Marion County GaArchives News.....Earthquake in Marion County September 3 1886 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carla Miles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002476 September 12, 2004, 3:18 am The Marion County Patriot The Marion County Patriot, No. 36 Friday, September 3, 1886 Page One Tazewell Talk On Tuesday night last about 9:30 o’clock the people of our village and surrounding country, received a terrible shaking up. The windows and doors began to rattle and the houses to shake, those who had retired sprung out of the bed, and those who were up ran out of doors. Some thought at first that the dogs were under the houses, others that a storm was coming up, but when they looked out and found no clouds, everybody concluded that a whirlwind had struck their house. The Marion County Patriot, No. 36 Friday, September 3, 1886 Page One Pineville Dots There was a terrible shaking of houses in Pineville about half past nine o’clock last night. It is supposed that the shock was caused from an earthquake. We learn of the mail carrier from Cusseta that the shock was felt there also. Hon. B.F. Matthews, at first, thought someone was shaking his bed. Some of the negroes were badly frightened. They thought it was “old aunt Harriett” coming back, a negro who was recently buried. The Marion County Patriot, No. 36 Friday, September 3, 1886 Page Four The Earthquake How It Was Felt In Buena Vista – The Shock In General – Damage At Savannah – No News From Charleston Last Tuesday night about a quarter to nine o’clock an earthquake shock was felt in Buena Vista. Those who were at church felt the shock very distinctly. It occurred while the hymn was being sung and mourners going to the altar. The sensation produced is hardly describable, but some expressed it that the church building seemed like a train in motion, while others felt a swooning sensation or an attack of dizziness. There was a sensation felt by some like that produced by a mild shock of electricity. The reeling motion of the church caused the chandeliers to vibrate several inches like the pendulum of a clock. The noise produced by the shock was similar to the rumbling of a passing train, mingled with the din within the church. The first thought of many was that those going to the altar produced this unaccountable motion, while others turned to see if it was not the colored people rushing out of the gallery. Those who were not in buildings say that a strong gush of wind came from the northwest just previous to the shock and that here was a dead calm immediately after the commotion.. It was undoubtedly an earthquake because it was noticed by parties at their homes, where window panes, doors, dishes and other movable objects were made to rattle. The shock created fear among our citizens, especially the colored people who thought the jig was up with them. There were many ludicrous opinions as to the cause of the eruption. With all deference to the church and the revival, a wag suggested that the cause of this unwanted commotion was the result of several hard cases going up asking the prayers of the church. One old darkey, who was greatly frightened, gave as his opinion that one of the big coal mines had fell in which caused the shock. Perhaps Joe Brown’s coal mines. Some thought that a huge dynamite cartridge had been exploded under the town. A popular impression with many was that burglars were breaking in their houses. The daily papers Wednesday were filled with reports of the earthquake, and many towns in the state were represented. There was no special damage reported except from Savannah. Several Negroes there were frightened to death and a lady jumped out of a two story building with a child in her arms and both were badly injured. People in the cities rushed from their houses and places of business panic stricken. No reports could be had from Charleston Wednesday and great fears are entertained for the safety of that city, as it is supposed to be the center of the disturbance. NEWS FROM CHARLESTON The city of Charleston is wrecked and many lives lost. The loss to property is estimated at $5,000,000. The News and Courier suspended on account of the printers refusing to work through fear of another convulsion of the earth. All the railroad trains were wrecked and considerable loss of life from this source. The city is wrapped in gloom and darkness. The Marion County Patriot, No. 36 Friday, September 3, 1886 Page Five Local Short Stops There was dense smoke in the valleys around Buena Vista late Tuesday afternoon. It is said that smoke usually accompanies an earthquake. The Marion County Patriot, No. 36 Friday, September 3, 1886 Page Five Turned Off His Hands We state the following circumstance concerning the earthquake which was given to us on good authority: Mr. Ben Powell was at church in Buena Vista during the earthquake shock Tuesday night, and when he went home his wife told him that some person or persons had made an attempt to break in the house during his absence, and she was quite sure it must have been some of the hands on the place. The next morning Mr. Powell called his hands up, settled with them and discharged them. We suppose he has reinstated them, since he has learned that there was a general breaking in of houses all over the county. 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