The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-09-09
Remarkable Effects of the Earth
quake.

A dispatch from Charleston, s. c., dated
Sept. 2, gives the following statement of
the results Of the disastrous earthquake,
which caused so much loss and suffering
in South Carolina at Summerville
Just after the first great shock on Tuesday
night there was decided and distinct smell of
escaping sulphuric acid gas oyer the entire
village. The smell lasted throughout the night
and was distinct in those localities where the
cavities in the earth were most numerous,
some say that portions of the mud thrown up
by the water-spouts are strongly impoverished
sulphur can be found In the mud. Not far
from Charleston, on the road to Summerville,
extensive mounds of clay were thrown up and
hillocks of sand, in most cases in the shape of
inverted cones, the hollow part of which had
evidently been formed by the action of the
water returning into the depths from which
it had been raised. In many cases the erupted
matter had streamed away from the breaks in
the surface Of the earth to a distance from 20
almost invariably extending from north to
south. These cracks were not wide and ex-
ton. The matter that was thrown up was of a
dull, dark, slaty color, and was mixed with
gravel T th was also htt1e shae ana IN
thrown from the bottom of the phosphate piles
along the river. The water In some places had
the taste of our artesian water, but in many
instances 1t was just as clear and lmpid as
from mountain spring.
These evidences OF the great CONFUSION are
not sporadic. They extend far and near in
every direction from the city limits of Charles
ton to Summerville, land at the latter place it
was found from trustworthy in formation that
the cracks and assures are everywhere visible
for miles and miles around. Strangely enough,
some Of these were in active operation, and the
constant shocks that were felt at Summervile
sent the water out Of these assures in jets to
the height of from Is to 20 feet. This was evil
IDENTIFY the result of the cracks being filled with
water and then the sides opening and closing
by each succeeding shock. These appearances
were, of course, suggestive of still more vio-
lent 6ruDt1QnS. and there constant dread
everywhere that there would be general in
undation caused by some extraordinary force
of the earthquake. Not only was the water
In the low place, where it might be expected to
exist all the time. but on top the highest ele
fact indicated that the force was being exerted
at rather more than the depth that was first
Near Ten Mile Hill a fatal accident occurred
on Tuesday night. The down Columbia train
jumped the track, Engineer Burns and Fireman
tremendous leap which the train took in the
dark under the unseen influence of the shock
that dismantled the road. 1t it said that the
earth suddenly gave way and that the engine
first plunged down the temporary declfvity. 1t
was then raised on the top of the succeeding
top OF the wave, sudden swerving of the force
to the right and left hurled the ill-fated train
down the embankment. How 1t was done was
plainly indicated.
In many places along the track of the South
Carolina and Northeastern railroads, and for
spaces of several hundred yards in width, the
dreadful energy Of the earthquake was ex-
pended in two particular ways First, there
wore intervals Of 100 yards and more in which
the track had the appearance of having been
alternately raised and depressed, like q line of
waves frozen in their last position. The second
from east to west, bending the rails in revese
curves, most of them taking the shape of q
sdngie ano EGneis os esS.ea paced
red almost invariably at trestles and culverts.
There was no less than five of them between
the Seven Mile Junction and Jedburg. In
other places the track had the appearance of
being kinked for miles, but always in. these
cases in the direction Of the rails. The train at
the time of the earthquake was running along
at the usual speed, and when about mile south
Of Jedburg it encountered a terrible expert
cursionists returning from the mountains.
They were all cry and q, happy, laughing and
to have left the track and was going up, up, up
into the air. This was the rising wave. Sud-
danly it descended and as It rap Idly fell it was
flung first violently over to the east the side
Of the car apparently leaning over at an angle
of 45 degrees Then there was a reflex action
and the Train righted and was hurled with
roar, as OF the discharge of artillery, over to
the west, and finally subsidized on the track and
scending wave, The engineer put down the The
brakes tight but so great was the original and
added momentum e that the train kept right
that the train actually gaIloped along the
track. the front and rear trucks of the coaches
confusion prevailed, women and children
shrieked with dismay and the brayest heart
quail.esd IN momentary expectatioS,n, On, Of more
chaEced to be on board, and he lost no time in
conveying as best he could in the agony of the
offer. The train was then taken back in the
direction OF Jedburg, and on the way back,
the work OF the earthquake was terribly
patent. The train had actually passed over
one of those serpentine curves already de-
scribed, and it is the simple truth to state that
the intefpositi6n Of Divine Providence.
THE EEFEcr ON THE coLoRED PEOPLE.
ply impossible to exaggerate OF depict in SUM-
GENTLY descriptive language the effect of the
visitation Of Tuesday night on the colored peo-
ten about these people and their action under
the strong feeling Of SORROW and despair, but
opportunity Of noticing pnbiic exhibitionn OF Of
superstitious fear to the degree that has existed
among all classes OF the colored people since
the tremendous shock of Tuesday night Only
q few minutes after the warning voice of the
earthquake had passed away, the effect on the
woman and child in the city was complete
They fed from their homes, they knew not
where, and as they ran hither and thither
through binding clouds of pulverized mortar
which was shaken from houses and arose again
from the streets they filled the air with dis
rified and terrifying distress. s : W
ASS usual With them in their funeral devo-
tons, the. na % yesug vas most frequently
they shrieked out in the very kelplessness and
pathos Of despair such sentences as "Do, my
Master Jesus, have mercy on me ~ "Oh sweet
Jesus, save ME, save me ut sssLet me live
through this night, dear God, my saviour!'
Hold me up once more ,Thon blessed Christ my
Master l" and other fearful supplications, which
intensified the horror of the situation and
went far toward demofalizlng the white people.
who were also rushing blindly and blinded
hither and thither in the fltful glare of flick
ering lights. almost eelipsed by the shower Of
and ascending dust.
As ID usual, the faces of the white man and
white woman in the time Of danger was sight
offs udden joy In the gloom to many poor
oolored boy or girl, who endeavored
to stop their white friends as they ran by in
remain with them until the Judgment was
DONE" In many an instance a trembling col
ored girl sank down on her knees and seized
with frantic energy. the folds of some white
lady's dress, and, falling to express their terror
In words, Witfiscarcely moving lips betokened
that they wanted only the moral support or q
friepd Ia the hour Of distress and agony. 4
WHAT cAusED THE EARTHauAKE.
The Charleston Ne,os and Courier publishes
The following explanation of the recent earth-
quake: Aag3