The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-06-27
Earthquake Anecdotes.

lew uOiuluSS ago TSmluQS u0 OF
some things that happened during
and after the earthquake of 1886,
known to history as the Charleston
quake.
A blacksmith owned huge and
vicious bulldog. A few days before
the "shake" he gave the dog away;
the new owner taking him home, and
chained him with a tracechain. The
evening before the quake the dog
broke the whole chain from it's
moorings, and returned to his old
home with the chain around his neck,
and lay down upon the steps which
led out of his old masters bedroom.
The dog with the chain around his
neck looked very much like the thing
described by Pope in one of his fa-
nous poems:
Gloomy Pluto, king of terrors, 4
Armed in adamantine chains
When the house began to shake
with fearful violence, the dogs old
master came out to see what was do
ing. When he opened the door the
ugly old dog with his chains clanking
in an armonial jingle reared upon his
old masters breast, placing his huge
paws on each shoulder. Struck with
horror, with such an object armed in
chains the old master cried out:
Don't chain me old man; I'll fol-
low!"
He was sure the devil had him.
A big meeting was in progress at
Sandy Dam. Brother Brown was
leading in prayer. He had reached
the climax, and with much fervor was
saying: "Lord come down and shake
old Sandy Dam. Shake up the people
as never before. Shake the old
church. Shake her good; shake her
long, shake her loud; shake her from
bottom to top; shake her from center
to circumference"
Just as this part of the invocation
was reached the old church began to
shake as if it would fall to pieces,
and Brother Brown on all fours be-
gan jumping benches like an odorous
billy goat, knocked down every bench
in the amen corner, went. out Of an
open window, and dashed for home,
leaving his good old horse tied ito a;
tree in the church yard.
A drummer noted for his prevari-
cations was caught in the quake dis
trict. He had faith in prayer. He
felt sure there was an inexhaust-
able fountain yielding from above
through the medium of prayer, and
he prayed but the earth shook right
on. He stopped, and looking up said:
Lord, perhaps you don't know me.
Allow me to introduce my sinful self
to you; I am lying Bill Bradley, of
the A. B. Crawford Co., limited, Chi
cago!"
On a large plantation lived long,
lean, lank man. BY many around he
was looked upon as being knowing >
When the quake came our lank
friend was III bed asleep, and as the
weather was hot he was thinly clad.
When his home began shaking out he
went just as he was with his family
at his heels. Soon a large crowd had
gathered to get our lank and learned
friend to explain the phenomenon.
He was waxing warm in his explana-
ton, almost nude, and was not aware
of the figure he was cutting, so his
wife approached him and whispered:
go in the house and put on your
clothing "Mollie," replied he,
"shut your mouth. Naked I came
into this world and naked must l go
out! Blessed be the name of the
Lord"
This quotation, disconnected, how
ever, from the book of Job, was too
much for the crowd, and a peal OF
laughter went up from the assem-
blage.
A large crowd of negroes were as
sembled after the quake, and were
doing some earnest and quaint pray
ing. The prayers made that night
would make q readable and laughable
pamphlet; but only few nuggets
were remembered. A young man was
praying and among many other things
he said:
Good Master, please SEN down
Dhy only forgotten (begotten) Son,
an fer to tell us poor sinful nlggers
what de matter down hur no how.
After this invocation, an old white
headed man was called upon to lead
in prayer. Looking up toward
Heaven the old scared man said:
dat