The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-02

co, flsgralion which bad broken ont
lust beyond the square Immediately
after the first shock, and had now
wholly envelopad several buildings in
three other quarters of the town. At
the same time similar large fi,es we're
oh erved under full headwpy, and the
awful sipnif lance al the earthquake
NAV be fully appreciated when it is
said With these trependous fires blsz-
ing up all at once around them and
threatening the cty with total de true.
ton, the people whom you met Oh the
streets or taw gait cred together ia
groups in the Open places ev dent y
did not give them thought. No one
wa ched the luddy flanes OF the pillar
of clouds rising high into the sill
night air. All were intent on leter-
ing with strained sens for the dread
ed recurrence of that horrible e. owl or
groan OF the power under the seas
and under the lsnd to give thought
to the new terror, though it had
threatened his own home aud many
homes in the doomed city. The
crowds poured from every direction TO
the square Just described, as though it
had been indeed charmed circle
and life depended on passing within
its grassy bounds. Street cars, carriages,
aud otner vehicles were ranged 10
lines ON the streets surrounding the
square, while horses stood as though
sn fing the ground in anxious inquiry.
The colored people every where were
loud and increasing ia their decama-
tions of alarm, IN the single & of
hymns and in ferVent appeals for
Gods mercy, in which appeals God
knows many a proud hear who heard
TIN ir outcrys ia the night and in the
hour Ct her wondous might devoully
and humbly end sincerely join.
Danger brings all OF us 70 the level Of
the lowliest. There were no distinc-
lions of place or power, pride or caste
in the sssemblegs that we're gathered
together in Charleston on tuesday
night. 1t was
CURIOUS SPECTACLE
to look back upon. 1t ia a god one
10 remember for white and b ack alike.
Here were instances OF uDself.h devO-
ton, of kind and loving regard be-
tween master and servant, mistress
and maid in the presence ola common
i'll and of threatened ruin that showed
as nothing else could chow how strong
il the tie that binds OF our white peo-
pie and our black people together, and
this lesson OF the dread victor we may
hope, too, will never be forg.ttep.
Arrived at bis home the wr ter found
the same scenes OF destruction and
wreck which marked nearly every
home in the city. All the hons,
in the neighborhood had suffered Sc
riously, and streets, yards and gardens
were filled with the fallen chimneys
and fragments of walls, while tre
walls that were left standing were
rent asuuder in many cases from top
to bottom, aGd were badly sha teredin
every in tancs. Women and children,
reused from sleep or interrupted in
their evening pursuits by the sound o.
the rnin being effected about aud
around. them, rushed out into the
streets, and huddled t1g ther awaiting
the end, whatever it might be. In
vslids we're btough. out on ma tres'ss,
and deposited in the roadway. No
thought was given t) tr q ures LETT
behind in thu efioet1u saws the pecu-
liar treasure Of life itsel', sui
denly b come so pr, c,ous in
ths eyes of all, the inval d
women and r bust man alike. Uutil
loag after midnight the streets were
filed with iugi,ivss in sight OF their
homes. Through the lopg hours that
followed few were the eyes, even of
childhooj, that we're closed in sleep.
Charleston is full Of those who
watche d for the m1rning, and never
in any city in any La d did first gray
shades that mark the approecn of
dawn appear 30 beautiful and so wei
come to eyes as they appeared to the
thousa ands of people who hailed them
this morning from the midst OF the
cluutets wrecked housse in our
thrice scourged but still patient, still
brave, still hopeful, etiil beautiful city
by ,hs sea.