The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-09-16
DEMORALIzED NEGROES.
Effect of the Earthquake the Colorcd
People of Charleston.


It would be- simply impossible TO exaggerate
or to depict in sufficiently descriptive language
the effect of the earthquake on the colored peo-
pie of Charleston, says another correspondent
They fled from their homes, and as they ran
hither and thther through binding clouds OF
pulverized mortar which was shaken from
houses and arose again from the streets, they
filled the air with dismal groans OF despair and
lamentations of terrified distress As usual
with them in their funeral devotons, the name
Jesus was most frequently used and, as II
suppIicating God face to face, they shrek ed
out in the very helplessness and pathos of de-
spair such sentences as DO, my Master Jesus,
have mercy on mel On, sweet Jesus
save me, save meI Let me 1--we
through this night. dear God, my Saviorl"
Hold me up once more, thou blessed Christ,
my Master" and other fearful supplleations,
which intensified the horror of the situation,
and went far toward demoralizing the white
people who were also rushing blindly hithet
and thither. AS usual, the faces OF the white
man and white woman in the time or danger
was a sight of sudden JOY in the gloom To many
a poor wandering colored boy or girl, VINO
endeavored to stop their white friends as they
ran by in the confusion to suplicate that they
would remain with them until the Judgment
was done" In many an instant trembling
girl sank down on her knees and seized with
| frantic energy the folds of some white lady 8
dress and failing TO express their terror in words
with scarcely moving lips, that they wanted
| only the moral support of friend IN the hour
of distress and agony.
| immediately after the first shock there was
an exhibition OF JOY and the voice OF congratu-
lation were heard on every side, and all mingled
with words of Thanksgiving TO the divine Provi-
dence People clung TO each other like brothers
and sisters. There We're no strangers there.
They all knew each other as part and parcel OF
| a community that had escaped terrible fate.
| Some with tears of repentance and JOY in their
eyes embraced each other. Women fell on
| each others necks, and with hearts TOO fuli TO
speak rocked 10 and fro in the happy embrace,
devoutly thanking God in silence for His bless
\ ing in the dreadful hour.
Not SO with the trembling and demoralized
L Nl,a hnNNA Of DTTNvf A
had been apparently removed they began TO
| prophesy and TO recall all they know, in con-
| fused way, OF Bible scenes and Bible history;
| Its the night of Sodom and Gomorrah, shouted
| one in n frenzy OF apparent delight. THE city
| OF St Michael is down TO the ground, yelled
another. Il told you sol" cried third. "Hal
| how about my wife's dream nowp' said fourth.
| Look for the rock OF Horeb TO splitl' said an
| other. Pray my white people. why don't you
| prayP" said another For fully five minutes IN
| the fearful excitement the colored people
| never ceased to utter what might be considered
| a torrent of prophetic interpretations and
unintelligible prayers. In the dismal gloom
to the greeni" and almost in twinkling
| the colOred people made a rush Tor that haven
| Of safety. 1t seemed as IL all Charleston was
| already there Women hurried along, dragging
their little charges by their hands, in all kinds
| of night apparel. IL was only, however when
| the older class Of the colored people arrived
| that a characteristic scene took place. They
| ran about in the crowd with cries ef Down
| on your face, down on your knees, miserable
| sinner pray TO Col, my sister. my brother
| pray, pray, pray don't tell you, the night is
| comet" Prayer meetings We're organized, and
the singing and screaming were kept up until
| daylight
Thursday night, on Marion Square, the sights
| and scenes baffied description. The colored
! people unrestrained and committed all
| manner Of riotous and frenzied excuses. re-
| port OF their actions as they took place would
| perhaps be considered blasphemous. The first
| object, and one that arrested eyerybodys at
| tention was an assemblage Of colored boys
| about n half dozen in number, who had fallen
| 10 the ground in paroxysm of religious frenzy
| They were groveling with their faces down in
the grass, and were singing HYMN in u loud
| voice The hymn was The Angels A'rappin al
| the Door," and the refrain sung rapidly was
"Oh tell ole Noah TO bill on de ark TO bill on do
| ark TO bill on de ark" This song they repeated
over and over again until they were worn out
| and then ceased from utter exhaustion.