The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1886-11-13
lFor the AsheviIle CITIZEN.
THE RAVAGES OF THE EARTH
QUAKE.
A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF RE
CENT EVENTS AT DORCHEST-
ER, SOUTH CAROLINA.

Elk, SOUTH CAROLINA.
The following very interesting lettel
to friend in this city has been kindly
furnished us for publication We use il
with pleasure, as it relates to points O
historical interest.
The writer, Mr.. ]. Irving Westervelt
of Summeryille, has many friends il
Asheville, who will read this with pleas
ure. He says:
A party, of which the writer was a
member, set out ON an exploring tour to
the points of interest in this locality,
caused by the recent earthquake. TAX.
ling Dorchester" in our route, we soon
arrived at the old church toacer of rev0LtI.
ton fame, and found the ruins of the
walls still standing erect, but alas! the
earthquake has in a moment shiVered
and fractured the front face including
the arch of the doorway from the top to
bottom, and from the top corners of the
walls, great masses of masonry, six OF
eight in numbers and probably weighing
three or four tons each, have been. hurl-
ed to the ground distance of thirty feet
or more from the base; bearing evidence
not only of the faithfuIness of the work
and strength of the mortar in earlier
days, but also of the tremendous and
terrible power of the agency placing
them in their present position, thus do.
ing greater injury to the old tower in one
instant than time has done in more than
century. The walls of the several
family burial enclosures have also been
shattered and thrown down by the
shock, tablets and tombstones broken.
The vandals will now be able mot with
out pick and sledge however) to add to
their Chimnies, and the Relic Hunters
to their treasures.
Go we now to OAK Forest Plantation, on
the old State road (also of Revolution
days. leading from Dorchester to Charles
ton, ana about three miles from the old
ruins, we enter the avenue of live oaks
leading to the enclosure OF the once fam
lily mansion of the then proprietor in
days gone by, (time having obliterated
lt) we arrive at the quarters! at present
occupied by several families of negroes,
living in temporary huts near their
houses, they having been so fearfulIy
terrorized by the'shocks and awful visi-
bic effects at their very door steps They
cannot be induced to enter or put foot
within; several of them telling me they
W. ~ 0OOAO4 tCA4oA III Gu0 OD6u air
rather than go near them Some of the
larger assures, openings and land slides are
to be seen within one hundred wards of
these houses, and indeed cracks and
crevlces actually pass under them; and
from this point the whole distance down
to the water edge of the river (the Ash
ley) these fissure chasms occur in horizon
tai lines, separated from a few inches to
several feet, extending parallel with the
river, several hundred yards, and at one
point, the entire top surface of the river
bank has slidden fully hundred feet
down into the stream, carrying with il
several large trees, which are yet stand
ing at considerable angle over the wa
ter, their bases submerged S or 10 feet by
the water of the triVer. Many of these
fssures are from inches to feet wide,
and in several you may see into the
depth of the earth fifty feet or more.
1 am informed by those who have
opportunity of observing them daily,
they are gradually settling and closing,
and my impression is, (given for what it
is WORTHY this whole mass of earth form
ing the entire Bluff, will eventually be
submerged and form the bottom of the
river, especially should there be prolong-
ed and heavy rains with severe freezes.
About three miles from this place and
near Ladson's station on s. c. K. W. in
an open old field are to be found num-
bers of Sand Craters or Geysers, the sand
deposit Immediately around the basins
is in many places or 8 feet deep and of
various shades, many specimens contain
ing large quantities of mica in minute
particles. Within these sand upheavals
the mouth of the crater or basin, by
60 Ao4f 4 l.
masses of a soft unctuous matter of differ.
ent colours, and weighing from l OF. to
pounds. The basin of this one describe q
measures 10x16 feet and feet deep. The
bottom partially covered 2 or feet in
depth with soft tenacious blue mud
resembling somewhat paste of powder
ed pumice stone; this white soft may
readily be cut with knife, soon becomes
dry and exceedingly hard admitting of a
high polish. These masses and the diff
ferent coloured sand are unmistakably
upheayals from some unknown depth
during the eruption.
There are at least dozen. large ones in
this immediate locality; AID within two
miles of Summerville we counted in pass
ing them no less than forty.four sand
deposits showing earth fractures and
upheavals, all making their distinctive
mark; in fact the surroundings of this
particular section abounds with these
sand geysers; they are to be seen in ev-
cry direction. One gentleman of that
neighborhood was obliged to gather his
corn from one field in baskets by hand,
it being dangerous to drive a team and
wagon over the ground, quick sands in
every part ofthe field. "a J.. w.