Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1886-09-09

cover from the property damage is an I'M
solved problem.
Another correspondent writes;
The first shock was felt at 9:5S, and aefore
people could realize what the troub was
thew found their houses falling upon hem.
Every one ran screaming into the streets,
and in few sends the city was wild with
human beings ,zed with fright. On all
sides could be heard EXPLANATIONS such as
"Mv God. save Us, God have mercy upon
us sinners" and people could be seen kneel-
ing everywhOte in groups offering up
pravers. The q shock was followed I'M
mediately by aer, though OF less effect,
but renewing L. screams and shrIeks, and
from the time of the beginning 10 daylight
shocks were felt at intervals of half an hour,
each succeeding one being less distinct.
On every side were huTylng men and
women. bareheaded, partially dressed, some
almost nude. and many of whom were Graz
ed with fear or excitement. Here woman
was supported, half iainting, in the arms OF
her husband, who yainly tried TO s0othe her
while be carried her into the open space at
the street corner, where present safety seem
ed assured there a woman lay on the
pavement with uplurned face and out
stretched limbs, and the crowd not pausing
10 see whether she be alive OF dead.
sudden light flares through a window
overlooking the street. 1t becomes momen-
tarily brighter and the cry OF fire resOunds
from the multitude. 4 rush Is made TO-
wards the spot But at this moment some
where out at sea-oyerbead-deep IN the
ground, is heard again the low, omlnou>
roll, which is already too well known to be
mistaken II grows louder and nearer, like
the prowl of a wild beast, swiftly approach
ing his prey; and all Is forgotten again IL
the frenzied rush tor the open space, where
alone there is hope of security. The tai
buildings on either hand seem to overhang
every foot of ground. 1t seems that a touch
would send the shattered masses left stand
ing down upon the people below, who look
up To- them and shrink together as the ire
NOR of the earthquake again passes under
l them, aud the mysterious reverberatlon,
swell and roll along like some internal
drumbeat summOning them to die. 1t pas
ses away and again is experienced the bless
ed feeling OF deiyerance from impending
calamity.
Again, far along the street, and up from
I the dllGNS always tudl ltdu luNv IL VII NANhS'
/ side. is heard a chorus of wailing and lam
entaton. 1t is the sound of helpless, hor
ror stricken humanity, old and young, the
strong and the feeble calling for help from
/ their iellow-creatures and raising their an
guished voices in petition to heaven Tor
mercy, where no human aid could avail.
The effect of the shock can be judged by
/ the experiences of Captain Dawson, who
/ lives i'm a massive brick residence in Bull
street, near Rutledgc. When the first shock
occurred, the house seemed literally to turn
| on its axis. 1t was found that the ceiling
of every room in the house was cracked.
| the big cistern was broken apart, the huge
tank in the attic was pouring its flood OF
water into the bedrooms. In the parlors the
statues had been wrenched from their bases
and thrown to the floor In the ball the
massive lamp had actually been turned
around. In front OF the house was a larg
porch with heavy pillars and solid marble
steps All this was swept away as though
/ IL had been shaved of with 4 razor. And
what was Captain Dawson experience wa"
that of hundreds OF others in Charleston.
According to the official list, ten white
and twenty five colored persons were killed.
The number of wounded will run into tht
hundreds.