THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE AT CHARLESTON.
CHARLESTON IN RUINS—DESPATCHES IN DETAIL—SCENES OF WOE
AND DESOLATION.
CHARLESTON, S. C., Sept. 1, 1886.
An earthquake, such as has never before been known in the history of this city, swept over Charleston last night, shortly after ten o'clock, causing more loss and injury to property and far more loss of life than the cyclone of the year before. The city is wrecked, the streets are encumbered with a mass of fallen bricks and tangled telegraph and telephone wires, and up to an early hour it was almost impossible to pass from one part of the city to another. The first shock was the most severe. Most of the people with families passed the night in the streets, which even this morning are crowded with people afraid to re-enter their homes. More than sixty people were killed and wounded, chiefly colored, Among the whites killed and fatally injured are: M. J. Lynch, Dr. R. Alexander Hammond and Ainsley Robinson. Fires broke out in different parts of the city immediately after the earthquake, and some are still burning, but there is no danger of their spreading. There is no way of leaving the city at present.
CHARLESTON, S. C., Sept. 1, 1886-6:30 P. M.
The gloomiest day ever known in Charleston is drawing to a close with no improvement in the condition of the people. Great fears prevail to-night of another violent earthquake, as slight shocks have been felt at intervals during the day. Tents are rigged up on the streets. The whole population, nearly, will pass the night out of doors. The people are greatly depressed, as the aggregate loss amounts up to millions, and may be increased indefinitely at any moment by a gale of wind or additional shocks. The houses generally are in no condition for further trials.
The principal streets are littered with bricks and rubbish. The City Hall escaped damage, but the steeples of St. Michael's and St. Philip's churches will have to come down. The massive portico of St. Michael's was wrenched from the body of the church, and the cracks in the main building extend to the foundation. All the porticos of Bishop NORTHROP's residence were swept away. The Charleston hotel loses ceilings and part of the coping. The German Artillery hall is somewhat injured. Several buildings in Haynes street are gutted. The injury to St. Philip's church is almost indescribable.
CHARLESTON, S. C., Sept. 2, 1886.
Women and children are running about in the open air, terribly agitated. There are three or four steamers in port, including buoytenders, and many of the inhabitants are provided with berths on