Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-08-31
POOR CHARLESTON.
THE CITY ALMOST TOTALLY
DESTROYED.


AN HALL AND OTaER PUBLIC BUILD
INas IN Ruins Fires AND FLOODS
ONLY 100 HOUSES INHABITABLE-
THRILLING SCENES AND INCIDENTS
REPORTS BY TELEGRAPH FROM ALL
SECTIONS.
About IL o'clock yesterday tele>
graphic communication with Char
lesion was partially restored, and the
news that began to cOme in over the
wires was of a frightful character,
intimating the almost total
destruction OF that fair city. together
with Summervillc, a suburban town
The news from Charleston is briefly
that st. Michaels church, st Phillips
church, the Police Station, Hibernian
Hall and other public buildings are
in ruins. The rising waters partially
submerged the city, and 10 add to
the terrors Of the scene, fires broke
out in the wrecked buildings. Over
twenty buildings were burned, but
the fires have been extinguishcd. A
private telegram states that there is
not more than one hundred houses in
the whole city that are considered
inhabi.able. and that the people are
living in the streets, under tempora>
~ shelter of canvass. The same dis
patch says that the loss of life in
Charleston is between so and 100
people. No definite news has been
received from SummervIlle.
Below we subjoin the telegraphic
dispatches just received in relation to
the earthquake:
CHARLESTON, 8 G., Aug. 3l.-An
earthquake, such as has never been
known in the history of this city,
swept over Charleston last night
shortly after ten o'clock. causing
more loss and injury to property and
/ far mora loss of life than the cyclone
of the year before. The city is
wrecked. the streets are encumbered
with masses of fallen bricks and tele-
graph and telephone wires, and up
to an early hour it was almost impos-
sible to pass from one pert of the
city to another. The first shock was
by far the most severe. Most of the
people, with their families, passed
the night in the streets, which. even
this morning, are crowded with peo-
pie afraid to re>enter their homes.
More than sixty people were killed
and wounded chiefly colored. Among
the whites killed and fatally injured
are N. J. Lynch, DR., R. Alexander
Hammond and Ainsley Robinson.
Fires broke out in different parts
of the city Immediately after the
earthquake. and some arc sill burns
ing. but there is no danger of spread.
ing, There is no way of leaving the
city at present,
| SAVANNAH, 4 A. N.-Three distinct
shocks have been felt here since mid
night. The last occurred at $40 a,
m. AL the shocks were of short
duration and not violent. The peo-
pie are sill greatly excited and are
sitting out in the streets and squares,
and are crowding around the tel
graph and newspaper offices. Nc
word can be obtained from Charles.
ton. The general impression is that
the city has suffered seriously. 1t il
supposed that the cable under Ash,
ley River is broken at Tybee Island
at the mouth Of the Savannah river
The lenses IN the light house were de
stroyed. The people on the island
telephone to this city that they are
in n state of terror. There can be nc
communication with the mainland
until daylight. and all the inhabi'
tants are assembled on highland
Tho island was swept by uda
wave in August, 1881, and the peopl,
fear similar disaster now.
New YoRK.-The point from which
the railroad leading into Charleston
is reported submerged is Ravenel's, q
place ON the Savannah & Charleston
railroad. about is miles distant from
the city. II is probable that the part
Of the track under water has beer
covered by a heavy rise in the river
kilograms from cities in South Caro-.
lima and Georgia say the utmost con.
sternation prevails on account of the
non-receipt of news from Charleston
and many fear that q terrible calami.
ty has happened there.
WAsHISGroS.-The Western Unior
manager at Wilmington sends th'
following; The train dispatcher o.
the Atlantic Coast Line has just beer
in. and says their section master, sta
toned IL miles from Charleston. re-