The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-25
WIGGINS'S EARTHQUAKE.
Charleston DemOralized by the Prediction
Operations of the Subsistence Committee.

CHARLESTON, Sept. 24-The Virgins predic
ton has done more to unnerve the people of
Charleston than all the seismic disturbances
that have occurred since Sept. /. 1t is useless
to say that there can be no foundation for the
prediction. Even men who know the utter alb
surdity of it, but who have been through earth
ouakes, were urnerved at reading it, and women
and children are utterly prostrated. The News
and Courier yesterday tried to show the Wig
gins prophecy TO be without foundation but
there is no use to attempt to argue with men,
women and children who have been living on
the brink of a crater for nearly month. Until
Sept. 90 is passed there will be no rest in this
afflicted city. Many men have sent their fam
lilies to Savannah, New Orleans, Macon and
other cities embraced in the Virgins prediction,
in the hope of being able to attend to their
business. Their state of mind cannot be de.
scribed. The situation, barring the Wiggins pre-
diction and its results, is rather cheerful to-day
There were two slight shocks at Summervile
last night and one in the city this morning, al
though the one in the city was felt by but few
people. The one bright spot in the darkness is
the continued good weather. which cheers every
one. The equinox having passed, there is every
reason to warrant the hope that there will be no
September cyclone, and this encourages the peo-
pie.
Letters having been received from all parts of
the country asking whether the period of great
distress in Charleston has not passed, the state
ment is authorized that the relief committee,
through the generosity of their fellow-country-
men, feel themselves in position to furnish sub
sistence and temporary shelter to all who need
it; but at the same time the committee estimate
that relief funds at command or in prospect fall
short of the money needed to put in habitable
condition the homes of persons who are unable
to repair their buildings without public aid Gov
ernment engineers have inspected six hundred
buildings out of 1000 in the city, and estimate
the damage to those inspected at So, 000 0O0
Their inspection, however, covers most of the
costliest structures. The committee assisting
needy householders to make residences habitable
will deal first with those whose losses are small
the object being to make as many roofs as posi-
BILE tight, foundations secure and chimneys safe
before cold weather comes. Homes of widows
and orphans and other helpless persons will
have paramount claim No loss Of any person
owning more than one house will be considered
at this time. The intention, also is to disallow
all claims for pasterpg, as not being indespens-
able to reasonable safety and comfort. The sub
sistence committee have supplied nearly ali per-
sons requiring provisions, and the number of
rations issued to-day was the smallest since the
commissary was established. The force of
clerks and working force is being gradually re-
duced To day was very quiet No shocks
were felt here and only slight tremor at Sum-
meryille Business is active and merchants are
honaf1l