The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-09-04

At Savannah, Georgia, five shocks were felt
and several chimneys were thrown down,
while buildings were otherwise damaged. In
Pittsburg much alarm was created, and many
people rushed into the streets. Four distinct
shocks were felt in Washington. The earth
quake shocks were quite lively in many por-
tons of New Jersey, and the vibrations were
distinctly felt in Philadelphia. Reports from
Baltimore and various other points show the
shock was very distinct in Maryland.
The centre of the great earthquake Of
Tuesday night appears to have been under
Charleston, South Carolina, and that city was
the principal sufferer from its effects. The
wires leading to Charleston were all down
and no communication was had with that city
on Tuesday night. Dispatches from the fated
city received on Wednesday and Wednesday
night say that the City Hall, Hibernian Hall
the main Station House, st. Michael's and
St. Philips churches, many other public
buildings, and fully two-thirds of the dwell
lings in the city were wrecked. It's estimated
that between thirty and forty persons were
killed, and more than one hundred were in
jured. The loss of property is estimated a
| from eight to ten millions of dollars. The
shocks were repeated at intervals during
| Tuesday night and Wednesday, but the de
struction was all accomplished by the frs
shock, at 9.55 on Tuesday night. At 11.5(
Wednesday night another shock, more VIC
lent than any since the first CONFUSION, threw
down several houses. The people are campeo
in the streets and public squares, and there j:
already great suffering among them from ex
posure and want of food.
A telegram on Wednesday from Summer
vile, South Carolina, reports the business
portion of that place badly wrecked and many
persons killed.
| There was another severe earthquake a
Augusta, Georgia, at 5. 10 p M, on Wednes
day, the vibrations continuing two minutes.
All the buildings in Raleigh, North Caro-
lima, were shaken by another earthquake
wave at SIG p. m. on Wednesday
There were eight additional shocks Wed
nesday at Savannah.
! No fewer than II shocks were felt in Beau.
fort, South Carolina, during Tuesday night.
a terrible earthquake here last night at 9.5(
O. clock, the principal business portion of the
city was destroyed and hundreds of person:
were rendered homeless. Men were frantic
women were heseeching mercy from the AL
mighty and children were in tears. Many
people were seriously, if not fatally, injured
Broad street presented spectacle of the
utmost horror. Even women armed with
hatchets fought viliantly to rescue the i'm
prisoned unfortunates. Meeting street, from
Broad to Hazel, is wreck and is lined with
unfortunates. To add to the horror of the
scene many fires broke out and were ineffec-
tually fought by the fire department. The
night was hideous with the groans of the dy-
ing, the screams of the wounded and the
prayers of the uninjared. Il is impossible to
estimate the losses Of persons or property at
present. Up to 10 a. IN. to-day, there had
been ten distinct shocks.
At precisely S.25 this morning another
wave swept over the city, coming, as did the
other, from the southeast and going in a
northwesterly direction. By that time many
of the people who had been out on the public
parks and open places all night had ventured
into their houses to get clothing and some.
thing TO eat. The approach of the shock was
heralded by the usual rpmbling sound, re-
sembling distant thunder, Then Il gradually
approached, the earth quivered and heaved,
and in three seconds it had passed, the sound
diving out in the distance. This is the only
wave felt since $50 a. m. TWAS not destruc-
tive, all the destruction having been done at
9.E5 last night. The city is complete wreck.
St. Miohaeis and St. Philips churches, two
of the most historic oh4rGhe9 in the city, are
IN RUNS. 90 IN lldllf H6 pullCE
station and many other public buildings and
fully two-thirds of the residences of the city
are uninhabitable, being wrecked either to-
tally or partially. 1t is impossible at this
time to give correct estimate of the casuali-
ties 1t is e8psGted that between so and 100
have been killed and several hHndredwoqnded.
At the time of the first shock fires broke out
in five different places in the city. About 20
houses were destroyed by FIRE. Scarcely 100
houses ia the city are occupied at this time,
the people being all oamped in the open
places. All the stores are closed and o soap
city of provisions is feared, not from a want
of provisions, but because no one can be got
to reach the stores to sell them.
The city is wrapped in gloom and business
is entirely suspended. People generally re.
main in the streets in tents and under i'm
proyissd shelters, and will camp out TO- night,
Fearing another shock.
The gas works are injured and Brahahly
the city will be without light to night. St.
Michael's Church is shattered and the steeple
will come down, likewise the steeple of st,
Philips. The steeple ofthe Unitarian Church
has fallen. The porticos of Hibernian Hall
and the main station house are demolished,
There is much injury to mansions on the east
and south battery. The portieo of the Rave
nal Mansion is down. Hardly house in the
city escaped injury, and many are so shaken
and cracked that hard blow would bring
them down.
The first shock Of earthquake was felt ap-
preaching last night at $50, and before peb-
Pile could realize what the trouble was, they
found themselves being thrown around and
their houses falling down upon them. Every
one ran screaming into the streets and in a
few seconds the city was wild with human
beings Rerieatly erased With fright, On all
sides you GOULD bear Explanations sueh az
''my God, save US, "God, have mercy upon
us Sinners" and people could be seen kReel-
ing everywhere In groups offering up prayers.
The first shock was followed immediately by
another, though of less effect, but renewing
the screams and shrieks, and from the time
of the beginning to daylight shocks were felt
at intervals of half an hour, but each succeed.
ing one being less distinct. Three or four
fires started in rs many sections with the first
shock, and the city was so9a illuminated with
flames, thus leading all to believe what was
left by the earthquake would be deyoured by
FIRE. However, the fire department was so
well divided and handled, that the fires were
gotten under control by daylight. From IF
teen to twenty residences and stores were
consumed. The loss by fire and earthquake
cannot be accurately estimated, but can be
PLACED safely ~ hive millions OF dollars. AS
far as could be aseeFtaiaed during the night
fifteen to twenty were killed, and q much
greater number wounded in all sorts of ways.
The loss of human life will be large, and it
will take days TO get at the accurate number.
Shocks equally as ssSeFs we're felt at a dis
lance of thirty five miles, and have done in
damage to railroad and telegraph
Charleston is now entirely isolated
from the outside world
CHARLESTON, Sept. 1.-Two slight shocks
of earthquake have been falt Ginae the first,
at s25 A. NJ, and one at about 100 P. N.
Neither of them did any further destruction.
Not even during General Gilmore's lombard
ment of the city has there ever been seen such
a deplorable state of affairs here. The city is
literally in ruins, and the people are living in
tie pBeg squares and public parks. THERE'S
. great rush to the railgqaa depots to get away,
but, owing to the earthquake, no trsiRs Eaga
been able to be despatched from the city.
communication is also cut off,
with the exception of one wire of the South
ern Telegraph Company, which is crowded
with anxious private messages.
1t is impossible to depict the ruin and des-
olation that prevail here. Not single |
elece Of business in the city, save drug
store, which is busy preparing prescriptions
for the voundad IL erer n IL imDOssihle |