Huntsville gazette., 1886-09-04
CHARLESTON.
A CITY OF WOE!
The Killed and In.
iured Numbered
by the Hun
dreds.

CHARLESTON, s. c., Sept. 1.
II A. m.-An earthquake, such as has
never before been known in the history
OF this city, swept over Charleston last
night shortly after 10 o'clock, causing
more or less injury to property and far
more loss of life than the cyclone of a
year before. The city is wrecked, and
streets are encumbered with masses oi
fallen brick and tangled telegraph and
telephone wires, and up to an early hour
it was almost impossible to pass from one
part of the city to another.
The first shock was by far the most Sc
we're; most of the people with their fami-
lies passed the night in the streets which
even this morning are crowded, with
people afraid to re-enter their houses.
More than sixty persons were killed
and wounded, chiefly colored.
Among the whites killed and fatally
injured, are NJ. J. Lynch, DR.. R. Alexan-
der Hammond and Ainsley Robinson.
Fires broke out in different parts of the
city, Immediately after the earthquake
and some are still burning, but no dan
ger of spreading--there is no way OF
leaving the city at present.
Charleston S. c., Sept. l. There was
terrible earthquake last night at $50
O'Clock, the principal business portion of
the city was destroyed, and hundreds OF
persons were rendered homeless. men
were frantic. women were beseeching
mercy from the Almighty, and children
were in tears, the main station house,
the City Hibernian Hall and many other
well know public buildings, including st.
Michaels Church were irreparabIy dams
aged.
Many people were seriously, if not fat
ally injured. Broad Street presented a
spectacle Of the utmost horror, even wo-
men armed with hatchets, fought vail
antly to rescue the imprisoned unfortun
ates. Meeting Street, from Broad to Ha
eel, is a wreck and is lined with unfor-
tunates.
To add to the horror OF the scene many
fires broke out and were Intellectually
foughtby the fire department The night
was hideous with the groans of the dy-
ing, the screams of the wounded, and the
prayers OF uninjured. tits impossible to
estimate the losses OF persons or pro per-
ty at present up to 10 o'clock a. IN. to
day, there had been ten distinct shocks.
Up. NAT 8:25 o'clock a. IN. precisely
this morning another wave swept over
the city, coming as others did, from the
Southeast, and going in Northwesterly
direction. BY that time the people who
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
quake was heralded by the usual
rumbling sound, resembling distant
thunder, then it gradually approached,
the earth quivered and heaved, and in
three seconds it had passed, the sound
dying ont in the distance This is the
only wave since 2.3O o'clock this morn
ing. 1t was not destructive, all the de-
struction having been done at 9:55
o'clock last night, the. city is complete
wreck, Saint Michaels Church and Saint
Phillips Church, two of the most histor>
ic churches in the city, are in the ruins
as is also the Hibernian Hall the
police station and many other public
buildings and fully two-thirds OF the
residences in the city are uninhabitable,
wrecked either totally or partially.
1t is impossible at this time to give a
correct estimate of the casualties. 1t is
expected that between 80 and a 100
persons have been killed and several
hundred wounced. At the time of the
first shock, fires broke out at five differ,
ent parts of the city, about twenty hons
es were destroyed by fire, scarcely a
hundred houses in the city are occupied.
At this time the people are all encamp-
ed in the open places, all the stores are
closed, and a scarcity of provisions is
feared, not 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 suspended, people generally
remain in the streets, in tents and under
improvised sh letters, and will camp out
tonight, fearing another shock.
The gas works are injured and proba.
bly, the city will be without light TO-
night.
st. Michaels Church is shattered and
the steeple will come down, likewise the
dteeple OF ST. Phillips, the steeple OF tha
Unitarian Church has fallen The nor
ticos of Hibernian Hall, and the main
station house are demolished.