University of South Carolina Libraries
jjjca^d to ^flritnllor^ Sorticnatt^, |>Bfei,~?rol flte Current ffitma of the jag, ^ W TU v> McKissickJRanoers. C:?0 BT A MBNSBB. BO. 8. | It will be remembered thot earl; is 1802 oar troops were hlgUy eloiod fcjr report thst Esgiud or Frue*, one or both, would toko port in tot behalf and, M _ oonsequooee, the war weald bo orer ia a f? ?the. Tbo Mason Md 81 idoll aStir gore boo* fcr tMo laptoooioa. But the morale of OOT army wm bat lltUo changed. Mon who bod mods tbo oottroo I of the war * study were not U> be fed on euch "toffy. Hume, howtrtr, began to pat on long feces ond speculate on tbo horror* of war, * * xtnimXf11'trr bllra rooebod as, oad tbto was a swoOt mbrool for there aoalooatonts. Wo began to fool that tbo Foderol Government, with its inexhaustible IOIIM* ?' .n??U? -*? ? ? ~rru??, km a rawing its ooil around us. Grumbling, while prevalent, wm very unpopular with the average soldier; we felt it our duly to fight and not footer adversity. Most of our troops were enlisted for 12 months, and this foot gave great reason for doubt among the disoonlents. In a few months the time of oertain commands would expire, and as they left the field the work would, of course, be heavier for those remain;ng, and consequently we would never have an army sufficient to cope with that of the enemy. The reasoning was better than the pluck. The "eonscript plan" had not been conceived yet. The lUohmond Examiner, I think, was ^ _ the first paper to suggest the propriety of "conscription." The greatest blunder ever made by the Confederate Congress was the passage of that Act. It threw discontent into the army, even among the intulligent volunteers. The volunteer soldier felt that his oountry distrusted his loyalty to its flag. It was a blow from which the Confederacy never reoovered. It did not put an additional available man in the army, but, on the contrary, kept men who might have done something out. There was nearly as many men commissioned and detailed to exeoute the "conscript Law" as General Johnson had before Atlanta, in 1804. No equal number of men in the Federal army done such effective aervioe for the Union as they did. Your readers may think that I am off the subject, but as these impressions were made upon my mind at the time, I think they are na?l nn/l -* 11 r?k**wi w* iv4collections.'' Many true Mid breti men wont into our iraj after 0 tlirpuMp. a in3 -conscript A**,1 wu. j._ i good service too, but they would have gone just as readily without a "conscript law" as with it. Many men who made good farm hands 8 made poor soldiers. We needed both. The vol- 0 unteer soldier stood no longer upon his high E sense of honor in the eyes of his countrymen, 1 but was doing a service under compulsion. It ? would have been bettor had the Confederate 1 Congress proposed an unconditional surrender 1 of our ariny than to have passed that act Our noble women were the'first to feel its sting. It ^ tore the son from the arms of his mother, and 1 the husband from the fond embraces of his 1 wife. The poor invalid run the gauntlet of the ' "medical examining board" only to be ushered 1 into the army and to a premature grave. It produced a spirit of disgust that permeated all * classes of society, that found its antidote at 1 Appomattox C. II., Va. To prove our logic, we 1 will say that not a battle fought exclusively ] with volunteers was lost to the ^Confederacy. The "conscript law" alooe is responsible for ' the of the eapeeeeiee, "rich man's war ' and poor man's fight." Financially, at well as sooially and morally, j our army was made up of all elassei of men. Dill Blaokwell was a great talker, and men who knew nothing of his standing in the community in wbiolt he lived, would pay great at- ' teotion to him. Ue was one ef the men with whom everything went wrong: The rations were unfit to eat ; neither plentiful nor of the xignt Kiuu ; me cunning lurnisbeu by tUe Confederate (Jovornmeut was iodeoent and shoddy. In talking with men who knew nothing of him thle was his text. One day I cams across him with a crowd of Capl. Taylor's men around him, listening to his grievances. I heard him lij: "I had the best dloner at Goshen Hill the day we left Union that I hare bad