Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-09-11


wires were demolished, and railro.
tracks we're SO twisted az to prevel
trains from running.
A Night of Horror.
CHARLESTON, S. c., Sept. l. 1885,
The compositors of the News and
Courier decline to work tonight, ex-
pecting fresh shocks of earthquake, and
the paper cannot, therefore, issue to-
morrow. The following article was
prepared for publication in the Ne"
aud Courier, and is telegraphed al
most In the writer's own words:
Necessarily the description that can
be given Of the disaster which has be-
fallen our city consists in the narration
of the experience and observations OF
individuals, and the subject being the
same, and the experiences of all being
nearly alike, the story told by one care
ful observer may we'll stand for hum
dred others, with slight variations.
Probably the best idea that can be had
of the character of the disturbance,
therefore, may be obtained from a mar
ration OF the events aud scenes of
Tuesday night as they were pre-
sented to a single person.
A PoRTENTIOUs RUMBLE.
While engaged in his usual duties in
the second story room of the News and
Courie Office at the time of the first
shock the writer's attention was vague
ly attracted by sound which seemed
to come from the Office below and
which was supposed for a moment to
be caused by the rapid rolling of
heavy body, as an iron safe or heavi-
Iy laden truck over the floor. AccOmp-
anying the sound there was percepti
BILE tremor of the building, not moro
marked, however, than would be caused
by the passage of street car or dray
along the street. For perhaps two or
three seconds the occurrence excited
no surprise or comment. Then by
swift degrees, or perhaps all at once
it is difficult to say which-the sound
deepened in volume, the tremor be-
came more decided, the ear caught the
rattle of window sashes, gas fixtures
and other loose objects. The men in
the office, with perhaps simultaneous
flash of recollection Of the disturbance
of the Friday before, glanced hurried
ly at each and sprang to their feet with
startled questions and answers.
FEARFUL SHOCK.
What is that? Earthquake? and then
all was bewilderment and confusion.
Then the long roll deepened and spread
into an awful roar that seemed to per-
wade at once the troubled earth and the
still air above and around. The tremor
was now rude, rapid quiver that
agitated the whole lofty, strong walled
buildinp az thouoh IL were being shaken
by the hand of an immeasurable pow
er. with intent to tear it's joints asunder
and scatter its stones and bricks abroad
as tree casts its ripened fruit before
the breath OF the gale. There was no
intermissiOn in the vibration of the
mighty subterranean engine. From the
first to the last 1t was continuous jar,
only adding force at every moment land
as it approached and reached the climax
of its manifestation 1t seemed for few
terrible seconds that no work of human
hands could possibly survive the shock,
The floors were heaving under foot the
surrounding walls and partitions visi-
bly, swayed to and fro, the crash of fall
ing masses of stone and brick and
mortar was heard overhead, and with
out the terrible roar filed the ears, and
seemed to fill the mind and heart, daz.
ing perception, bewildering thought
and tor few painting breaths, or while
you held your breath in dreadful anti
cipation of Immediate and cruel death
you felt that life was already past, and
waited for the end. as the victim with
bis head OIL the block awaits the tall ol
the uplifted axe.
T.. 8. ~, 80. =.
LIE is Hol s,Ve! " llany nen 70 ioos
ma ~ anG ,a;e ~ AZ. .ue uestloyel anu ye.
mso, % ~. :. 70 'it.ie w soy t9a, the sroul
VI s'iuns lue. wno sha.eu sne expert
em.I ;,s, sSove .p Ia ia.ny ~ IescsiDeu win carry
WILL Will s'e.n sa sne reco',sction .s .! tne su-
PreMe momeus 10 thelr oyihg gay
None e4pecleu 10 escape sudden
rush was simultaneously maze 10 en-
uesVor 70 ATTAIN tne open ar ana nee
u s pasce oi saiety, m oa' oelofe tne dool
was leacheu an reeieu tosether 10 tne
,olterlns wall ana stopped ieehns tha'
nope was VAIN tnat II was only ques
tlon Oh deatn "itnin the Duliding OF
wlnou'-to oe purieu ny Ine sinking
10oI OF crusneo oy .ne topping walls
ine upIoar Slowly uieu away IN seem
ny uistance ihe ear'a was sui ana
J ou Tue Diesseu lehei VI that stiiiness
J out now ruoeiy the silence was broken
AS we dashed down the stairway ano
out into the street already on every
siae arose tne shrleks' the cries OF pain
.aa;s' anu tea,' .ne prayers anu walhngs ol
'e!riheu women anu chiiureh, con-
n.inSou VIII suc noa,se shouls VI e4
was filled to the height of the house.
with whitish cloud of dry, sitting
dust from the lime and mortar anG
shattered masonry, which, falling upor
the pavement and stone roadway, had
been reduced to powder. Through thi,
cloud, dense as fog, the gas lights
tiickered dimly, shedding but little
light, SO that you stumbled at ever,
step over the piles of brick or became
entangled in the lines of telegraph
wires that depended in every direction
from their broken supports. On every
side were hurrylng forms of men ant
women bareheaded, partially dressed
some almost nude, and many of whom
we're crazed with fear or excite.
ment. Here a woman ia supported
half falnting, in the arms of her hus.