done
1t unto one Of the least of these. We
done it unto me-"
Don't let Us forget Sumn,erville. The
there has been no less Sc
we're than ut Charleston, and nearly ey-
cry citizen there is IL refugee from the
perils Of their home. Let our aid be
given to them as to Charleston. for their
need is equally great.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-09-07

We had written an editorial notice
aast week, on the communication on the
"Colonci and the Farmers but it was
crowded out. The article was we'll
written and elected much favorable com
ment from our citizens. We would like
ia have some other article from the same
sousce.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-09-07

Gen. Jas. +. Izlar, of Orangeburg, de-
clined a reelection as Chairman Of the
State Democratic Executive Committee
in which capacity for four years he has
done yeoman service for the Democracy.
He is a true, tried and faithful pu bic
servant. and the State will ere long call.
him to high position and konoys.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-09-07

Appropriate m were preached
in all.of our churches on Subbath. and
telling lessons were drawn from the re-
cont earthquake.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-09-07

The article Of MI. Geo. G. Hodges in
this issue should have appeared last
week, but was crowded out.
The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-09-07
G.. T.. BRUCE.

put him up to it. "
Let us see again how this tyrannical and
INSCRIPTIONS newspaper boss earbles the
hnEuagc OF the victim of his malice.
Here is what | said substantially Mt Dine
vest, ana l said the same elsewhere
~ have travelled all over Abbcville county
visiting our country schools. have had my
eyes and ears wide open. | claim to be n
teacher OF some experience and success, and
! know poor work when | see it now de-
clare to you, fellow -cilizeus, that The greatest
need of our school system is Industrious, CON
scientiouS and skilled teachers, male and fc-
male, in our country schools. The parents
have no idea of the incficicucy of our public
schools. These incompetent teachers are
absolutely wasting the public money, as we'll
as the precious time and mind of these nre-
cious children of ours"
We do not want incompetent teachers at
any price. We do no: want our sisters and
our cousins and our aunts in the office of
teacher unless they are qualified. We do
not want even soldiers, however valiant and
own they may have been in war, if they
have failed at everything else.
TO show the people of Abbcville county that
the Press ana banner had no excuse, (eyccpt
tho excuse of a demagogue who seeks to crush
a victim even at the expense of truth and
honor in pervcrting my language and NV
meaning, herewith publish an extract from
a circular sent out by me ut the beginning of
this year and printed in the county papcrs
published at the Court House, and from which
/ quoted ut Due West
at is an appalling fact that n large norton
of the patrons of our public free schools are
hopelessly deluded in surprising that their
children are receiving benefit when the truth
is, incompetent teachers are absolutely vast
ing the public money, and what is infinitely
worse, the precious time and mind of the chill
dren. The people should rise up in their might
and indignation and demand of those who adj
the school laws, that higher aualiti-
cations should be required of the teacher than
that be should be somebody, like Plato's
from sunrise to sunset. The people sc
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-08-26
REUNION NOTES.

Judge Hanback,, NJ. c. writes: at will
give me great pleasure to attend. You
may be assured of my presence"
A delegation from Ottawa visited the
committee yesterday, with reference to
excursion trains from that county.
A prominent G. A. r. man at Wichita
writes: "The first train for the Emporia
reunion will contain twenty carloads"
Commander Vergil Post writes: SEX
pect good attendance from here. Every
G. a. r. member Will do his duty and 8
grand success is certain"
Elmdale: sour post has resolved un
anImouslY to attend with their families
think you can count on between one anC
two hundred from Elmdale."
From Winfield Post: We cannot tell thu
number OF comrades now who will attend
the reunion at Emporis, but can see NJ
reason why the representation from Cow
ley, as we'll as southern and western Kan
sas, should not be large. You location il
central. We shall do all in our power Il
aid ''the Reunion"
". Pierce for the adjutsnt of Walnu
| g. A. K. writes: "The movement Empo
ria now makes meets our most hearty ap
proval, When our annual encampmen
was held at WYandotte two years ago
moved that our next reunion be held a
Emporia. My motion was secOned BY
come gentleman from your city with /,
nice little speech, but Cap. johnson anC
the Lincoln Post boys amended 1t and
downed US. Let me congratulate you Oh
this move. You will not be dissappoint
ed with your crowd OF old vets"
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-08-26
TIE REUNION.