einoe I left home?about that time he saw me mm! he oontiaued the sentence?yes, and a long (mm btfort Had a bombshell hare bar*ted in their midst they woald not hare been more astonished. They were completely 'sold out.' His next work was to get out of the army, and he went to work lo fool the deckers, which he has since told me that he did, by spitting brick dint. He kept a briek bat ia his teat from whioh he would take a piece, pat it ia his mouth, oough and spit until he was pronounced "an incurable case of consumption." He was sent home. He oleims he played the same game with Dr. Aleck White. lint Dr. W; found him out after a while. He thought that es Bill bad been so adroit in carrying out bit plana ho deserved to be left off. Dill sever returned to us, except he came to us at Dispatch Station, Va., in Sept. 1862, and stayed a day or two. Of hie subsequent military history it is sot our business to write. Drring the earljr peri of thdftpriag the Federals mast heve had 8,000 troops on Kdlsto Island, and at least 500 drums. Edingsville was their headquarters. From While Point we sou hi see the Federal flag. Gsnboats lay In the inlet. Sometimes one, asd sometimes half doses oonld be sees at one sight. These would oomo op to the Point and shell our pickets. Sometimes they would rua up to King's Point and shell the eountry from one river to tho other. Our men built n buttery la the edge ef the wooda, about 600 yards of White Point, and put a siege gun in U. Between this battery and the Paint grew a clump ef pines, en n '' 'v other shrubbery. Thus our buttery vu per- 41 Ually coDoeeled. j lp Two other mea sad my self wove staadlag e* In pteket la this olump of plan, white two of ??r # officers rode down to the beeoh. Away dowe ?| the iatet we sedr the white smoke rise from as ia iron-eled gunboat. It tuned its bow end earns p? puffing towards an The ado era were lis dl? m root lias between us and the gunboat. On it W oame, followed by two others, the smoke arose pi ; In graeeftil columns and marked the pathway "? of the Teasels atnld the clouds. Away la the Hi background we oould see the masts of th4 ril transports. The scene was sublime. Xaoi TO boat toned obliquely to tho right from the Ac path ef the one in front. A puff of smwkO b# from the front host wss followed by a repokh Us and in an instant a shell burst over our k|fda U?i tSnfcwwwli tWSttnriiriimridi aaj its as qulok as thought the whole Teasel was hid to in smoke. When a school boy I had often sat th< and looked at Ihs pictures of naral battles and qui admired the grandeur they presented. But gcu this was no shadow, it was the substance. oth This was mors than we oould stand, and a '1,! hasty retreat to our horses was next in order. for Our horses were behind the little knoll on which hot we were standing. By this time all the boats had como up and wcro taking part in rsdnoiog **>1 our battery. I bad a 4 seven shooter,' and M I ran back to my horse it foil and my foot struck ?'0* it and knocked it into tho bushes, and I had to ?P* top to hunt for it The shells llew thick and P08 fast. The pine tops rocked amid the fiery blast. arn Out battery was hid in smoke. The sun that a ^'II Tew minutes before shoneHn all its splendor on was veiled in smoke. 1 got my pistol, howsvsr. The enemy were training .their guus on out battery. Our gun was disabled. Behind the hinl land hill we remained until the firiug ceased on cr0! he part of the gunboats. One of the boats (ur< iad passed us and had gone up the river and ,eT< >egan shelling the woodland. We mounted mr horses and rode back to our pickets, only to ind them in a state of exeiismoot, but every nan was at bis pest. A dozen or so of tk# Federals landed and came to the house formerly ^ icoupied by our pickets M headquarters. They * an I * a - " ?? - uuucr me protection of (lie gunboat all al he time they were on shore. A body of troops * tad landed at White Point and come out as far Mid a our battery. It was now necessary to And war ut the full particulars before an official report *Bd raa sent to headquarters. To do this two men ^ rere sent back as far as the battery, and to the ftn oint, where they ran into the enemy's scouts bro' nd were Ared upon by them. This ended one da7 f the most stirring events whioh took place dlet n White Point during our stay there ; except, m'n Th" After this the gunboat lay near the shore? o near that at night wo could henr the voices f those on board. At every hour through the ertj light we could bear the bell ring and the sen- It incl cry out "all's well," besides, ho would ben five the hour. All the Islands were now in ma he hauds of the enemy, except Jehosse, and it .... r ma ras at their mercy. We stayed about two months at camp Walsh. 