Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-09-09

Groups of Men and Women, Kneeling in
Prayer in the Streets--AImost the
Entire Population Spending the
Night in the Streets.
CHARLESTON, Sept la succession of
earthquake shocks, more violent than any
ever before known in the history of the
country, has kept the entire population
here in state of terror ever since 10
o'clock last night, has caused the destruc-
ton of about one-half Of the city and the
loss of nearly one hundred human lives.
The first shock was felt approaching at
$50 last evening, and before people could
realize what the trouble was, they were
being thrown around and their houses
falling down upon them. Every one ran
screaming into the streets, and in few
seconds the city was wild with human
beings, crazed with fright. The first
shock, which by far was the most severe,
was followed Immediately by another,
which increased the terror Of the people
On all sides could be heard exclamations
such as My God save us y "God have
mercy upon us sinners p and men and
women could be seen kneeling every
where in groups, offering up prayers.
The shocks continued at intervals of half
an hour, each succeeding one being less
severe, until up to 10 a. M, to-day there
had been ten distinct shocks. To add to
the terror of the situation fires broke out
in five different places soon after the first
shock, and the city was soon illuminated
with flames, thus leading all to believe
that the earth would be devoured
by fire. However, the Fire Department
was so well divided and handled that the
fires were gotten under control by day
light From fifteen to twenty residences
and stores were consumed. The night
was hideous with the groans of the dying
the screams of the wounded. and the
prayers of the uninjured. More than
sixty persons were killed and wounded,
chiefly colored. Some of the fires were
still burning this morning, but with no
danger of spreading. ata
The city is wrecked, the streets are en-
numbered with masses of fallen bricks
and tangled telegraph and telephone
wires, and up to an early hour it was al.
most impossible 10 pass from one part of
the city to another Broad street pre-
sented q spectacle Of the utmost horror.
Even women, armed with hatchets, fought
valiantly to rescue the imprisoned unfor.
tunates. Meeting street, from Broad to
Hasel, is q wreck, and Is lined with
homeless persons. The gas works are in.
jured, and probably the city will be with.
out light tonight ST. Michael's church
is shattered and the stecple will come
down, likewise the steeple of st. Phil
ip's. The s,ceple Of the Unitarian church
has fallen. The porticos of Hibernian
Hall and the main station house arc de
mOlished. There is much injury to man
sions on the east and south battery. The
portico of the Ravenal mansion is down
ry, and many are so shaken and cracked
that hard blow would bring them tC
the ground Fisures in the earth are no
ticed from which fine sand, apparently
from great depth exudcs, and q sulphur
GUS smell is very noticeable. l.
The city is wrapped in gloom and bu
siness is entirely suspended. Hardly on,
hundred houses are occupied, the people
generally remaining in the streets in tent
and underimprovised shelters. They vii
camp out tonight fearing another shock
All the stores are closed, and scarcit,
of provisions is feared not from wan
of provisions, but because no one can b
got to reach the stores to sell them. TIL
loss by fire and earthquake cannot be &C
curately estimated, but can be place,
safely at 50, 600, 900. The loss of huma
life will be large. and 1t will take days +
get at the accurate number Charles
ton Is now entirely Isolated from the out
side world. re
At precisely S;25 this morning anothe
wave swept over the city, coming, us di
the others, from the southeast and goin
in a northwesterly direction. BY thf
time many of the people who had bee
out on the public parks and open place
all night had ventured into their house
to get clothing and something to cat. Th
approach Of the shock was heralded b
the usual rumbling sound resembling di
tant thunder. Then it gradually a,
preached, the earth quivered and heaveC
and in three seconds it had passed, I'll
sound dying out in the distance. This
the only wave felt since 81 q. m. 1t W,
not destructive, all the destruction ha,
ing been done at 0:55 last night. The Gil
is u complete wreck. st. Michael's IN
Philips churches, two Of the most hi
t0ric churches In The city are In ruin
So is Hibernian Hail. The police static
and many other public buildings and full
two-thirds of the residences In the eli
are uninhabitable, being wrecked eth,
totally or partially. 1t is impossible
this time to give a correct estimate of Il
casualties. II is expected that bctwet
fifty and one hundred persons have be,
killed and several hundred wounded.
Two slight shocks have been felt sin
825 n. M, and one at about II D. !
Neither of them did any further destru
tion, Notcven during General Gilmoul
bombardmnnt of the city has there ey
been suchNa deplorable state of affai
here. The city Is literally in ruins, o.
the people are living In the open squa,
and public parks. There Is d great ru
TO- the railroad depots to get away, b
owing TO the earthquake no trains ha
been able to be despatched from the eli
Telegraphic communication is also cut,
with the exception of one wire of [
Southern Telegraph Company, which
crowded with anxious private messag
1t is impossible to depict the ruin and d