Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-09-08

questions and answers: "What is
that7 An earthquake ?" and then all
was bewilderment and confusion.
Then the long roll deepened aud
spread into an awful roar that seemed
to pervade at once the troubled earth
and still air above and around. The
trcmor was now rude, rapid CULVER
that agitated the whole lofty, strong
walled building as though it were
shaken by hand of unreasonable
power, with intent to tear its joints
asunder and to scatter its stones and
bricks abroad as tree casts its over
ripened fruits before the breath of a
gale. There was no intermission in
the vibration of the mighty roll. The
first of it was Il continuous jar, only
adding force at every moment, and as
it approached and reached a climax
in its manifestation it seemed for few
seconds that no work of human hands
could possibly survive the shocks.
Floors were heaving under foot; sur
rounding walls and partitions visibly
swayed to and fro. The crash of
falling masses of stone and bricks and
mortar was heard overhead and with
out terrible roar filled the ears and
seemed to fill the mind and heart,
dazing perception, bewildering thought
and for n few painting breaths, or
while you held your breath in dread
full anticipation of an immediate and
cruel death, you feel that life was
already past and waited for the end
as victim with his head on the block
awaits the fall of the up-lifted axe.
1t is not given to many men 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 recollection of
that supreme moment to their dying
day. None expect to escape. A sud-
den rush was simultaneously made to
cndeavor to attain open air and flee
to place of safety, but before the
door was reached all reeled together
to q lettering wall and stopped, feel
ing that hope was vain; that it was
only a question of death within the
building or without, to be buried by
the sinking roof or crushed by the
topping walls. The uproar slowly
died away in seeming distance. The
earth was still and, oh blessed relief
of the stiffness. But how rudely the
silence was broken rs we rushed
down the stairway and out into the
street. Already on every side arose
shrieks, cries of pain and fear, the
prayers and wailings of terrified
women and children, commingled with
the hoarse shouts of excited men.
Out in the street the air was filled to
the height of houses with a whiteish
cloud of dry, sitting dust from the
lime and mortar and shattered mas
onry which, falling upon the pavement
and stone roadway, had been reduced
to powder. Through this cloud, as
dense as fog, the gas lights fickered,
1imly shedding but little light, so that
you stumble at every step over piles
Of brick or became entangled in lines
Of telegraph wires that depended in
every direction from their broken
On every side were hurry
ing forms of men and women, bare
headed, partially dressed, some almost
nude, and many of whom were crazed
with fear and excitement. Suddenly
4 light fars through window over
looking the street. 1t becomes NOM
entarily brighter and a cry of " fire!"
resounds from the multitude. A rush
is made toward the spot; a man is
seen doubled up and helpless against
n wall, but at this moment, somewhere
put at sea, over head or deep in the
ground, is heard again the low
ominous roll which is already to we'll
known to be mistaken. 1t grows
louder and nearer like the growl of
wild beast swiftly approaching his
prey, and is forgotten again in a
frenzed rush for open space, where
alone there is hope of security, faint
though it be. Tall buildings on
either hand blot out the skies and
stars and seem to be overhanging
every foot of ground between them.
Their shattered cornices and copings,
ops of their frowning walls, seem
piled from both sides to the center of
he street. 1t seems a touch would
low send the shattered masses left
standing down upon the people below,
who look up and shrink to go near,
md the mysterious reverbrations
swell and roll along like some inter-
nal drum bent upon summoning them
% die. 1t passes away and again Us
the blessed feeling of
leliverence from an impending calam-
ty which it may we'll be believed
,vokes an earnest offering Of mingled
prayer and thanks given from every
heart in the throng.
Again, far along the street and up
rom the alleys that lead into it on
either side, is heard that chorus of
vailing and lamentation which,
hough it had not ceased, was scarcely
noticed moment before. 1t is a
lreadful sound of helpless horror
stricken humanity, old and young,
ILL Il