7' Ye had plenty of sugar and drank sassafras ea three times a day, and eat rioc until we Spi rere tired out on it. As a sanitary precaution Dot re moved our encampment every month or g^ w0- bet We moved to camp Taylor, about two miles 'rom camp Walsh. Here we remained until oua he Spring had fairly opened. During our 001 itay here the Confederates concluded to ad- Ar: ranee their line and oocupy Jehosse Island, mu This Island was the property of ex-Go v. Aiken, ^gii His negro houses formed a little town, with a aQt shurch building, for his servants to worship in. A brood and nicely laid off street ran from his summer to his winter house. In faot, it wae "r t beautiful place. A few of his slaves remaiood be >n the Island. Jehosse was separated from Til Bdisto Island by Watt's cut. Our pickets took possession of Jehosse about the Arst of Mereb, 180*2. They would frequently exohance shots . with the Federals. We would send soout* over d01 on Edisto and by a series of skirmishes keep them annoyed. Lt. Bates, of the Infantry, Ch and myself, with another man, went on a tio scout just after our lines had been advanced to bat Watt'a out. We advanced on the houte occu- q pied by the Federal pickets. Tltey ran off on ' our approach. We inspected the premises and the general surroundings, took a tour round by a<n little Edisto Island, and returned to our pick- 061 ets. We had aoaroely reached our line before mi the Federal Infantry came in sight. One com- bai pany came up, formed a line, and with their gj,< long ranged guns gave ns a volley. We had a few men at the post who made ready to reoeive . them. 8everal shots were exchanged. Our W1 guns were not sufficient to reach them, so we ^a lay down and waited for them to oome up. We tio held the Island. Pi We run a large "lighter" into the cut one arl night while the tide was op, turned il across 0f the eat, and this formed a bridge. Watt's out j was a canal about 40 feet wide, wbloh separated , Johoste from "Big Edisto Island." , On the 20th of March our troops made a B1 raid en "Big Edisto" and offered the Federals a "pitched" battle. We had no convenient Iwav of an'tincr our horse* serosa so * solim. of teered to go on foot. 25 bob, with our oom- W( pony officers, went from tho "McKhsick Hon- W| gem," and about tho same number from eaoh of the other companies. On the evoniog of the 28th of March '?'?2, with one day'a rations, we * mounted our horses and rode to Piaebery, die- mi mounted aod sent our horses back to camp, te We erossed the river on an improvised pon- th toon bridge, made of sevoral lighters joined # together. We proceeded to Gov. Aiken's sommer house?our picket hendqnarters. We got there about sundown. We lay down under the (j, trees and waited for the other troops to eome g. | up, which they did during the night. We lay uodera large oak and went to sleep. Next M morning about 4 o'cloek the Hergt. oeme round ^ end woke us up end in e soft voioe said, ei Two. ff?<M I?Uml Is penned vim. Ho maftt along tire iin 4a iimtt Hemtimwtm writ, lht m* .wht W> If riw ftfltll vjwwit^ by MM ?. t Wo MNhri off. As wn paaaed I Uwwry corps, with lMslUM??io(k trains for taking mm of thd srawai A* w wlo on fool oolwwa. BiliUy wa a ?t ta oii'o oat Hri MWiii Ml Dm heat i i hat oood ooroos it o few Bights btforl aat table qniokod," nh logrio tot plaL di 10. Tho eoluaa mnM kg fcwo. liMI'l loo voto in front, thrown orin ohliooAffhi V ooon rcoohod tho VodOnri fiolMtoMMM big bagaa. Two won von hillocL jm loaged to tho 66th foitglNh appears see, Copt. McKissiek was ordered toko ohargo of. the dismounted men, move to i right, ond surround the pieket hervdorters. When wo got there everything woo io, except their oooking vessels, ond some isr camp fixtures which they left