The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-02

sists in the narration OF the experiences and OBJ
servations Of an individual, and the subject be-
ing tia and the experience of all being
nearly alike the story told by one careful OBJ
server may well stand for q hundred others,
with slight variations. Probably the best idea
that OGa be had of tire character of the disturb
bance, therefore, may be- obtained from nara
tion of the events and scenes of Wednesday
night as they were presented to a single person.
While engaged in his usual duties in the sec
ond-story room of the News and Courier Office, at
the time of the first shock, the writer's atten-
ton was vaguely attracted by sound which
seemed to come from the Office below, and which
was supposed, for moment, to be caused by
the rapid rolling of heavy body, as an iron
safe or heavy-laden truck, over the floor. Ac-
companyine the sound there was perceptible
tremor of the building, not more marked, how
aver, than would be caused by the passage of
street-car or dray along the street For per-
haps two or three seconds the occurrence ex-
cited no surprise or comment Then. by swift
degrees, or perhaps al at once, it is difficult to
say which, the sound deepened in volume, the
tremor became more decided. the ear caught the
rattle of windowsashes, gas fixtures and other
haps simultaneous fash of recollection of the
disturbance of the Friday before. glanced
hurriedly at each other and sprang to their feet
with startled questions and answers.
''What ia that?-earthquakel" and then all was
bewilderment and confusion Then the long roll
deepened and spread into an awful roar. that
seemed to pervade at once the troubled earth and
the still air above and around. The tremor was
now rude, rapid culver that agtated the whole
lofty, strong building rs though it were being
shaken by the hand OF an Unreasonable power,
with intent to tear its joints asunder and scatter
its stones and bricks abroad, as tree casts its
o'er-ripened fruit before the breath of the gale.
There was no intermisson in the vibrations of
the mighty subterranean engine. From the first
70 the last it was continuous jar, only adding
force at every moment, and as it approached and
reached the climax of its manifestations it
seemed. for few terrible seconds. that no work
Of human hands could possibly survive the
shocks The floors were heaving under foot,
the surroun ing walls and partitions visi.
bly, swayed to and fro, the crash
of falling masses of stone, and brick,
and mortar was heard overhead, and without the
terrible roar filled the ears, and seemed to fill
the mind and heart, dazing perception, bewder-
ing thought, and for a few painting breaths, or
while you held your breath in dreadful anticipa-
ton of immediate and cruel death, you felt that
life was already past, and waited for the end
the victim with his head on the block awaits the
fall OF the uplifted ak. It is not given to any
man to look in the face of the destroyer and yet
live, but it is little to say that the group of
strong men who shared the experience, above
family described will carry with them the recol-
lection of that supreme moment to their dying
day. None expected to escape
a sudden rush was simultaneously made to
endeavor to attain the open air, and fee to a
place Of safety; but before the door was reached
all reeled together to the tottering wall and
stopped feeling that hope was vain-that it
was only question of death within
the building or without to be
buried by the sinking roof or crushed
by the topping walls. The uproar softly
died away in seeming distance The earth was
still, and OIL the blessed relief of that Stiffness
but how rudely the silence was broken! AS
we dashed down that stairway and out into the
street. already every side arose the shrieks,
the cries OF pain and fear, the prayers and wall
ings Of terrified women and children comminged
with hoarse shouts of excited men. Out in the
street the air was filed to the height of the
houses with whitish cloud of dry, sitting dust
from the lime, and mortar, and shattered
masonry, which, falling upon the pave
mont and roadway, had been reduced
to powder. Through this cloud, dense
as fog, the gas-lights fckered dimly,
shedding but little light, so that you stumble at
every step over the piles of brick, or become en-
tangled in the lines of telegraph wires that de-
pended in every direction from their broken sup
ports. On every side were hurrying forms of
men and women, bareheaded partially dressed,
some almost nude, and many of whom were
crazed with fear or excitement. Here woman
Is supported, half fainting in the arms of her
husband, who vainly tries to soothe her while
he carries her into the open space at the street
corner, where present safety seems assured
there woman lies ON the pavement with up
turned face and outstretched limbs, and the
crowds pass her by for the time not pausing to
see whether she be alive or dead
sudden light flares through window over
looking the street, it becomes momentarily
brighter and the cry of fire resounds from the
multitude. A rush is made toward the spot.
man ia seen doubled up and helpless against the
WALL but at this moment, som where out at sea-
overhead, deep in the ground, is heard again the
low ominous roll which is already too we'll
known to be mistaken 1t grows louder and
nearer, like the growl of wild beast swiftly an
preaching its prey, and is forgotten again in the
frenzied rush for the open spaces where alone
there is hope of security, faint though
it be- The tall buildings on either
hand blot out the skies and
the stars, and seem to overhang every foot of
ground between their shattered cornices and
copings and the tops of their frcwning walls
rilad frnrn hnt IA r. IL.