The Portland daily press., 1886-09-07
THE SITUATION AT CHARLESTON.
The People Still in Great Need of
Pecuniary Assistance,
Which Is Being Sent in Generous
Sums from Many Places,
Da niger Feared from Falling Build
ings If Heavy Rains Come.
Queer Effect of the Pm onomena Felt
at Sea.

CHARLESTON, Sept. 6.-Another distinct
earthquake shock was felt at Columbia, S.
c., last night at 11.07, accompanied by the
usual roaring sounds. At intervals of five
minutes thereafter two remarkably brilliant
and unusually large meteors shot across the
sky from north to south.
Mr.. j. A. Yates, chairman of the Charles
ton relief committee, thinks there will be
ample assistance given by the outside world
to meet the exigeneies. Up to sunset Satur-
day about $4,000 in cash had been received,
and intimations given that several times
that amount would be forwarded soon. One
of the very latest contributions was an
nounced in these words by wire from Mayor
OBrien of Boston: "Draw on us for $5000."
The venerable w. W. Corcoran of Washing
ton sent his individual check for $4,000.
Societies, business firms, corporations and
individuals in every part of the country
nave been PeNripg Ia kilograms ASKING "fst
they can do, and hays been inyarlapiAy VA an
is $1,000 in sight, and it is believed the
contributions will reach half a million dol
lars.
The Earthquake at Sea.
The photographic office at Washington
has received letter from Capt. Leo Voegel
of the steamer City Of Palatka, briefly de-
scribing the effects of the earthquake at sea.
He had just left Charleston and was about u
miles off the harbor of Port Royal, in 81
fathoms, where he experienced terrible
rumbling sensation" which lasted Il min
utes. There had been quite heavy sea
from the southeast, but when the rumbling
began the wave motion ceased and the
waters remained perfect calm until 2he
rumbling came to an end, when the swell
was again manifest. The wind was south
west and light, weather cloudy, barometer
1910, thermometer sOo. The. sensation,
Capt. Voegel says, resembled that upon a
ship scraping pebbly bottom. The ships
vibrations were very great.
The slight shock of earthquake at Ills
o'clock last night caused little or no alarm,
but light rain which set in at o'clock this
morning made thousands of persons en-
camped in the streets painfully anxious and
uncomfortable, and all sorts of shelter were
improvised, pieces of tin and old boards
being put together to form roofs. At day
light the rain ceased and the sun appeared
Later in the morning there. were several
slight showers, but not enough to cause any
inconvenience.
The usual weekly bill of mortality shows
total of 93 deaths in the city for the week
white and 6S colored. The deaths caused by
the earthquake were 3S up to the 4th: IL Of
these being white people and 27 colored
Since then there have been several additional
deaths caused by earthquake.
The steeple of st. MichaelS church, a
landmark of the city, which was supposed to
have been completely wrecked, appears to
be about the only tall structure which can be
permitted to stand. People who slept on
board of vessels in the harbor last night say
An editorial in the News and Courier
this morning refers to the generous
aid now being given the sufferers by
the earthquake, and calls attention to anoth-
er way by which substantial assistance can
be given looking to the. reconstruction of
the city that is by sending trade here. In
this connection all sections are appealed to,
to trade with Charleston in preference to
other places when it can be done without
loss, ,and thus restore prosperity it is thought
The police force has been largely increased.
Referring to the danger from falling build
ings, VIM. B. Guerard, civil engineer, says.
a constant danger menaces us even to grea-
ter extent, in my judgment, than the antici-
pated renewal of shocks. This danger con-
D:oto IN the numberless fractured walls in the
city, AS they now stand tottering they are
menace to our lives, but if we should have
lSWe0af raw e0f 81 5anX considerable feten551 81 e IS 5f
frequent occurrence at this season of the
year, the consequence would be that the wat
er laden bricks and mortar would lose their
tenacity and the walls would crumble and be
precipitated into the streets.
Fear for the Bermudas.
Some anxiety is felt with regard tG the
possible effect of the earthquake at the Ber-
mudas The islande lie directly in what is
now supposed to have been the path of the
most violent agitation, and their physical
features are such as to warrant the fear that
they may have experienced a severe disaster.
Curious Effect.
A curious effect of the earthquake has
been discovered at the signal Office at Wash
ington The self-registering wind vane
showed horizontal mark preceding and
subsequent to the shaking, denoting a mild
steady and almost invariable breeze, but for
the 80 or 40 seconds OF the most violent
point was moved up and down the paper
many times and with great rapidaiit1g y ai1snt An N
reach. This is the only instrument at the
signal office which seems to have been affect
ed by the earthquake.
Aid for Charleston.
Boston, Sept. 6.-Large sums Of money
were sent today to Charleston from many of
the large cities The amount sent will ag
gregate thousands of dollars.