Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-11-10
An Experience In the Charleston Earth
lrn


After a few hours of pleasant con-
versation, one OF my friends said II
was time to leave. Taking out his
watch, he continued, six minutes OF
ten, and-what is that?" A low,
deep, rumbling noise as OF thunder,
only beneath instead of above US,
coming from afar and approaching us
nearer and nearer, muttering and
groaning, and ever increasing in vol
ume-it was upon us in an instant.
The massive brick house we were
in began TO sway from side to side
gently at first with a rhythmical mo-
ton, then gradually increasing in
force, until, springing to our feet, we
seized one another by The hand and
gazed with blanched and awe-struck
faces at the tottering walls around
us. We felt the floor beneath our
feet heaving like the deck of a storm
tossed vessel, and heard the crash of
the falling masonry and ruins on
every side. With almost stilled
hearts we realized that we were with
in the power OF an earthquake. The
motion OF the house, never oeasing,
became now vertical. Up and down
it went as though some monstrous
giant had taken it in his hands as a
plaything, and were tossing it like
ball for his amusement. Recalling
our daZed senses, and staggering to
our feet as best we could, with one
accord we rushed down the steps
leading to the front door, and, grasp
ing the handle, turred 1t. In vain.
the door was damned, and we were
compelled TO wait like rats in a trap
until the shock passed!
Concentrating its energies into one
final, conyulsive effort, the huge
earth-wave passed, and left the earth
palpitating and heaving like a tired
animal There came crashing down
into our garden-p.ot the chimneys
from the house in front of ours.
Fortunately the falling bricks injured
none OF us. Making another trial,
we succeeded in opening the door and
rushed into the street.
Now there came upon us an over
towering, suffocating odor of sulphur
and birthstone, which filed the whole
atmosphere. We were surrounded by
a crowd OF neighbors-men, women.
and children-who rushed out OF
their houses as we had done, and who
stood with us In the middle OF the
street, awaiting they knew not what
Suddenly there came again to ouI
ears the now dreaded rumbling sound.
Like some fierce animal, growing aud
seeking its victim, 1t approached, and
VIC all prepared ourselves for the
worst. The shock came, and for q
moment the crowd was awed into
silence. Fortunately this shock was
not nearly so severe as the first. The
earth became still once more, and the
roaring died awayin the distance.
How the people Stunned their
houses, and spent that and succeed
ing nights in the streets, private
gardens, and on public squares, is wei!
known from the many accounts given
in the daily and illustrated papers at
| the time.
So perfectly still and calm was the
air during the night, that a lamp
which was taken out in the open air
| burnt as steadily as though protected
In room, and no flickering revealed
the presence OF breath of air.
Again, some strong and powerful
buildings, in certain portions OF the
city, were wrecked completely, while
others older and undoubtedly weaker
passed through the shock unframed.
A house on one corner was perfectly
shattered, while, just few hundred
feet away, the house on the opposite
corner wasnot damaged In the slight
est except that little plastering was
shaken down. st. Nicholas.