in their ite. Pickets were thrown out ond we waited orders. Some of the men went into tho ise and opened oil the windows, ond raised sosh thot we might, in cose of on ottook, bo e to defend oursclvw. The moin column I I gone to the left and were advancing on tho lerol breastworks, when the hoary ortilhry med on them. We were ordered to anotker itiou?to o road coming in the rear of oir ij, and told to hold it at oil hazards, i Askew brought tho order. Wc were ooon the appointed spot and remained there unMnjor Palmer had got his men on little olo, and the bridge was destroyed behind . i. The main column returned and we wed back to Jehosse. Major Palmer cap ki several prisoners and our men brought off ml trophies. We got back on the main I just before the Federal gunboats came up. , I we been a little later our success would e been doubtful. We bad 800 men on the nd. 1 immy Heron got some envelopes from a ' ikee and was selling them out tho next day I auction. Everybody, of course, wanted one rrite home. When his supply was gone he | I, "If any of ye hi* any more invilopes ye , >t to sell fir Yankee invelopes bring them np I'll sell them fir yes." fhile at Camp Taylor, Gilliam Jeter killed alligator. Joe Lawsoa caught one and < ight it into camp alive. He kept it u few , s and put it in a barrel of water and it j I. 'There was a good many of these "var1s" about Camp Taylor. Uiti'a. ( j ancients bad ^ttie g~eatesi liorrof"oT all l t was feeble nod infirm; with them povf was despicable and suffering a scandal, i is no wo'nder, then, that among the 1 uty and pleasure-loving Greeks the deaf te was looked upon as a disgrace lo h<- i oily, and under tho barbarous laws if < surgus they were exposed to dio. Nlr 1 i highly-cultured Athens less cruel thm ) irta toward these unfortunate creatures. ? it mute children were ui'ilesslv sact- I d without a voice being raised in the r [ lalf. Th first who seems to have se ily occupied himself with this phenom - a i of deafmutism was tho philosoph r r istotlo. and he declared oongenital dea tea to bo inoapable of instruction, mA' < a was tbe universal opinion of classics/ < iqafty. The Romans treated theso uftuoates with the samo cruelty as tie i celts. As soon as a child was found Jo i deaf and dumb it was sacrificed to lie I >er. Ooly those escaped whom /ne ] res washed baok to the shore, or wloui i natural loro of tboir parents kepliiid- 1 i from the eyes of the world. Ylt in i \ conturies immediately prcccdioi the ristian era there was a sensible d^ainun in the number of victims of th# bar- , roue laws, although, about 150 yetrs B. , tho poet Lucretius pronounced himself favor of Aristotle's opinion regarding i if-mutes. But in the couiso of time tain rights were granted to those doafites who gave proof of ability, such as i been brought op secretly by parents >wing . some signs of intelleot. This idually dissipated tho horriblo prejudice th which their brethren iu misfortune d hitherto been regarded. Pliny moons a congouial deaf mute, called Quietus idius, who diatioguished himself as an list. He wau a grandson of the Consul the same name, who flourished in tbe igu of Augustus. It is also probable at deaf-mutes were employed as pantoimists wbeo pantomime was one of the vorite amusements of the Romans. M. Mailer gives to the Kgyptisqs the credit first iostruoting deaf-mutes. Tbey a* ill as the Persians always respected perns thus afflieted, and their hieroglyphie ode of writing was espeoially suited to eir eduoation. It is doubtless something ore than mere ooiacidenee that their betr treatment by the Koman's dates frosT e time of the inoorporation of Egypt as Roman provinoe. With 70,000,000 bushels of wheat ilifornia will have an iooomo of at least 600,000, where last year it had one of ily 928,000,000. Its barley stop of 18,H),0C0 centals will bring in 916,000,000, against 99,000,000 last year. W ' i Fsesa IIm CMombU Register. ! WORK OF THE EARTHQUAKE, j auauRWiv mn. Charleston, 8. C., Sept. 1?There wu e terriblwearlkquaka here leal eight at 9.50 o'olsskl The principal business port too of the destroyed aod hundreds of pliaoag weft rendered homeless. Nee were (emtio add woqueo were beseeehing m'erey (from the Almighty. The male station h< HSy city