The Press., 1886-09-16
ONE MANss ExPkRIENCEl

The Charleston News and COnrler'S de- scription of the earthquake experiences is the best pen photograph Of the terrible experience that we have seen. The writer was busy at his desk on the second floor when sshis attention was vaguely attracted by a sound which seemed to come from the office below, and which was supposed for moment to be caused by the rapid hrollingsdf heavy body, hs an iron safe or a heavily laden truck, over the floor. Ac- companying the sound, there was per ceptible tremor of the building, not more marked, however, than would be caused by the passage of car ora dray along the strea. For perhaps two or three Aeconds the occurrence ex@ @ted noSsurprise d com menk Then by swift degrees, or perhaps all at once. itis difficult to say which, the sound deepened in volumes, the tremor became 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 recol- lection of the disturbance of the Friday
 before, glanced hurriedly at each other and sprnng to their feet with startled ques- tion and answer What is that ? An earth ahake !-lapd tfIehs all YeS bwilde1nent E IThen the brid fdl deApahd and atead into an awful roar, that seemed to pervade at once the troubled earth and the still air above and around. Ike tremor was now 8 rude, rapid quiver that agitated the whole lofty, strong walled building ass though it were being shaken-shaken-b the hand of an immeasurable power, with intent to lear its joints 4asufIid deri and scatter 6sSeover- ripenod fruit before the breath of the gale.
 There was no intermission in the vibra- tion of the mighty suPterraneap engines. From the' first to the last 1t was Rcontihu- ous jar, only adding force at every mo- kment, and ias it approached Isna lrdaehed the climax of it's manifestation, it seemed fora few. terrible seconds th9t DO work. of human hands could possibly survive tffe shocks. The floors were heaving under fodtj the safAohnding @alIss and par sitiorS visibly swayed to and fro, the crash of falling masses of stone and brick and mor- tar was heard overhead and without, the terrible roar filled the ears, and seemed to fill the mind and heart, dazing perception, bewildering thought and for few pant ing breaths, or while you head your breath, in dreadful anticipation of immediate and cruel death, you felt fhat He was already past, ana waited for the end as the victim with his head on the block awaits the fall of the uplifted axe.
 A sudden rush was simultaneously made to endeavor to attain the open air and flee to place of safety, but before the door was reached all reaed EogetlIer. to the tot tering wall and stoppeds feeling that hope was vain-it was only question of death within the building or without, to be buried by the sinking roof or crushed by the toppling walls. The uproar slowly kdied sYeySim the seeming distance. The earth was still and, oh the blessed relief of that stiffness.
 But how rudely that stiffness was brok- on As we dashed down the stairway and out into the street, already or every side arose the shrleks the scrIes of pain. and fear, the prayers aid Waihngs of terrified women and childrgn, commingled with the hoarse shouts of excited nsns
 The air egesyY hsre hlled; ko the heiGeIB Uk Houses vii h a wE5Eish cfoud of dy, aiih tist af1siii 9 from the lime and FaOfEasf ans9 shattered masonry which, falhng upon the pagement andrstene road way had been feduced t0spewaaE Thro' this cloud, dense as fog, the lamps flick cred sdt4lI ,shsd d1ing. but, little chght, so that you stumbled at every step over the 1 pileS of brick or hecamb EmtahRled In the lines of the telegraph wires that depended in every direction from their broken sup portss On. every side were hnrrying forms of men and women, bareheaded, partially dressed, some almost nude, and many Of whom were crazed with fear or excite ment"