The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-09
A CONTINENT SHAKEN.
The United States Visited By a Dis
astrOuS Earthquake.

The City or Charleston. South Carolina, Partially
Destroysd-Forty Persons Killed and Many
Hundreds injured.
On the night of Tuesday, Aug. 81, large
portion Of the United States was visited by the
most serious earthquake in lis history. Ire
mors have occasionally been experienced in
years past but they have rarely been OF suffi-
cient violence TO cause loss Of life or injury to
property. The disturbance last week was felt
with greater or less severity over the entire
section Of the country east Of the Mississippi
River. In nearly all the cities buildings
swayed perceptibly, articles were moved about
and the manifestations were such as 70 cause
the greatest CONSERVATION and alarm. The
shock was most severe along the Atlantic Coast
and its greatest violence was at the
CITY OF CHARLESTON,
South Carolina, where its effects were sppall-
ing The first shock was felt at $50 o'clock
Tuesday evening, and this was the most Sc
we're and did nearly all the damage. A low,
rumbling noise was the first indication given
the citizens Of the calamity which was APP
preaching. 1t seemed like the rumbling OF a
heavy truck over frost-cqSelsa pavement
only it appeared far down in tsyolspths of the
earth. As The noise rolled on a sharp. sudden
tremor of the earth was perceptible, buildings
swayed 10 and fro, 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
children stood where the shock found them,
paralyzed for an instant, and then suddenly
awakening TO a realization of the danger,
rushed panic-strcken 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, and
wild scene of struggle and confusion followed.
Houses were topping on all sides, assures ap-
peared in the street from which sulphurous
odor arose, and TO add TO the horror of the sit
uation half dozen 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 scan
tily clothed, awaiting in terror the doom
WHICH SEEMED INEVITABLE.
The first shock was followed Immediately by
another, which increased the terror Of the peo-
pie. On all sides could be heard ordinations
such rs my Godl save usl" GOD have
merry upon us sinners!" and men and women
could be seen kneeling everywhere in groups,
offering up prayers. The shocks continued at
intervals of half an hour, each succeeding one
being less severe, until up TO noon of Wednesday
there had been 10 distinct shocks The first
shock, which did such extensive damage 10 life
and property, struck the city at the southeast
corner, al what is known as the East Battery,
aud moved in a northwestly direction, taking
in its path Meeting, King and Broad streets, the
main business thoroughfsres, and including all
the cross streets. The principal damage was
done TO the lower part Of the city, from Queen
street south, although residences were shattered
far TO the north Of this. st. Philips and st.
Michaels Churches two Of the historic land
marks of Charleston. sustained the full force OF
the shock, and both are practically mass OF
ruiss, the steeples having been damaged SO
severely that they are nova source Of constant
danger. The steeple of the Unitarian Church,
on Archdsle street. was shaken down by the
shock, and the porticos of Hibernian Hall and
the main station house were demolished. The
large City Hall was also irreparsbly damaged,
the columns in the front being shattered, and
the whole structure so cracked as 10 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 not until
they had destroyed 20 or 30 wooden houses,
which were dry and burned like finder.
The business section of the city lay practically
a mass of ruins. and at least three-quarters OF
the residences were abandoned by the panic
stricken people. For two days and nights the
public squares and open places of the city were
filled with men, women and children, some OF
whom had been made homeless by the earth
quake, and others dared not return 10 the
houses which were still standing for fear oi
another shock which might shake down the
roof over their heads. The streets were blocked
with the debris of fallen buildings telegraph
and telephone wires broken aud twisted, brick,
from fallen chimneys, and all kinds of obstruc.
tions, which were piled up by the destructive
work of the earthquake. Never before, not
even in the gloomy days of the bombaIdmeni
Of the city by the Federal forces, has Charleston
been subjected to such time of terror. Rail
road communication In all directions was cut
off and telegraph service destroyed, so that the
city was practically isolated from the rest Of
the country, making the situation even more
appalling.
NOT BUSINESS PLACE IN THE CITY
was open on Wednesday except drug store. the
proprietor Of which WAS kept busy filling pre-
scriptions No groceries could be obtained BY
the homeless people, and much suffering from
hunger resulted. Thousands were anxious Il
leave the city which had fallen upon them, and
there was a great rush 10 the railroad station:
10 get away, but owing to the destruction
wrought by the earthquake it was impossible tC
dispatch any trains. With the exception Of one
wire Of the Southern Telegraph Company. there
was no communication by telegraph, and that
wire was crowded with anxious private mes
sages.
"Wednesday evening the citizens were grouped
In the squares and open grounds prepared foi
another night OF horror when the familiar but
terrifying rumble was again heard, and few
seconds later another earthquake shock passed
through the city, making the 18th shock sine,
the great disaster of the previous night. Littl,
additional damage was done, but the womer
and children, whose nerves were shattered by
| fear and exposure, ran wildly about, shouting
and screaming. Three or four steamers wer,
in port and many Of the homeless ones wer,
provided with berths on these boats. Fortu
nately the weather was good, aud the hard
| ships were not rs severe as they might other
wise have been. The situation, however, wa
becoming horrible. The community was Gu
off from communication with the rest Of tn
world, with the dead and injured on ever,
hand, and the living in
CONSTANT FEAR OF DESTRUCTION.
A writer on the Charleston Nelrs and Courie
| furnished 10 the Associated Press a graph
narrative, which was telegraphed 10 all part
Of the country The following extracts fror
his recital Of the horrors Of Tuesday night ar
given:
while engaged in his usual duties in Oh
second-story room of the Net0s and Courier oftic
at the time Of the first shock the writer's after
ton was vaguely attracted by a sound whic
seemed 10 come from the Office below, aud whic
was supposed for moment to be caused b
the rapid rolling of a heavy body, rs an iro
safe or a heayiiy-laden truck over the foo
Accompanying the sound there was a percept
BILE tremor OF the building not more marke,
however, than would be caused by the passal
ofa Cfra oar mr. draw along the ST. l.,