The NEWS reporter in his rounds to day
the headquarters of the reunion committee,
the members of which were gath
cred around a large table GOV.
cred with letters, circulars and nu-
merous documents, all relating to the COM
ing reunisn. The committee were all
busily engaged In correspondence, or ar
ranging plans for the various contingeR-
cies that may arise. and had little time to
converse with our scribe. This, however,
he learned: That the prospects for huge
reunion were never better, and that the
enthusiasm telt by the COM
miItee and citizens was hour.
ly spreading and 1t will eliminate in
one of the grandest encampments Kan
sas has ever seen Every mail brings in q
bushel of letters from different posts all
over the state bearing the most encourage
Ing words Of the mighty flood of people
that will pour into our city next October
The only question Is, will we be prepared
For answer to this question ask the COM
mittees on grounds, finances and recep-
tion. They alp say we will be ready, lei
them come. From the finance commit
tee the report IL most encouraging. The
committee on grounds has not as yet made
. final decision, but will in q few days.
A meeting of the general COMMITTEES
was held last night at which all of the
committees reported and received instruc-
tions that the work might progress the
more rapidly aud smoothly. OF thil
meeting there Is nothing IN particular tC
report, except that the utmost enthusiasm
prevailed aud every one felt prepared tc
20 to work with renewed vigor.
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-08-26
SPIKES.

Reduced rates will be given on the Santa
Fe and Missouri Pacific to the St. Louis
fair this fall.
Mr.. Morse of the Santa Fe was on the
hunt for men yesterday. He stated that
he wanted fully 100 men to go west on the
road.
No. east bound passenger train Was
nearly two hours late yesterday. She
was "Weak" and had hard work climbing
the mountains.
The board of railroad commissioners
have appointed September LIST as the day
to hear the complaint Of the LeAvenworth
board of trade against the Union Pacific
road, which Is charged with neGleCting to
give suitable train service between Leav-
enworth and Lawrence. On the same day
the board will hear similar complaints
from stations along the line OF the Empo
ria and Ottawa road.
The board OF railroad commissioners to,
day mailed letters to the management OF
the Atchison, Topeka s. Santa Fe, the I'm
lou Pacific aud the Missouri Pacific, stat
ing that q reduction OF freight rates OF
from FIVE to ten percent of former rates
should be made. This new rate covers
the shipment of corn and wheat. The
board in making their decision have given
o schedule OF rates and the distances be-
tween important railroad stations as ha-
sis from which the roads are to make their
/ rates.
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-08-26
The Pink Social.

The Y. NJ. @. A. social held last night
IN their rooms was a social and financial
success, there being large crowd present
and it Is estimated that taken altogether
there were over two hundred people in at
tendance at the social. The refreshments
consisted of ice cream, cake and lemonade
and was psrtakeu of largely by the audi
ence. The evening was pleasantly passed
IN sharades and games of various kinde,
every body enjoying themselves thorough
ly. This social Is one of the most success
full ever held in the Y. n. q. A. hall and
will long be remembered as a most de-
lightful evening. The Y. NJ. G. a. as
ISOLATION Is now In charge of Mr.. Paul E
Page who is the general secretary and has
done good work since he first took the
matter in hand and the organization IL
now in better condition than it has been
for some time past.
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-08-26
From Saturday, Daily
Personal.

Lalu Balenger who hiss been visiting In
Arcadia returned home to-day.
Mrs. Us. Re6gen returned this morn
ing from her visit to Scott City.
Prof. Willis of Newton is visiting In the
city the guest Of Geo. w. CIapp.
JW. Jank of Kansas City is in town,
he viii spend Sunday in the city.
Mr.. s. Strauss returned to-day from his
five weeks business trip to the east.
WI. LOberts, who has been sick, is
now better, and will be able to be out.
&c Burnett has lust returned from 6
few days visit TO the northern part Of the
state.
J.F. Cherry of Kansas City, the popular
grocery man is In town to-day looking up
business with our merchants.
G. N. Head was down from the Grove
to-day but while in the city was taken
sick and was forced to return home.
q. o. Arnold OF the Union Square DOM
pany is IN the city making final arrange.
ments for the coming of that com pany
next week.
Miss Kittie Brown, who has b cen visit.
ing her sister in Kansas City for some
months, has returned home to go to school
this Winter.
Mrs. Nora Webb of Council Grove was
in the city yesterday, enroute tor Atchi.
son. While In town she VISITED her friend
Mrs. Jack Gllchrlst.
Mr.. E. I. Thomas, of Emporia, arrived
at Garden City on train three this morn
lug and will proceed to Fargo Springs to
morrow, where he expects to engage in
busIAess i Garden City Herald.
Mr.. o. D. Lee came up from Fargo
Springs yesterday, and remained over
night in the city. He is on his way to his
home in Emporis, Kansas, being out here
on business connected with Fargo Springs
in which he is nterested.-[GArden City
Herald.
J. s DalzelI Of Great Bend, the sheriff
OF Barton county, came down yesterday
to get the TWO colored boys named Sam
Woodruff and Charles Meadows, who de-
coyed two little colored girls aged eleven
and fourteen years, from their home II
Great Bend.