Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-02

AOAn tuelr DfoKen supports.
FLIGHT OF THE PEOPLE.
On every side were the hurry1ng forms
OF men and women, bareheaded, some al
most nude, and many of whom were
crazed with fear or excitement. Here a
woman is supported, half fainting in the
arms OF her husband, who yainly tries to
sootn her while he carries her into an
open space. where present safety seems
assured there woman lies on the pave
ment, with upturned face and outstretch-
ed limbs, and crowd passes her by for
tlne, not pausing to see whether she be
ahve or dead; sudden light flares
through window overlooking the street.
A CRY OF FIRE AND A NEW SHOCK.
1t becomes momentarily brighter and a
cry OF "hreP' resounds from the multi
tude. A rush is made toward the spot.
A man is seen doubled up and helpless
against the wall, but at this moment
somewhere at sea, overhead, deep in the
ground is heard again the low, ominous
roll which is already too well known to
be mistaken. Itgrows louder and nearer,
like the growl of a wild beast swiftly
approaching his prey, and all is forgotten
again in the frenzied rush for the open
space, where alone there is hope of secur-
ity, faint though 1t be. The tall build
lngs on either hand blot out the skies and
stars, and seem to overhang every foot OF
ground. Between them shattered corni-
ces and coping.
READY TO FALL.
The tops of their frowning walls seemed
piled on both sides. 1t seems that touch
would now send the shattered masses left
standing down upon the people below,
who look up to them and shrink together
as the tremor of the earthquake again
passes under them and mysterious reverb
erations roll along like some Internal dru IN
beat summoning them to die, and 1t passes
away and is again experienced. Blessed
feeling of deliYerance from impending Ca
lamlty. Again, far along the street and
up from the alleys leading into on either
side is heard that chorus of wailing and
lamentation which, though it had not
ceased, was scarcely noticed the moment
before. 1t is a dreadful sound, the sound
of helpless, horror-stricken humanity,
old, young, strong and feeble alike, where
all are feeble, calling for help from their
fellow creatures, and raising their an.
guished voices to Heaven for mercy.
where no human aid could avail.
BEYOND DESCRIPTION.
1t is not a scene to be described by any
mortal tongue. 1t is not a scene to be TOR.
gotten when 1t has been witnessed and
when witnesshas shared all Its dangers.
The first shock occurred at seven minutes
of 10 O'Clock, as was indicated this morn
ing by the public clocks. The hands on
all of them had stopped at that hour, as
though to mark the end of time for so many
who had heard the preceding hour plealed
forth by St. Miehaefs cnimes without
thought but or a long and happy life. The
second shock was but faint and crisI
compared with the first. AS il
passed away the writer started
home to hnd the scenes enacted
on Broad street, around the News and
Courier office, repeated at every step oi
the way. st. MichaePs steeple lowered
nigh. The station house, a massive
building across the street, had Appa.
rently lost its roof, which had
fallen in. A little further on the
room of the portico OF Hibernian Hall,
a handsome building in Grecian style,
had crashed TO the ground, carrying do wn
part of the massive granite pillars with
it. All the way up Meeting street, which
In respect of its general direction and i'm
portance, may be called the broadway OF
Charleston" the roadway was piled with
debris from the tops of walls.
In passing the Charleston Hotel which,
to carry out the comparison above indi-
Gated, occupies position of Stewards up-
town store in New York, a third shock was
felt about ten minutes after the second,
and of course caused the greatest alarm
in that neighborhood as elsewhere. Al
Marion square, corresponding exactly
with Union square, New York, a great
crowd had collected, as even the edges OF
the wide spaces embraced in it could not
be reached by the nearest buildings in the
event Of their fall.
THE FIRES UNNOTICED.
From this crowd. composed OF men
women and children of both races, arose
incessant calls and cries and lamenta
tions, while over the motley, half dressed
throug was shed the lurid light of the
confagration which had broken out just
beyond the square, Immediately after the
first shock, and now wholly enveloped
several buildings in flames. In three
quarters of the town at the same time
similar large fires were observed under
full headway, and the awful significance
of the earthquake may be most fully ap-
preciated, perhaps, when 1t Is said that
with these tremendous fires blazing up
all at once around them and threatening
the city with total destruction, the people
wnOm you met on the streets,
or saw gathered together in groups
in the open places, evidently did not
give them thought. No one watched
the ruddy flames or pillars OF cloud rising
high into the still night air. All were too
intent on listening with strained senses
tor the dreaded recurrence of that hOr-
rible growl or groan OF the power under
the seas and under the land to give
thought to new terrors, though it had
threatened many homes in the doomed
city. Crowds poured In from every direc-
tion TO the square Just described, as
though it had been indeed a charmed
circle, and life depended on passing Z
within its grassy bounds.
ANIMALS TERRIFIED.
Street cars, carriages and other veh icles
were ranged in lines on the streets sur.
rounding the square, while horses stood
stock still with turned heads, as though
smiling the ground In anxious inquiry.
The colored people everywhere were loud
and increasing in their declarations of
alarm, in the singing OF hymns and in fer
vent appeals for Gods mercy, in which
appeals, God knows, many proud heart
VINO heard them arising In the night OF
His wondrous might devoutly and humbly
and sincerely joined.
RANKS LEvELED.
Danger brings us all TO the level OF the
lowllest. There were no distinction OF
place or power, pride or cast in the as
semDlages that were gathered in Charles
ton on Tuesday night. 1t was a curious
spectacle 10 look back upon. IL is good
one to remember tor white and black
alike, There were instances Of unselflsh
devotion, of kind and loving regard be-
tween master and servant, mistress and
maid. in the presence of the common i'll