St. Landry democrat., 1886-09-11

undertaken, who was interviewed this
afternoon, states that he had furnished
eight collins up to noon. Many OF the
dead of the poorer classes of colored
people lie unburied, awaiting inter-
ment by the county. There are not half
a dozen tents in the city, and
women and children are experiencing
great priyations in consequence, and as
night approaches most of the heads OF
families are trying to construct tents out
OF bed sheets, spare awnings anu other
material that comes to their hands. The
sun is about to set on another night OF
horror for poor Charleston. Heaven
only knows what it may bring forth, even
without further violent shocks, appre-
tensions of which are present in the
minds of most people here.
CHARLESTON, SC, Sept. 2.-The alarm
and apprehension among the citizens con-
tinue undated. The impression has
spread among the people from some un-
known cause that the shock of last night
is likely to be repeated, and this is the
cause OF the prevailing anxiety. The
streets present sad picture of desolation
and ruin. The parks and open places are
the camping places of thousands of poor
ly clad. and discouraged people. There
is general desire among the more WELL
todo classes to get away from the city,
and as soon as communication is estab-
llshed there will be an exodus. This
will be the case independently of the
present feeling of panic, for even after
this passes away there will be many fam
lilies who will remove temporarily while
the restoration of the city is being car
ried on. There are also many visitors
who see no charms in the place now, and
who will hasten to their homes North
and South.
A well-known citizen thus describes
his experience during the shock Tuesday
night: sWe all made a rush for the
street, but when we saw buildings sway
ing and walls topping into the street, in
every direction, a feeling of despair
seemed to seize upon everybody. |, for
one, realized the uselessness of attempt
ing to escape, and l saw others stop and
stand still as if giving themselves up to
whatever fate had in store for them. The
sckenino sensation caused by the move
ment of the earth was hardly more ap-
palling than the terrible noise which ac-
companied the shock. This was NOT
very loud, but was like low and threat.
ening growl under the earth. The
piercing cries Ol illSuIe ued
women and children, and the
frenzied shouts of men calling to one an
other and attempting to organize some
means of rescue, formed singular con-
trast to this subterranean thunder. Peo-
Pile stood despairing for moment, ant
then tumultuous rush was made for
open spaces. ran as fast as any body,
yet recall vividly the horror pictured on
the faces of those near me. The thing
has made an indelible impression on my
mind, and even now look for that ON.
inous roar. The weeping of women and
the hoarse cries of the men as they ran
hither and thither among the wrecks of
walls and telegraph wires can never be
adequately described"
The largest crowd of tugitives collected
in Marion square in the center OF the
city. Three shocks followed one another
at short intervals, and hardly had the
| panic caused by one partially abated
when another tremor of the earth renewed
the alarm. So frightened were the wait
ing crowd that they hardly perceived that
each shock was somewhat lighter than
| it's predecessor. 1t was only late in the
| morning that the prayerful and despair
ing throng, finding the earth once
more solid for many hours, gath
cred courage enough to again seek the
neighborhood of their shattered homes.