The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-09-30
ANOTHER THEORY.
Interesting Conclusions ofa Scientist Re-
gardin- the Earthquake.

Touching the Charleston earthquake.
The Current Of last week prints the fol-
lowing interesting communication from
Professor Herbert Bartlett. Of Charlton.
Iowa: Just after the close OF our
civil war. and when the South had
tacitlv consented to accept the situation,
I. with number Of others. WAS detail
ed from the Coast Survey Department
for the purpose of making thorough
inspcction Of the Atlantic coast from
the mouth OF the James River TO Pensa-
cola. Ella. We found, after leaving the
reels of lIatteras. that there were coral
deposits tapping on the granite III the
shape of a mitrcjoint, and, upon further
investigation. that nearly the entire
States OF North Carolina. ofSouth Caro-
Ina, the State Of Georgia as far as
Augusta. and the entire State Of Florida
were resting on foundation of coral,
which was a part of the same immense
body that extended as far into the ocean
as the Gulf stream and South far below
Pensacola in the Caribbean Sea. This
body of coral had an immense sag: the
centre of which was about two miles
from the shore. This sag was what
made the deep water of the channel that
was marked out for vessels running from
| all Northern ports to Charleston, Port
Roval. Savannah, Key West, and, i'll
fact. all ports along the Southern States
and islands. The East and West ends
of this great body were either tilted up,
or the body sprung or bent, and. if bent,
the upper or bowed side was subjected
to the terrible strain of the weight OF
water as well as of the body itself. Con-
sultiar some shorthand notes made ut
that time. we find our impressions en-
pressed there: There is every reason
| to believe that this rock (coraD of the
bottom OF this sac is continually either
wasting away Or sinking lower, and
consequently deepening the channel, as
the measurements made twenty years
apo record the depth to be twelve lcet
less than now; and if this Increased
Deepening continues, Il catastrophe Will
occur sometime that will be prolific in
the destruction Of lic and property.'
And now, as the reading and scientific
people arc discussing the great disaster
that has ovcrtaken Charleston. and en-
pressing their wonder and surprise why
a so-callcd earthquake should have oc-
currcd ut that point. where, as theysay.
there is no volcano near, !. as an cngl-
ncer and lover OF science, as we'll as
believer of and III natural law, cannot
see ANYTHING in this occurrence but the
natural res Its that sooner or later
would incvl bly, follow tho conditions
name either the breaking Of tbis for.
mat orits sudden sinking to d much
greater depth. In either case, there
suits would be the same. [ am now OF
the opinion that it has broken. and at
more than one point. as Il farther bend
ING would have hardly produced such
WIDESPREAD devastation, while Il break
would tilt up the West side OF the mass,
which | am inclined to believe reached
as fur back as the French Broad River,
bending thence Southwest and ending
with the West line at the base OF the
mountains that form the boundary line
between the Carolinas, Tennessee and
Georgia. From the weight OF the body
resting upon it. 1 am inclined to believe
that. at the junction OF the Ashley and
Coopcr Rivers (Which is the site OF
Charlcston) another break or crack oc-
cured on account Of the thinncss OF the
coral, as the phosphate rock came
through it at several points. II this
should be so. il would account for the
destruction of the c!tY ard consequent
loss of life. Let it be borne In mind
that this coral deposit, and the islands
that compose part Of it, are composed
chiefly of carbonate Of lime, and have
MI been formed from lime once contain
cd in saution III the waters OF the
ocean. and which was long since precIplted
and Gcposlted where VIC indlt. see notl-
inc TO prevent us from believing that the
action of the occan-watcr could dissolve
This lime deposit: when it could no
longer bear the weight placed upon IT,
il must pcrlurcc be sundcrcd i'll twain,
and the naturnl result would be just
what we sec. This formation, reaching
lnriher South after reaching Port liOyal
Island. is less cuppcd or sagged. The
West side. terminating just at the city OF
Augusta. was Tapped on the sandy:
hllocky portion Of the city where the
elite Of the city had their elegant su6ur'
ban homes. These sand DEPOSITS
SIMPLY Indicate that there had been an
oceans shore in the days when the earth
was Young. If the edge ol the coral
tilted up at this point, many oi the hIiiy
undulatlons orthis part Of the city would
disappear. rs they are formed IKE
wrinkles from bcng vuShcdby the coral,
and this part of the city would be much
lcvclcr than formerly. TO not know
whether this has really been the case. |
WAS out of the reach OF newspapers at
the time, and 80 ho not know how t'ie
country far removed from Charleston
tarcd. Nor have | seen amy scientist 5
exclamation of the Cvcnt.'
Shooting of One Negro by Another.