The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-09-09

'o1cPHoHO "ilC UloheH anu TWISTED, DfIcKS
and fallen chimneys, and all kinds of OBJ
| structions, which have been piled up by
| Jne destructive work of the earthquake.
Never before, not even in the gloomy days
OF the bombardment of the CITY by the
Federal forces, has Charleston been SUBJ
lected to such night and day of terror as
nave just passed Railroad communica-
tlon III all directions has been cut off, and
no efficient telegraph service has yet been
restored, so that the city is practically
isolated from the rest of the county,
which makes the situation even more
appalling.
The first shock of the earthquake was
felt last night at about $50 O'Clock, and
this was the most severe and did nearly
all the damage. A low, rumbling noise
was the first indication given the citizens
OF the calamity which was approaching.
1t seemed like the rumhling of heavy
truck over a first-covered pavement, only
1t appeared far down in the depths of the
earth. AS the noise rolled OH sharp, sud-
den tremor of the earth was perceptible,
buildings swayed to and from, chimneys
toppled over, walls cracked, and the sound
OF thousands of panes of window glass
rafting on the pavements was added to
the confusion. Men, women, and chill
dren stood where the shock found them.
paralyzed for an instant, and then sud
denly awakening to a realization of the
danger, rushed panic stricken into the
street. Here they encountered bricks
and beams, telegraph poles, and all kinds
OF distractions which had been piled up
by the force of the shock, aud wild
scene OF struggle and confusion followed.
Houses were topping on all sides, assures
appeared In the street. from which sui
phurous oder arose, and to add to the hor-
TOR OF the situation three fires started
simultaneously in different parts of the
city, Citizens pushed their way as best
they could to the squares and parks, and
there, huddled together, they stood, some
who had been awakened from sleep scant-
lily clothed, awaiting in terror the doom
which seemed inevitable.
Amid the scene of terror those who had
been imprisoned in the falling buildings
weIe not forgotten, and there were plenty
of brave men who risked their own lives
to reach and rescue these from their liv-
ing tombs. Even women, armed with
hatchets, fought valiantly to release the
imprisoned unfortunates. Some were
rescued with broken limbs, some who had
mr. frir Il
number of dead bodies were drawn from
the mass OF ruins Many people were in
jured, some very seriously, as they rushed
from the houses and fled frantically along
the streets for places of refuge. No reh-
able estimate of these cases Or of those
instantly killed by the falling houses can
yet be made. The lowest estimate of the
killed places the number at go, while the
highest gives it as 100. Numbers of peo-
pie are still missing who are probably
buried under the fallen walls, and whose
fate will not be known until order is re-
stored out of the present confusion, aud
systematic attempt is made to clear away
the ruins.
Broad street, which is one of the Leading
business streets of Charleston, presented
a scene of terrible destruction after the
shock, and Meeting street, from Broad to
Hasel, was complete wreck, filled with
beams and bricks and lined with the un.
fortunates who had been deprived of their
homes and were fleeing for dear life. The
night was made hideous with the groans
of the dying, the screams of the wounded,
and the prayers of the uninjured. The
negro part OF the population shrieked and
laughed and prayed and cursed Many
believed that the day of Judgment had
come, and they fell on their knees and
poured out petitions for mercy mingled
with shrieks and hysterical laughter. 1t
was a scene of horror such as WAS never
before witness in Charleston, and will be-
come Il feature in the history of the
pace.
The first shock, which did such extern
sive damage to life and property, struck
the city at the southeast corner at what
is known as the East Battery, and moved
in northwesterly direction, taking il its
path Meeting. King, and Broad streets,
the principal business thoroughfares, and
including all The cross stree from the
Cooper to the Ashley River. The princi-
pal damage was done in the lower part of
the city, from Queen street south, al
though residences were shattered far TO
the north of this. ST. Phillips and st.
Michael's Churches, two of the histol ic
landmarks of Charleston, sustained the
full force of the shock, and both are prac-
ticaily mass Of ruins, the steeples having
been damaged so severely that they are
now source of constant danger. The
steeple of the Unitarian church, on Arch
dale street, was shaken down by the
shock, and the porticos of Hibernian Hall
and the main station house were demol-
ished. The large City Hall was also ire
parably damaged, the columns in the front
being shattered. and the whole structure
so cracked as to be utterly unsafe for
occupancy in the future. Scarcely a
building in the business portion of the city
escaped total or partial destruction. The
fires, fortunately, were speedily got under
control by the Fire Department, but be
fore this they had destroyed 90 of the
| wooden houses. which were dry and burned
| like finder.
AL the damage was done by this first
| terrific shock It was followed during
the night and to-day by II other distinct
shocks, but they were comparatively light
and did not result in any further destruc.
tion of life or property. The last was at
| 5:19 O'Clock this afternoon. and was her
aided like others by a low, rumbling sound
under ground. The terrified people spent
the night in the open air, fearing TO Ie-
enter such Of the houses as were left stand
| ing, and as each successive shock occurIe ed
the panic increased. Not a business place
in the city has been open to-day except a
drug store. the proprietor OF vhica was
kept busy filing prescriptions. No groce-
ries could be obtained by the homeIss peo-
pie, and much suffering tr ,n hunger has
been the result. Thousands are anxious
to leave the city which has fallen beneath
them, and there has been a gre at rush to