hall, Hibernian hall and assay Iher wail known peblie buildings, leeled ig St: Michael's Ohoreh, were irrethrsbl damaged. Many people were eerioqtu^lf not fatally injured, v Byijetiigid [gMnmwI a rpgetaWASTtee utriost. heritor, Even women, armed with hstfbelta, fought valiantly to rcsoue imprisoned, Unfortunates. Meeting street, from Broad to Haael, is a wrack and is lined with unfortunates. To add to the horror of the scene, many firea'broko out nod were ineffectually fought by the department. The night waa hideous^ with the groans qf the dying, the bcSQMDs of the wounded, and the prayers of the uninjured. At precisely 8.25 this morning another wave swept over the city, coming, as did the other, from tho Southeast, and going in a Northwesterly dircotion. By that time maty of tho people who had been out in the publie parka and open places all night had Ventured into their houses to get clothing and something to eat. Tho approach of tho shock was heralded by the usual rnmltlinrr amirtrl rnaAmhl!nl% ? ? swwvi.h^ hvmuuj ivwiuvauj^ uiovauk %UUU- | derj then it gradually approachad, the earth trembled and beared, and in three uoonds it had parsed, the sound dying out in the distance. This is the only ware felt line# 2.30 a. m. The polioe station and many other public buildings and fully two-thirds of the residences in the city are uninhabitable, being wrecked, either totally or partially. - ! At the time of the first shock fires broke )Ut in five different places in the city. About twenty houses were destroyed by Sre. All the stores aro closed, and a scarcity breach the stores to aell them. The South Carolina railroad track above md below Summerville is twisted, iu places, liko a snake. St. Blichael's church is shattered and the itceple will come down, likewise the steeple >f St. Phillip's. The steeplo of the Uni;arian church has fallen. The porticos of Siberian hall and tho Main Station house ire demolished. Thore is much injury to louses on Bast and South Battery. The lortioo of the Ravencl mansion is down. Tho shock was severo at Summerville ind Mt. Pleasant and Sullivan's Island, but 10 loss of life is reported there. Fissures in the earth aro noticed, from fino 8and, apparently from a great lepth, equate. Haveners, September 1.?The railroad s under water in some places between hero I . % . r " I ind Ubarlesion, iweniy-iivc mues norm or ticre, and tbo earth baa caved in in several places. The losses by fire and earthquake cannot bo accurately estimated, but can be placed tafely at $5,000,000. TUKOUOUOUT THE STATE. Abbeville, Sept. 1.?Last night at ten minutes before 10 o'olock ibis villago experienced the most severe earthquake that was ever felt in this section of tho country. Tho shock lasted for a long time and increased in severity until the end. At that hour religious exercises were being conducted in the Methodist ohurch, which was filled with devout worshippers. Presiding Elder Smart bad just delivered an eloqnont and soul-stirring sermon from the text M Prepare to meet thy God," when the first qniver of the shock was felt. The looeo bricks firom the topi of the ohimneys fell, and wo learn that the plastering fell from the rooms in many houses, but no hocso, so far as wc have learned, has been seriously injured. Lancaster, Sept. 1.?The first shock of the earthquake was felt at 10.05 p. m. Tuesday night, and lasted about two minutes. It was very severe. Houses rooked and articles were shaken from shelves. Tho ?<?fo srciilf frii.ht#?n??rt and rnahed - p- j a into (he streets. There wsa wailing and prayers by (ho negroes on all sides, the (hirteen negroes in (ho jail pleading to gel out pitifully. Thero was no damage t< property in (ho town except the tops ol ohimneys. Lexington, Sept. 1.?A heary shock ol earthquake was felt here at 9.43 last night dismantling and toppling over ehimneyi and breuki^ windows. People abandonee their bourns and remained outdoors all night. Ten heary shocks were felt by 11 o'olook and slighter ones throughout th< tight Several slight ones occurred to day, again increasing in severity. At 5.30 this evening another severe shook was felt. Newberry, Sept. 1.?Last night at 9.46 a crowd sat around a large table tabulating the returns of the primary election in