Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-09
INSTANCES OF HEROIsNl,
Which were Witnessed at Charles
ton During the Earthquake.

Which were Witnessed at Charles
ton During the Earthquake.
Many instances, says the correspondent
OF the New York Sun, of heroism are re-
corded. One is worthy of special note.
At the intersection OF Reed and King
streets. as wagon WAS going along, the
shaking OF the dreadful visitation caused
the poor animal attached to the wagon,
as il by intuition, to stop, shiyerin%, IN
his tracks. No voice, no announcement,
no application of the lash could induce
him to move. In an instant aiterward
the earthquake was on the city ana the
whole gable end OF store near the doomed
driver fell with a crash to the street.
Everything was involved in one promis-
cuous ruin. 1t was just here, however,
that the sublimity OF human daring was
evoked by the catastrophe which had Just
been witnessed by dozens of persons. At
least a dozen of these, before the earth
had recovered from the vibration, rushed
over on the pile made by the dlsmantled
gable on the street and made desperate
efforts TO rescue the man, who had been
instantly killed. This happened even
while the dust of the house was still tall
ing.
A man who was on King street, near
Reid, at the very instant of the shock saw
some manifestations Of heroic human ma
ture that should be put on record. 10 that
neie hborhood are number Of stores kept
by small proprietors, whose families live
on the second floors. These stores are
lighted in many instances by Kerosene
lamps, the explosion of which at that
time and place caused the first fires. TIE
premonitOry sounds OF the oncoming
earthquake brought the people 10 their
feet. The first impulse was, OF course, to
fee to the streets, and even before the ac-
tual shock occurred the paVements were
filled with a terroriZed and surging mass
OF men and women. 1t was the hour when
all the children were in bed. Hardly had
the excited citizens reached the streets
when the visitation launched itself upon
the city from above or below in all its
fury. There were vivid flashes Of light in
some stores and in others the lights went
out and left such OF the inmates as re-
manned in utter darkness. The sudden
blazes of light were the explosions of the
kerosene lamps which occurred simulta-
neously with the first shock. Then ensued
scene of horror and dismay such as is
beyond the power of pen to describe. The
paralyzed senses of the frightened citi-
Zens must have indeed been restored by
miraculous interpOsition. Turning from
their places of fancied security in the
open air, the thoughts OF fathers and
mothers and sisters went back to their
the second floors Of the totterng houses.
But the road to these unconscious sleep
ers was through flames or through houses
wrapped in darkness. In the clothing
stores the overturned lamps had ignited
the lighter materials, and in an instant
there were Tires here, there and every
where. The light was sufficient 10 expose
to the gaze of one outside the scenes that
were being enacted within, Here an old
| mo ho ora in ia
bling hands whole sheets of blazing cloth
and rushing with them out into the street.
| The clothes OF many who were engaged
! in the hazardous work Of self-preServa-
| tiOn caught on fire, and there is not the
| slightest eXaggeration in saying that
dozens OF these poor people fed back into
The streets wrapped in circle Of fame.
But they helped each other with tho on
ergy which only such sublime moments
could inspire, and casualties by fire were
happily averted.
a lady, who is very devout Catholic,
thinks she owes a great deal to her blessed
| candle. When the shock of Tuesday night
was over, and after the house had COM
paratiyely settled down ON its pins, she
went 10 her trunk, where she kept the
candle, blessedto tor heron Candlemas Day.
This she at once lighted and, with an in
FAINT in one arm and IKE other children
following, the afrghted party started to
escape from the mass Of falling debris.
| The house, after its BOOKINGS had become
little mixed and the doors were jammed
so that the fleeing party could not getintO
the streets through the 'front.' door, BY the
| light of her blessed candle this brave lit
tie Christian woman picked her way
through dark alley, over tons Of falling
chimney tops and through deathly
shower Of missiIes, and took her little
flock to Washington square. The candle
was kept burning all night, its place being
supplied with another as it expired, and
| as soon as II was known in the crowd
| that 'holy candle" as Protestants call
| it, was lighted the owner was at once
surrounded by a crowd OF ladies and child
rem. Not breath OF air was stirring on
! Tuesday night and the ''holy candle' shed
it's feeble light steadily until daybreak,
| giving at least little comfort and cheer
| fulness to hearts that were sOrely bowed
| down with woe.