The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-09-09

scientists VINO say there II but the slightest
possibility Of n recurrence of the powerful
shocks after an elapse OF 50 much time, and
with this impression of security citizens who
have left the city in such hot haste to elude
danger have begun to return In small num-
bers, and visitors and sight seers are putting
in an appearance. Four times as many people
arc registered at the hotels than at any time
since the first visitation OF the earthquake.
Very few Of tho regular inhabitants will
return to their homes during the week, in
fact. only the most daring of the strangers
will yet venture inside Of a building, and
they have not q true appreciation Of the hor
rors OF an earthquake and the effect a good
sized shock would have at this time, when
the houses hang together by tender threads
All Of the one or two hundred incomers have
expressed surprise at the enormity of the de-
struction. Why" said one from Washing
ton, Il had no idea that what had read was
true The people in the north, and especially
New England, believe the newspaper men
have been lying about the extent OF the
destruction The accounts in the press are
read with great interest but no one has any
idea of the true condition OF Charleston"
The tents from the war department. and
from Wilmington were mostly put up In the
park facing the battery and overlooking the
confluence Of Cooper and Ashley rivers, lead
ing out to the hay. Forts Sumpter and
Moultrie, of rebellion fame, are plainly in
view
As tho sun peered through tho scrub oaks
and into the tents in the morning, and the
inhabitants responsibility turned out to greet
their first Sunday morning since the disaster,
"a thrilling scene was presented. Scores of
little children were soon gamboiing the
green; mothers We're making the toilets of
their infants. The servants were preparing
breakfast over oil stoves, and the men were
in groups like soldiers after a battle, discuss
ing the past present and future. Within
space 300 feet wide by 800 in length proba-
bly, 1000 people were camped.
With the full blush of the morning. how
ever, arose the voices Of the negroes in the
public places. They got up singing and in
many places shouting. By 1880 o'clock
services were in progress at a dozen points.
In Washington Square, which is veritable
tent Of negro campers itself, suggested a
scene about Mount Olive in biblical history.
The hundreds of splendid voices blended to-
gether In perfect harmony waited ont
through tho city and could be heard mile
distant A number OF men and women gave
experiences after the general sermons ut diff
ferent locations in the park. There was
some good will result.
At O'Clock there was q general mass
meeting at the corner Of Broad and East Bay
streets, near the city postofiice. Thousands
of people attended, and eloquent sermons
we're preached by volunteer ministers The
songs sung were most beautiful, and the
teachings impressive. The surroundings of
the meeting Were thrilling.
1t is now quite plain that there will he no
suffering after day or two, although some
instances Of hunger and want in poor faIni-
lies are reported. Enough money will be
ceived 10 meet Immediate wants Tue relief
committee will open a general supply store
and issue rations To the helpless and needy.
What most sternly confronts the people at
this moment is the future of the city. If
these buildings are not rebuilt or repaired,
the city never be- what she was, and may
be ruined.
OF the L., OOG houses, 3, 900 must be rebuilt
Many of the owners of these buildings can
not get the money to rebuild and unless out
side assistance is given at least 900 vacant
lots will stand whore buildings were on Tues
day last. How To get money is the great
problem Long headed citizens say it is folly
to expect congress to make loan furnish
assistance, because there is no authority for
it. and for this very reason aid has been re
peatedly refused by congress to other unfor-
tunate cities
A plan has been proposed which seems to
meet general approval 1t is for the city to
issue bonds for 5000, 600, the present esti
mated real loss by the earthquake: the bonds
tl-yC
draw j per cent. interest 1t is believed
eastern and northern capitalists would take
the bonds at par and then the city could loan
the money to the citizens and take mortgages
upon tho property.
A party OF scientists headed by Professors
Mendenhal and McGee. have returned from
an exploring trip north Of the city. They
visited Ten Mile Hills, Sommerville and Lin
coin, and do not bring back cheering news
At Sommerville they felt nine distinct shocks
and say tho populace are terrified, and are
leaving that section Of the country. Some
very strange freaks Of the earthquake were
found and photographed Most of the 800
houses ut Somme rville are wooden buildings,
and consequently the damage done Is largely
confined to their interiors
The foundation under one side of
building fell out 50 as to topple the structure
over in a half reclining position, while the
remainder Of the foundation Is unimpaired
The foundation under both sides of another
house parted, shot outward, and permitted
the building to drop down on the ground
Ono chimney on many houses was found
destroyed, while the other was left intact
A large number Of geysers were found of
immense proportions, some of them ten feet
in diameter, and nothing has been found
long enough to probe their depth. None are
running now, but all are full of water.
Sommerville has Jared worse than any
other part of the country hereabouts and
will bs almost depopulated.
Lateral u:lO last night "a moderate
shock of earthquake of few seconds dura-
ton was felt, but so far as known, doing no
damage.
At Savannah. Georgia
SAVANNAH, Ga, Sept 2.-The earthquake
shocks here, commencing about $3.50 O'Clock
Tuesday night. lasted several minutes. Sew