New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-09-08
The Commercial Pride of the Palmetto
State an Awful Scene of Wreck
and Death.
Three ourths of Charleston Destroyed
by Earthquake and Upwards of
One Hundred Lives Lost.

and up to an early hour it was almost i'm
possible to pass from one part of the city to
another. The first shock was by far the
most severe. Most of the people, with
their families. passed the night in the
streets, which this morning were crowded
with people afraid to re-enter their homes.
To add to the horror of the scene
MANY FIRES BROKE OUT
and were Intellectually fought by the fire de-
partment The night was hideous with the
groans of the wounded and the prayers of
the uninjured Fully two-thirds of the resi-
dences in the city are uninhabited and
wrecked either totally or partially.
The loss by fire and earthquakes can be
placed safely
AT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS
AS far as could be asce1tained 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 &C
curate number
AN EDITORS IMPRESSIONS.
The compositors of the News and Courier
decline to work tonight, expecting fresh
shocks of earthquake, and the paper cannot,
therefore, issue tomorrow. The following
article was prepared for publication in the
News and Courier:
Necessarily the description that can be given
OF the disaster which had befallen our city con-
sists of the narration of experiences and obser-
yations OF individuals, and the subject being
alike, the story told by one careful observer
may well stand for a hundred Others, with slight
variations. Probably the best idea that be had
the character of the disturbance, therefore may
be obtained from MARI alton of the events and
scenes of Tuesday night as they were presented
to 2 single person. While engaged in his usual
News and oee At the OF time
Of the first shock, the writer's atten-
tion 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 heavily laden truck over the floor.
iA A; the sound, there was percept;-
however, than would be caused by the
passage of street car dray along the street.
For two or three seconds the occurrence excited
deepened in volume, the tremor became more
decided. the ear caught the rattle OF window
.ashes. gas fixtures and other loose OBJ
IhG IN tas Office NJ With
Of the disturbance Of the Friday before glanced
hurriedly at each other sprang to their feet with
n ana s
and confusion. Then the long roar deepened
lnd spread into an awful roar that seemed
to pervade ct once the troubled earth
III.
The tremer was now a rude, rapid culver that
Rgitated the whole lofty, strong walled building
az though 1t were being shaken by the hand of
joints asunder ana scatter its stone and bricks
abroad as . tree casts it's over-ripened fruit be-
fore the breath of the gale. There was no inter
teranean engine. From the first to the last
twas . continuous jar. only adding force at
every moment. and as it approached and reached
sud reached the climax Of it's manifestation, it
a forri Of
Of human hands could possibly survive the
shocks. The floors were heaving under foot, tho
surrounding walls and partitions visibly swsyed
to and fro.
THE CRASH OF FALLING STONE
and brick and mortar was heard overhead and
without the terrible roar filled the ears, and
ton. bewildering thought. and for few painting
breaths, or while you held your breath in dread
tul anticipation OF immediate death. you
end as the victim with his head on the block
awaits the fall OF the uplifted ak 1t is not given
to many men to look in the face of the destroyer
above family described, will carry with them
the recollection Of that supreme moment to
sudden sh W., 70 ade o
place Of safety. but before the door
Ss o sss9hsa va: 81 .n aefea ghfe eds to
that hope was vain, that it was only q question
Of death within the building or without to be
buried by the sinking roof, or crushed by the
In seeming distance. The earth was STILL and oh,
the blessed relief Of that stiffness but how
rudely the silence was broken. As we
street, already On every side arose the shrieks.
the cries OF pain and fear the prayers and vail
Ing Of terrified women and children. co-mingled
the street the air was filed to the height of the
houses with whitish, dry, sitting dust from
the lime and mortar and shattered masonry
which, falling upon the pavement and stone
this cloud, dense as a fog, the gas lights flick
cred dimly. shedding but little light. SO that
you. stumble at every step over the piles Of
in every direction from their broken
supports. On every side were hurrytng forms
dressed some almost nude and many Of whom
were crazed with fear or excitement. Here
she woman n half fant ne,n IN
tries to s soothe her While he carries hey
into the open space at the street corner.
where present safety seems assured There
lies on the with
pass her by, not pausinR to see whether she is
alive or dead sudden light flashes through
window overlooking the street, it becomes mo-
mentarily brighter and
CRY OF FIRE
resounds from the multitude. A rush is made
toward the spot. man is seen doubled up and
helpless against the wall; but this moment out
at sea, overhead, deep in the ground is heard
again the low ominous roll which is already too
well known to be mistaken. It grows louder
and nearer, like the growl Of wild beast swiftly
approaching his prey, and is forgotten again in
the frenzied wish for the open space where alone
IL the hope Of security. The tall buildings on
either hand blot out the skies and the stars,
ond seem to overhang every foot of
ground between them. Their shattered
cornices and capings, the tops Of their frowning
walls seem piled from both sides to the center
Of the street It seems that touch would send
the shattered masses down upon the people be-
low, who look up and shrink together as the
tremor of the earthquake passed over
them, and mysterious reyefberations swell and
roll along like some internal drum beat sum
moninR them to die. It passes away. and again
Is experienced the blessed feeling of release
from impending calamity. Again far along the
street and up from the alley ways that
lead into it on either side. is heard that chorus
Of wailing and lamentations, which. though 1t
had not ceased, was scarcely noticed mo-
ment before It is dreadful sound,