Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-09-02
CHARLESTON

| nours aIler Tie earthquake tuesday night
was cut of from the rest OF the world by
the breaking of telegraph communication.
was heard from at an early hour Yesterday
morning, when the news came that uor-
| ton Of the city was III ruins, many buildings
having been shaken down, others DESTROYED
| by fire, and mary persons killed and
wounded.
The first shock was felt at g. 3D. and before
people could realize what the trouble was
they found their houses falling upon them.
Every one ran screaming into the streets.
and in n few seconds the city was wild with
| human beings craZed with fright. On all
sides could be heard EXPLANATIONS such as
'DIy God, save us, God have mercy upon
lis sinners" and people could he seen kneeI-
ing everywhere in groups Offering up
| prayers. The first shock was followed i'm
nediately By another, though Of less effect,
but renewing the screams and shrieks, anu
from the time of the beginning TO daylight
shocks were felt ut Intervals of haitian hour,
each succeeding one being less distinct.
On every side were hurrying men and
women, bareheaded, partially dressed, some
almost nude,a and many Of whom were crszed
with fear or excitement. Here woman
was supported, half faintiug, in the arms of
her husband, who vainly tried TO soothe her
while he carried her into the open space at
the street corner, where present safety eeem-
| ed assured; there g. woman lay on the
pavement with upturned face and out.
stretched limbs, and the crowd not pausiDs
to sec whether she be alive or doad
4 sudden light flares through q window
overlooking the street. 1t becomes mo.
mentsrily brighter, and the cry of fire re-
sounds from the multitude. A rush is made
towards the spot. But OF this moment
somewhere out al sea-overhead- deep in
the ground, is heard again the low, ominous
roll, which is already too we'll known to be
mistaken. 1t grows louder and nearer, like
the growl Of q wild beast, swiftly approach.
Ing his prey and all is forgotten again in
the frenzied rush for the open space, whore
alone there is hope Of security. The tall
buildings on either hand seem to oysrhaug
every foot of ground. II 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 tremor
of the earthquake again passes under them,
and the mysterious reyerberetions swell and
roll along like some Internal drumbeat sum-
moning them to die. 1t passes away, and
again is experienced the blessed feeling OF
deliverance from impending calamity.
Again, far along the street, and up from
the alleys always that Iced into it on either
side, is heard chorus cfwaiiiug and lsmen-
tation. 1t is the sound of helpless, horror
stricken humanity, old and young, the
strong and the feeble alike, where all are
so feeble, calling for help from their fellow
creatures and raising their anguished
voices in petition TO Heaven for mercy,
where no human aid could avail. The
second shock, which was but Il faint echo CT
tho first, was felt eight minutes later. ST..
Michaels steeple lowered high and white
above The gloom, seemingly unipjured
The station-house. ii massive brick building
across the street, had apparently lost its
roof which had fallen around it. A little
further on the roof of the portico OF
Hibernian Hall, a handsome building in the
Grecian style, had crashed to the ground,
carrying down part OF the massive granite
pillars with it. All the way up Meeting
street, 'tho Broadway OF Charleston"
the roadway was piled with debris from the
tops Of the walls.
At Marion Square great crowd had col
lected, as the wide space could not be reach
ed bg the nearest buildings in the event Of
their fall. From this crowd, composed of
| :,
arose incessant calls and cries and lamenta.
tions; while over the motley, half dressed
thron2 was shed the lurid light of the con.
llasralion which had broken out just be-
yond the square Immediately after tho first
shock, and had now wholly envelopea seY
eral buildings in flames.
In three other quarters Of the town st the
Same time large fires were observed nuriel
full hesdway, aud the awful Significance oil
the earthquake may Ge most fully appreci,
nteG, perhaps, when it is said hat with
these tremendous fires blazing up all at
once around them, ard threatening the
City with tc;a! 3eS!!uct!cu, the people whom
you met OH the streets or saw gathered 20
gether in groups on tbs open places evident.
ly did not give them thought. All were
too intent on listening for the dreaded re
currence of that horrible growl or groan of
the power under tho land to give thought
to the new terror, though it had Threatened
their own homes. The crowds poured in from
every direction to the square, as though il
had been indeed Il charmed circle, and life
depended On passing within its bounds
Street cars, carriages aud other vehicles
= were ranged in liEes on the streets surround
ing it, while the horses stood as though sniff.
fling the ground in anxious inquiry.
The coored people everywhere were loud
and increasing in their cries of alarm, in the
singing of hymns and in fervent appeals fo1
Gods mercy, in which appeals many proud
heart devoutly and sincerely joined. There
, were no distinctions Of place or power, pride
or caste, in the assemblages that were gath,
cred together. Streets, yards and gardens
were filled with fallen chimpeys and frag
ments of walls, while the walls left standing
were rent assunder in many cases from tor
to bottom, and were badly shattered in
every instance. Wemen and children
reused from sleep or interrupted in their
evening pursuits by the sound of the ruin
rushed out into the streets and hudded to,
gether awaiting the end, whatever it might
be. 1nvalids were brought cut on mattres
ses and deposited on the roadway. Ne
thought was given to treasures left behind
in the effort to save life. Until long after
midnight the streets were filled with fugi
tves in sight of their homes. Through
the long hours that followed few were
J the eyes even Of childhood that were