The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-15
Mayor Courtenay's Proclamation to
the People of Charleston.

Mayor COurtenay has Issued proclamation
to the people Of tile city, in which he says:
az have this day returned to. my loved city
amid its widespread desolaton, Its homes
shaken 10 their -foupdatious, many OF the m
utterly wrecked and few without serious in
jurles, and l find many OF you, my fellow
citizens, with your dear aud tender families
living and sleeping. still under frnjl strpc-
lures, and some under the sky, with the
recent terrible calamity aud Its awful sns,
pense still lingering in your minds. An Id
the ruins OF this tar-renchlng and terrible
calamity, ! am profoundly thankful that so
much lige and property has 6ccu spared, ana
rejoice that the same fortitude and heroic
patience, that in the trust of God and his
Providence has always characterized this
people, is now their stay In this time OF dire
trouble. and am thankful to add that in
this past week OF disaster the good order and
helpful cooperation OF all classes of our cti-
zens has conduced to the public veal. 1t il
inspiring to behold, amid these grave diff.
culties. the resumption OF the business life of
our city and the Quenchess faith OF our p',o-
pie in the future. The open exchanges,
banks, and leading houses In all departments
of business, the uninterrupted commerce or
railroads. steamships and sailing fert, and
the ready wharves, TIE business worksf op
and the usual routine of all avocations and
cmploymcnts OF our city, proclaim that we
are already going forward to new future.
That future is based on .work-not idleness-
any and every way possible.
"AlthOugh the situation is critical, IL is not
1MSurtnOQntAOIc- III uc1llunQS IIOln every ClLl-
zen in our midst calm Judgment the broad
est charity-a rcSolute determination in
word and act; an unfaltering trust in God to
tide over the unparalleled calamity that has
so unex pectedly come upon us. This disaster,
that reaches every home und every part OF
our city, can only bc met and overcome 6y
the moral courage and the united effort of :he
whole people. The Immediate aud serious
duty before us Is the protection and succor OF
the houSelcsS, the sick and the INDECENT, The
unfortunates and the helpless that crowd
around us. AS the executive Of the city, 1t il
my duty to create an organization looking to
dealing with the different problems before us,
and have To net at once. i have therefore
initiated this work by asking the service OF
all OF my fellow citizens in worthy attempt
to organize such plans as Will mitigate the
suffering and distress, so uniQersally around
MS, and which threatens such serious corse-
Qucnces to many Of our people These plans
will be changed If found in any way wanting
In completeness, rs the work progresses. III
this effort 1t is u source Of great gratitude to
us to know that we arc not grappinS with
palhy OF this whole union Of States has
touched US deeply, and the spontaneous CIV
ing Of practical and speedy aid In this, our
struggle, shows that ihc large and true heart
of the people of this great country beats with
u now, as il will hereafter.
In ti:is hope, and cheered with this prolnis-
ing future as a part OF great people, whose
helping hands are Outstretchcl to US, let us
turn muniully to our heritage, and az In
many times In the past, on this very spot,
work out under the blessing of God. q new
future for our now shattered, but dearly low
cd city.