The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-01-03
EARTHQUAKE
WEDNESDAY
PIEDMONT SECTION RECEIVES
THE, GREATEST SHOCK:
Distinct Shock Felt Here About / 80
O'clock-New Court House Dam
aged and Many Chimneys in
the County Topple Over.

There was quite a distinct earth
quake shock felt here Wednesday,
about 1:30 o'clock. The
tops of several chimneys were thrown
down in Union and also at West
Springs. The shock was felt about
the time many people were at din
ner, and when the "quake" began
numbers ran out into the streets.
The plastering in the court room of
the new, court house was considerably
damaged by the shock, and the Jail,
which was built in 1923, was consid-
erably shaken ~up and a large crack
was noticed in one of the walls.
The following is from the Spartan
burg Herald:
The center of the earth's disturb
ance seems to have been in Spartan
burg and Union counties, the greatest
disturbance being at West Springs, in
Union county, just over the Spartan
burg county line, though slight
shock was felt in Columbia, Green
vile, Greensboro and Charlotte, the
asst two named cities being the only
places outside of South Carolina that
reported they felt the quake. ~
The shake in Spartanburg came
about 1925 o'clock, and lasted for s
or 6 seconds, it being the severest
earthquake experienced in Spartan
burg since the great earthquake in
August, in the ear 1885, when Char
lesion was partially destroyed.
People Fled in Terror. s
The earthquake came suddenly and
without moments warning, the first
tremor. being followed by roaring
noise, causing some people to think
their homes were on fire, while others
'thasgAt thst the ae5ieS was ajsssl
- Vlh sew aSity. causing dishes IL,
rattle, inkstands to jump about Sn
desks or tables and stocbs of goods to
fall from shelves in stores, they
quickly disabused their minds of such
thoughts for they realized that some-
thing was going on underground, and
stores, Office buildings and private
residences were quickly emptied of
occupants. Clerks rushed out from
behind counters, Office men busy at
their desks suspended operations and
sought the open and in less time than
it takes to- write the streets were
crowded with people.
Chimneys Damaged.
Considerable damage was done to
chimneys in the city and throughout
the county, and in Union county,
though no human lives were lost, the
only loss of life reported being that
of pig at West Springs, which was
struck by falling brick from a Chin
ney top and killed. At Enoree the
chimneys of quite number of resi-
dences were damaged to a consider
able extent.
In the city of Spartanburg CHM
neys at the residence of M. E. Bow
den on West Henry street, A. F. Per-
kins, on Walker street, John Hart on
Converse street, w. j.. Stiles on
North Liberty, were damaged by the
shock. At the home of Mr.. Perkins
number of brick were loosened and
fell down on the roof with a crash.
The members of the family were eat
in dinner at the time and were Civ
en- fright that they will long re-
member. The timbers in many
buildings were heard to crack and
groan as though they were being torn
asunder and not knowing what was
going to happen or what was taking
place the occupants rushed out into
the open for safety and to inquire as
to the cause of the unusual disturb
ance.
At West Sprins the chimney to a
house occupied by Mr.. West was to-
tally destroyed, while chimneys to
houses owned by the following were
damaked: w. J. Betsill, ]. M. White
head, II. L. Lawson, C. G. West, A. B
Lancaster and w. w. Lancaster.