The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-09-11
Devastation of the Earthquake at
Charleston.

city swept over Charleston last night
shortly after ten o'clock, causing
more loss and injury to property and
far more loss of life than the cyclone
of year before. The city is wreck
ed, the streets are encountered with
masses of fallen brick and tangled
telegraph and telephone wires. Up
TO an early hour 1t was almost impos-
sible to pass from one part of the city
to another. The first shock was By
far the most severe. Most of the peo-
pie with their families passed the
night In the streets, which even this
morning are crowded with people
afraid to re-enter their homes. More
than sixty persons were killed and
wounded, chiefly colored. Among
the white who were killed are M. j.
Lynch, DIR. r. A. Alexander Ham
mOnd, Ainsley Robertson. Fires broke
cut in different parts of the city i'm
mediately after the occurrence and
some are still burning, but no danger
of spreading. There is no way OF
leaving the city at present.
The principal business portion OF
the city was destroyed-and hundreds
of persons rendered homeless. Men
were frantic, women were beseeching
mercy from the Almighty and chill
dren were in tears. The main station
house, the city hall, Hibernain hall
and many other well known public
buildings, including st. Miachel's
church are irreparably damaged.
Many people are seriously if not IA
tally injured. Broad street present
ed spectacle of the utmost horror.
Even women armed with hatchets
fought valiantly to rescue the i'm
prisoned unfortunates. Meeting street
from Broad to Hazel is wreck and
is lined with unfortunates. To add
to the horror of the scene many fires
broke out and were Intellectually
fought by the fire department. The
night was hideous with the groans of
the dying, the screams of the woun-
ded and prayers of the injured. 1t
Is impossible to estimate the losses of
persons or property al present.
Up to noon to-day there had been
ten distinct shocks.
Probably the best idea that can be
had of the character of the disturb
ance may be obtained from nara
ton of the events and scenes of We'd
nesday night as they were presented
to a single person.
While engaged in his usual duties
in the second story room of the NeaOs
and Courier Office at the time of the
first shock the writer's attention was
vaguely attracted by sound which
seemed to IcOme from the Office be-
low, and which was supposed for a
moment to be caused by the rapid
rolling of heavy body, as an iron
safe or heavy loaded truck over the
floor. Accompanying the sound there
was a percepti BILE tremor of the build.
ing, not more marked, however, than
would be caused by the passage of a
street car or dray along the streets.
For perhaps two or three seconds the
occurrence excited no surprise or
comment. Then by swift degrees, or
perhaps all at once, it is difficult to
say which, the sound deepened in
volume, the tremor became more de.
eided, the ear caught the rattle OF
windows, and gas fixtures and other
loose objects swung.
The men in offices with perhaps a
simultaneous fash of recollections OF
the disturbance of the Friday before
glanced hurriedly at each other and
sprang to their feet with startled
questions and answers, "What'sthat ?
Earthquake 2" And then all was be.
wilderment and confusion. Then the
long roll deepened and spread into
one awful roar that seemed to per-
wade at once the troubled earth and
the still air above and around. The
tremor was now rude. rapid culver
that agitated the whole lofty strong
walled building as though it were
heavily shaken by the hand of an
unreasonable power with intent to
tear its joints asunder and scatter its
stone and brick around as tree casts
its DER ripened fruit before the breath
of the gale. There was no intermis.
sion in the vibration of the mighty
subterranean engine. From the first
to the last it was a continuous jar,
only adding force at every moment,
and as it approached and reached the
climax of its manifestation it seemed
for a few terrible seconds that no
work of human hands could possibly
survive the shocks.
The floors were heaving and the
surrounding walls and partitions Wis
ihIy cmoyod m ond fro The crash nj