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


injury to mansions on the East and
and South Battery. The portico OF
the Ravenal m ,nsion is down.
Hardly house iu the city escaped
injury, and many are so shaken and
cracked tt at hard b ow would bring
them 10 the ground, The shock was
severe at Summerv and NJ. Pleas.
ant and Sullivsn's Island, bnt no loss
of life is reported there. Fissures in
the earth are noticed, from which a
tine sand. apparently fiom gre t
depth, exudes. A tulphurous smell is
very noticeable. Three or four fires
started in as mary ssctiors with the
first shock and the city was illuminat
with flames, thus leading oil to believe
wha. was left by the cart 7quake would
be devoursd by fire. However, the
fire department was 30 well divided
and handled that the fires were under
control by daylight. From fifteen to
thirty residences and stores were con-
sumed. The loss by fire and earth
quake cannot be accurately estimated
but can be placed safely at $1,000, 900
AS far as could be sscertsiped during
the night fifteen or twenty were killed
and q much greater number wounded
il all sorts Of ways. The loss Of hu-
man life will be large and it will take
days to get at the accurate number.
Shocks equslly as severe were felt at a
distance OF thuty.tive miles, and have
done inestimable damage to railroad
and telegraph property. Charleston
is now entirely isolated from the out
side world.
DsPLoRABLE STATE OF AFFAIRS.
Two slight ehoeks of earthquake
have been felt here since, the first at
1926 this morrirg aud one at about
1880 p. M, neither doing any farther
destruction. Not even during Gen.
Gilmore's bombardmsnt of the city
hes there ever been such a deplorable
state of affairs here. The city is liter
ally in ruins, and the people are living
ia the open squares and public parks.
Thers is a great rush to the
railroad depots to get away, but
owing TO the earthquakes no trains
have been able to Re dis atched from
the city. Telegrsphic communication
is also cut off, save one wire OF the
Southern Telegraph Company, which
is crowded with ANXIOUS ptivate mes
tagas. 1t is impossible to depict the
III and desolation that prevail here.
Not single pace OF business in the
city is open, save one drug store,
which is busy prepar ng prescriptions
for tho wounded. Itis impossi ole also
10 give any correct estimate Of The
killed and woundsd, Us bodies are con-
stantly being disinterred flom the de-
btis of wrecked houses. One undertaken
who was interviewed, stated that he
had furnished eight coffips upto room
today. Many of the dead are lying
unburied, those being of tho poorer
classes of colored people who await
burial by the county. There are no.
a half dozen tents 10 the city aud the
women and children areexperiencing
great privstons in consequence.
AS NIGHT APPROACHES
most heads of families are trying to
construct tents out Of bed sheets, spare
awnings and any other material that
comc7 in their hands The sun il
about to set upon another night OF
horror lor p1or Charleston; heaven
only kr ows what il may bring forth.
Wi,houS an violent shocE Of earth
quake It y calculated that al lees.
three 'ourth7 Of the city will have to
be rebuilt entirely If the houses are
to be inhabited.