Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-09-16
THE SHATTERED CITY.
The Situation Of Affairs in Charles
ton Reviewed.
Relief Measures In Progressively Thou
sand People Living In Tents and Inn
provised Structures Dangerous
Work on Shattered Buildings.


try say the damaging earthquakes
are over, although there will be
rumbIing and tremors at intervals dur
ing the next two or three weeks. The
citizens have argued in their minds and
among themselves that it is unreasonable
to suppose that violent shocks will con-
tinue. Thus they have forced upon
themselves the determination to be as
cool as possible and TO look the thing in
the face. The theory as to
the cause of earthquakes first adj
vanced by those making study of them
here, viz: that they are the result of q
settling process in earth, has been gen.
orally accepted as true, and this has
helped to quiet the nervous and console
timId hearts and minds. Very few even
of the most dcvout people outside of the
superstitious, believe there is any divine
wrath or work in the quaSes. Thus have
they come like philosophers to think be-
fore they run, when the shocks come.
There were some more slight shocAs
yesterday, but they were unnoticed. In
fact. the public here has concluded that
shocks are TO be felt as q natural conse-
quence of what was experienced on the
first Tuesday night, and that ''there is no
use to get excited about mere matter of
routine" as one citizen very coolly put 1t.
The threatened rain did not materialiZe
in anything like a damaging quantity
YESTERDAY. 1t sprinked for a
short time i'm the morning, and
the sun shone in scorchin1 rays. In the
afternoon the streets were so hot they
almost burned ones feet, and only those
who had business in the open air ex-
posed themselves to old soils rays.
The "tented fields'' made in parks
were as we'll occupied as at any time
since the visitation by earthquakes. In
many instances the campers and refugees
have made their shelter as secure as pos
sible, and intend living in them till their
houses are permanently repaired or re-
built. Old carpets, bedding, canvas,
rubber coats and every conceivable mate
rial 10 exclude the sun and rain by day
and dew by night is employed, making
the camps, indeed, variagated.
Nearly all of the iron, tin and compost
ton roofing on buildings in some por-
tons of the city was destroyed by the
earthquake, and large portion to IN off
by falling piazZas, chimneys, etc. The
colored people have appropriated this
material, and are living beneath canopieS
and tents made of it.
1t is stated at the City Hall that since
sunrise yesterday morning over three
thousand people have been given trans
portation out of the city. The railroad
companies i'm the South. and in portions
of the North, have either sent pass books
in blank or notified the relief committee
that its orders will be honored for free
transportation. Through the Danville
syndicate passes are issued as far north
as Baltimore, while many go to Atlanta,
Nashville, etc. The members of the COM
rho
ton of assisting destitute sufferers is
found in sending them out of the city.
Quite number of persons who can help
themselves, or are too trifling to merit
any favor, apply for assistance. but assist
ance is not often refused when requested
I'm form of a railroad courtesy.
The same class OF imposition is en-
countered in the issuance of orders for
rationS. The line is drawn and discrimi-
nations are made when it may be advisa-
Die to get rid of an imposter by sending
him or her out of the city. When a strong,
able-bodied man applies for aid himself
he is asked why he does not 60 to work,
as there is plenty of work for laborers in
clearing away the debris at from Sl.75 to
So 90 day. The patent stereotyped re-
ply is:
81 am afraid to go to work. I am
afraid of quakes."
A United Press reporter was told by 4
member of the relief committee this
afternoon that there are ten thousand
negroes in the city who claim they are
too much frightened to work. The COM
mittee is growing impatient at this exhi-
hition of weakness, and is suspicious of
much feigning BY Incidence.
City Hall and adjacent streets have
been filed with destitute sufferers, and
LIB a. al lat ,sx-Lk
When Mayor Courtney arrives to-day
more definite plans will be made for the
distribution of aid. Now the Chamber
of Commerce. Cotton Exchange, city
officers, secret societies and other Or
CARNATIONS are receiving and distributing
provisions, etc. 1t is the purpose to ap-
point an executive committee OF three
through whose hands assistance shall
pass or who shall know of all assistance
of whatever character granted. This is
for the purpose of preventing frauds in
the way of duplication and duplication
of orders. Now an INDECENT person
may go from place to place and receive
aid each time he or she applies.
1t is also expected that some definite
action will be taken when the mayor ar
rives for the lawful condemnation and
destruction of dangerous buildings Un-
der the provisions OF the Revised Stat
utes of the State, the mayor and chief of
police of cities constitute board to con-
denim houses, and in the absence of
Mayor Courtney nothing has been done
to secure the advantages of this law.
In some instances as much as $3.50 a
day for common labor is paid. Some of
the most enterprising citizens, who want
to put the city in business-like condi-
ton, are complaining because the acting
mayor and chief of police have not exer
cised the authority vested in them and
ordered down dangerous buildings. 1t
Is said that these officers refuse to do
any thing in this direction till disinter-
es,ed outside architects Indicate what
buildings should be torn down; because,
first, they do not want to invite the dis
pleasure of citizens owning condemned
property, and, second, they do not want
to assume the risk of suits for damages.
They will have no fear, however, in exc
cutting the direction of Government
architects sent by the Treasury Depart
ment.
Some very dangerous work is being
performed in tearing down buildings,
and 1t will be remarkable if many serious
accidents do not occur. The steepIe on
St Phillips Church is about two hun.
drcd and twenty five feet high; seventy
five feet of the upper portion 10 above a
platform lookout, and is sustained by
seven pillars and a central iron post. The
shocks of earthquake broke down four
of the seven pillars, and people wondered
how the steeple could stand. 1t seemed
that nothing held it I'D. The citi-
Gems demanded that the up
per portion of the structure
should be pulled down, as it was so heavy
1t might do great damage were it to fall.
Yesterday morning local contractor and
builder made MANY hearts beat fast by