a brick office. Suddenly there came a rumbling and a shaking and a quivering of the earth that made the buildings rock and crack fearfally. Some one halloed "Earthquake 1" and shot out of the baok door, followed by the others in the baok room, while those in the front room and under tho hotol piaxsa broke for the street and the Court House square as fast u their legs would awry them. The first shock lasted about a minuTTT fu fivo mlhaififfahother IfilSSf came, and this was succeeded by another, and from that time on at intervals throughout tho night there were shocks, fourteen in all, though none wore as violent as the first. Greenwood, Sept. 1.?Last night at 10 o'clock a very sevore shock of earthquake oecurrcd in this section, the most violent, perhaps, ever felt in the Southern States. Dishes were rattled in closets, houses were swayed aud chimneys wero toppled over, aod tho community was panic-stricken. Chester, Sept. 1.?At ten minutes to 10 o'clock last night the citizens of our town were startled by a rumbling liko that of machinery, which lasted three minutes. Every house quivered, some chimneys were cracked and bricks fell off others. The damage in the city was slight. In the oountry it was much greater. Excitement ran high, especially among tho colored people. Walhalla, Sept. 1.?Fivo shocks of earthquake occurred here from 10 to 1 o'clock Tuesday night. The firBt lasted fully two minutes and was tho severest. A loud rumbling noise before and during the shock. No damage was done to person or property. The buildings in town rocked sensibly (Shaking doors, glassware and windows. Laurens, Sept. 1.?Last night between 9 and 10 o'clock this community was visited by an earthquake, the shock of which was perceptibly felt by our ontiro population. Plastering from the walls of houses was shaken down, wooden ceiliugs wore erscked Ifld.-dUarrangcd. pictures fell from the walls, panes <51 wiuiiuwwcrj vniaeu, lamps knocked from i.hlt*, and much other slight damage done. llock Hill, September 1.?-This town was badly shaken up and alarmed last night at 10 o'clock by an earthquake. Seven severe and distinct shocks were felt between 10 p. m. and 4 a. m. The first was terrible, tho earth rocking liko a cradle, knocking down several chimneys and breaking crockery and furniture in the houses. No lives were lost, nor was any serious damage done to property. . Prospeiity, September 1.?At about 9.35 last evening tho first shock of tho earthquake was felt at this point. Its course was from Northwest to Southeast. The motion was vortical and lasted about thrco second" wave or six minutes the other shocks, each diminishing in force. At 1 o'clock there was another decided shock. There were other slight movements during the night. Greenville, Soptcmbcr I.?Our city was thoroughly shaken up last night by a succession of shocks from an earthquake, and general consternation prevailed throughout the night. The first shock was felt a few minutes beforo 10 o'clock, and was followed by threo or four others within a half hour, and by still another about 1 o'clock. Tho largest buildings rocked to and fro like a cradle, and iu uiany cases I heir occupants took to the streets or prepared for immediate exit in case of immiooDt danger. Johnston, September 1.?The first shock, at 9.50 last night, lasted about two or thrco minutes. Several chimneys were partly shaken down and some houses shook up badly. Ten shocks occurred last night and to-day. No considerable amount of damage was done here in tho surrounding country. Spartanburg, Sept. 1.?This town was badly shaken up by tho earthquake last night. Tho first and sovcrcst shock was ' felt at 9 46 P. M., lasting three minutes. Ttero have been fivo smaller shocks since midnight, the lost being abont 5.12 p. in. People rushed into tho streets, some clad , snd others unclad. Our people did not [ close their eyes in sleep, fearing a re[ onrrenoe of the quake. No one is injured, , nor is property dauiagod. A few walls ol . brick building* were cracked. ) Anderson, September 1?Several earth f quake shocks occurred here last night and to-day. The first shook and the worst was F at 6.54, the second at 10, the third at 10.12 , the fourth at 10 30, tho firth at 10. 