Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1886-09-03
The Earthquake.

the scene OF tcrrlnc earthquake, Whlcn
shook to pieces many of the principal
business houses of the city and resulted in
the death of about forty persons, who were
either buried under the ruins or killed by
the fragments of the falling buildings.
The origin of the seismic movement
seems to have been at some point under
the Atlantic ocean in the neighborhood of
the West Indies and the direction taken
was from southwest to northeast. Charles
ton seems to have been very near to the
focal point, for although the shock was
felt all along the Atlantic seaboard, no
damage was done except at that point
The first shock struck the unfoi tunate
city shortly before 10 o'clock, P. NJ and
was preceded by the usual rumbling noise
A press dispatch received from Charleston
on Wednesday after the telegraphic COM
munication broken by the earthquake was
restored, gives the following description a
of the terrible phenomenon.
The first shock of earthquake was felt
approaching Wednesday night at 9.53,
and before people could realize what the
trouble was they found themselves being
tossed about and their houses falling upon
them. Every one ran screaming into the
streets, and in a few seconds the city was
wild with human beings crazed with
fright On all sides could be heard ex-
clamstions such as ''My God, save us"
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people could be seen kneeing everywhere
in groups offering up prayers. The first
shock was followed immedistely by
another, though of less effect, but renew
ing the screams and shrieks, and from the
time of the beginning to daylight shocks
were felt at intervals of half an hour, each
succeeding one being less distinct. Three
or four fires started in as many sections
with the first shock, and the city was soon
illuminated with flames, thus leading all
to believe that what was left by the earth
quake would be devoured by fire. How
ever, the fire department was so we'll
handled that the fires were gotten under
control by daylight. From fifteen to
twenty residences and stores were coz
sumed. Shocks equally as severe were
felt at distance of 35 miles, and have
done great damage TO railroad and tele-
graph property. The principal business
portion of the city was destroyed and
hundreds of persons were rendered home.
less. Men were frantic, women were be-
seeching mercy from the Almighty and
children were in tears. Even women,
armed with hatchets, fought va!iantly to
secure the imprisoned unfortunates.-
Meeting street, flom Broad to Hazel. is a
wreck and is lined with unfortunates
The night was hideous with the groans OF
the dying, the screams OF the wounded
and the prayers of the uniniured. At
precisely S.25 Wednesday morning another
wave swept over the city, coming, as did
the other, from the southeast, and going in
= norrhwesterly direction.
By that time many of The people, no
had been out on the public parks and
open places all night, had ventured into
their houses to get clothing and some
thing to eat. The approach of the shock
was heralded by the usual rumbing sound
resembling distant thunder. As it grad
ually grew nearer the earth quivered and
heaved, and in three seconds the shock
had passed, the sound dying out in the
distance. Ii was not destructive, all the
damage having been done at 9.55 We'd
nesday night st. Michael's and ST. Phil
ip's Churches. two of the most historic
structures in the city. are ruined, and the
steeples are down. Hibernian Hall was
also wrecked. The steeple of the Unitar-
ian Church has fallen. The police station
and many other public buildings and ful Y
two-thirds of the residences in the cry
are uninhabitable. being wrecked either
totally or partially. Scarcely 100 houses
in the city are occupied, the people being
all encamped in the open places. Al the
stores are closed, and scarcity of food is
feared, 2ot from want of provisions, but
because no one can be got to reach the
stores to sell them. The city is wrapped
in gloom and business is entirely suspend
ed. People generally remain in the streets
in tents and other improvised shelters,
and camped out Thursday night, fearing
another shock. The gas works are in
jured, and probably the city was without
light Thursday night. Fissures IN the
earth are noticed, from which fine sand,
apparently from great depth. exudes.
A sulphurous smell is very noticeable
Two slight shocks have been felt since
then-one about 1.30 p. ", and one at
5.19. Neither of them did any further
destruction. There is great rush 20 the
railroad depots to get away. but owi.g to
the earthquake no trains have been able
to be dispatched from the city Not a
single place of business in the city save a
drug store, which is busy preparing pre-
scriptions for the wounded, is open.
Earthquakes have been generally con-
fined TO tropical ATTITUDES and we have
not been accustomed to look for destruc-
ton of life and property in the United
States, except in the extreme southwest
from that cause. They have, however
frequently occurred in the West In
dia islands and worked much destruction
This one extended further North than
usual though it seems probable that its
greatest severity was expended under the
Atlantic ocean before it reached the con
tinent, otherwise the destruction might
have been much greater than it was.
Earthquakes are thought to be due to
the cooling process of the earth, which
according to geologists, is gradually tax
ing place. The shrinkage in volume
which results from this cooling process
causes the outer crust of the earth to read,
just itself to the contraction. But it has
been observed that these phenomena oc.
cur almost exclusively in the tropical re-
gions where the very light atmospheric
pressure which frequently occurs in those
latitudes give facility to the seismic move
ment. 1t is not likely that we shall ever
have in this region such an unwelcome
and damaging visitor, though the shocks
from the tropical earthquakes have been
frequently felt along the Atlantic seaboard
A war cloud has seemed for the psst
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