The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-09-30
"reminiscences Of the rleston Earth
quake Of August 81, 1895.

quake OF August 81, 1886.
In your issue of Scientific American
of June 81, lS96,in an article headed
"Carisal Guns," after an interesting
account Of these strange acoustic pho
nomena, you ask Of your readers who
know personally or otherwise Of these
curious noises that you would like to
get from them an account of it.
I have personally heard these noises
(evidently subterranean detonations)
many times in the Blue Ridge Noun
tains of this State and North Carolina,
but never so foreibly or distinct as |
(and many others) heard them in this
region for many days previous to the
earthquake of August 81, 1886, the
centre of which was probably not
more than seven or eight miles from
here, (Summerville, S. Co. more gen
orally known as the Charleston earth
quake of August 81, 1886. Having
been a resident here, (Summervllle,
S. c., at the time of this earthquake l
recollect that for several days previous
to the main shock, (August 81, 1860
the sky being perfectly clear, rather
coppery in hue, profound calm pre-
vaiiing, with an oppressive heat, there
began to be heard about six or seven
days before the shock Of August 81,
1886, at irregular intervals (alterna-
ting with occasional low rumblings, as
of wagons rolling over bridges, a deep,
booming sound, like the discharge of
sledge guns in the far distance. For
nearly week these sounds could be
distin tly heard all throughout this
entire region for at least radius of
twenty miles around Summerville,
S. G.
This weird sound seemed, at Sum-
merville, to come from out Of the dis
tant southeast, and as from depths be-
neAln L tny I; Jcca4l. Tie tone Of the
sound, though heavily masked from
depth and distance, was deep and pro-
found, massive in volume and power,
and was most significant and impres.
sive of the play of vast energies, es-
pecially as heard in the silence of our
surrounding forests. Along with some
of the more distinct decorations tremors
of minor earthquake shocks could be
felt precursory of the main shock of
August 81, 1886. There were other
strange acoustic phenomena. There
could also be heard for many days
prior,to August 81, and in the inter-
walls ofthe heavy booming (ofphantom
cannon?) peculiar and startling sounds
(somewhat rnasked) resembling the
rushing of railroad trains upon distant
bridges. This frightful prolougc of
"Barisal Guns" in conflict in the
lower depths, combined to impress on
the min sense of mighty energies
in conflict, rending the foundations of
the earth. This sound of deadly
struggle was most distinctly subterra-
mean, but always masked, as coming
from great depths below.
And there WAS yet another peculiar
sound, heard both before and after the
main shock, usually occurring at the
moments of minor shock and tremor,
which seemed to resemble the rush of
a great( subterranean) wind. OF rather
as of the passage of a whirlwind or
aerial vortex, sweeping through the
earth below. Its resemblance to the
peculiar rush of wind was most striking,
as was also its no less marked subte-
ranean character. All these strange
occurrences took place in period Of
profound calm-not a leaf moving nor
breath of air stirring. These events
were subterraneous, not aerial.
The acoustic phenomena preceding,
accompanying and following this
earthquake were most striking. The
sound of the "Barisal Guns" kept up
at intervals for some time alter the
main shock, but with diminishing in
tensity, and finally disappeared in
about year afterward.
Another acoustic phenomenon we'll
worth recording as a phase of this
earthquake, was sound like that Of
giant blows striking upward from be-
low against the earth crust, as if some
Titan we're trying to drive hole
through the earth: The thud and jar
from these blows were often tremendous
and could be felt over wide spaces.
The sound created an impression of
enormous masses Of liquids and solids
from below against the earth crust, as
if trying to gain vent This eound
caused great terror to those under
whose demesnes Cor farms) it occurred.
They thought that the earth would be
driven through beneath their very
feet. Iknew of several who became
perfectly frenzied with fear and incon-
tinently fled from their homes and the
country hereabout. While this strange
sound was being heard, if one placed
stick in the ground to some depth
(Which I did several times) and applied
his ear to it, he could hear the blended
fury of impact, rcnding, crushing and
tearing asunder, violentjar and tremor,
mingling ever and again with the
deep tones of the "Barisal Guns"
DIR. It. N. ROBERTS,
SummcrviRe, s. c., July 6, 1896.