The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-06
Explorations Near summervi,le.

CHARLESTON. Sepf. ga party of scientists
beaded by Professors Mendenhall and MCGEE,
returned to-night at 6 o'clock from an exploring
trip north of the city. They visited Ten mile hill,
Summsrvlle and Lincoln, and do not bring back
cheering news. At Summervile they felt nine
distinct shocks, and say the populace are terri.
fed and are leaving that section of the country.
Some very strange freaks of the earthquake
were found and photographed. Most Of the
three hundred houses at Summerville
are wooden buildings, and consequently
the damage done is largely confined to
their interiors. The foundation under one side
Of one building fell out su as to toppe the struct
IRE over in half-recliuing position, while the
remainder Of the foundation is unimpaired. The
foundation under both sides of another building
parted shot outward and permitted the building
to drop down on the ground. One chimney on
many houses found destroyed, while the
other was left intact.
A large number of geysers were found of i'm
mense proportions, some of them ten feet in
diameter, and nothing has been found long
enough to probe their depth. None are running
now, but all are full Of water.
Summervile has Jared worse than any other
part of the country hereabouts, and will be al
most depopulated
Professors Mendenhall and McGee take friend
~ issue as to the cause of the earthquakes. The
latter stin maintains that they are the result of
land slides, while the former believes that they
are the result Of readjustment of the earth
crust to the basin Of the EARTH or a conforming
of the exterior to the interior of the earth, and
points to the geysers as evidence that the earth
Is settling and the surface lowering. Professor
Mendenhal anticipates another shock tonight,
between 1870 P. NJ. and 2 A. NJ. when the tide,
which rises here to- height Of six feet is at fill
food. He thinks the weight of the water along
the shore line of Charleston, which is over five
miles in length. is the immediate determining
power cause of the quakes. The fact of the
tide being in, and the pressure off the coast line,
he says, might also provoke q shock Prof.
Mendenhall, who studied the cause and effect of
earthquakes in Japan for several years,
for the purpose of perfecting
instrument to foretell them, created some
amusement in the Charleston Hotel, late
last night Since he mas felt the effects of hun
dreds of quakes, it was presumed he could not be
induced to- abandon his room at this hosiery.
The building is four stories, stucco and brick, of
antiquated architecture. with very high ceilings
throughout. He was proceeding up the stairs to
his room, when the last shock of the night came.
The porter, who was showing him up, stopped
upen the faiH test approach of the sound. When
he decided what it was, he dropped pitcher of
water, went leap-frog fashion over the
Professor, and dashed down stairs in
. way that did the resident Charlestonian
proud Professor Mendenhall did not stand
upon the order of the example, but went pell-
NELL down and into the street Later be called
a carriage, was driven to the Battery, and slept
on the seat of the vehicle till daylight.
The announcement that other shocks will
likely come tonight has renewed the partially
Rllayed fears of the people, and for at least one
tor refuge and rest. Anything which will af
Ford cover from the atmosphere in public
places commands good price Men hire car
riages at 81 an hour, and use them as hunks.