45 i Then our count was lost until one o'clock 1 which was ono of the worst, excepting th< I first. 8umter, September 1.?Last night ser s eral shocks of earthquake were felt in thi town and country. The first shook occurred about 10 o'olock. alarming our eitieens, the shocks reourring occasionally through out the night, and one at 8 o'olock thia morning. Hampton, Sept. 1.?At 9.15 last night an earthquake visited this place. The shocks were severe, lasting about one minute, causing plastering to fall from some of the buildings. Six distinct shocks were felt. The vibrations were slight, exoept in the first shook. The people were considerably excited. The colored people were greatly alarmed. No aerious dam age resulted. Camden, Sept. 1.?About twenty shocks __ ^ ol tTf<roirfhqua?c were FeltTtore list The only damage is broken ehimaeys and throe or four upturned houses. No harm or loss. Winnsboro, September 1.?The first and most violent wave of tho earthquake reached us at 9.55 o'clock p. m. on Tuesday night. It was a sadden, awful realization. Tho oarth shook, houses rattled, and their terrified inmates rushed to tho middle of the -trect in tho dim light of tho stars. The massive walls of groat brick buildings wcro seen to shako to thoir foundation. Tho dogs howled, tho oows lowed, and manv men felt tho impulse more or less irresistible to take to .an aimless flight. A doxen other shocks of diminished violence wore folt through tho night. Georgetown, Sept. 1.?Tho most violent oarthquake shock known in tho history of Georgetown was felt here at D.47 last night. Thero wero no premonitory symptoms beyond the intcnoe sultriness of the atmosphere observed a few minutes previous to the shock. Tho earthquake wave seemed to come from the South or Southwest and when at its height was accompanied by loud rumbling sounds. The shock lasted for about three nrnutes and shook the whole town. Scores of people ran in alarm from their | houses iuto the streets. Many of the > wooden buildings swayed and rooked violently." | The earth, snbeided to tho depth of a foot or more is two or three spots, covering an area of not more thai *.en feet square: : nrvrnSR ???? 1 ? Savannah, Ga., September X, 4 a. m.? Three distinct shocks have been felt here since midnight. The last occurred at 3.40 a. m. All of the shocks were of short duration and not violent. The people are still greatly excited and are sitting out in streets and squares or crowding around the telegraph nud newspaper offices. Jacksonville, Fla,, September 1.?Tho oarthquake shock last night was quite tevero here and was felt as far South as Hartow. It commenced at 9.57, sun time, and lasted about thirty seconds. Alexandria, Va., September 1.?The earthquake shock here last night was very severe, causing people to run into the streets in their night clothes. Houses shook violently, clocks were stopped, and Macon, ua.,* uv^.. - < w were felt hero at 12 o'clock last night and ?? i "an mnminn Mn il?mii(rn ?n lift* UV i u/v ?uia u(vi uiugt w ?W ? or property of any kind bus bceu reported hero or in the territory contiguoudto Macon. Lynchburg, Va., September 1.?Specials from throughout Southwestern Virginia and Eastern Tennessee report severe shocks of earthquako last night, from three to fiva minutes, about 10 o'clock. Smyrna, September 1.?Several well do* Sued shocks of earthquake were felt here between 10 and 12 o'clock last night. No damage was done. Abbeville, N. C., September 1.?A dbtinct shock of earthquake was felt last uight at 9.45, preceded by a loud rumb* ling no'tso. The motion was from the Southeast. The duration of the first shock was a minute and a half. Houses wero violently shaken and the inhabitants all left them and went into the stroets. Charlotte, September 1.?The earthquake wave reached here last night at 10 o'clock and the greatest excitement was felt. *r . a 1 * - _ !. I t looming jiko it wHtt cTur fciiuwu ncre. Fears were entertained that aouie of the lerg briek buildings would tumble down. Plastering fell, china and glass wore brokea, and plastering came crashing down. Peoi pie left the houses in alarm and took to tho . streets. Some were soon on Independenoe , Square in their night olothos. C V V Son'nmhor 1 A m&rr netic storm has been raging all tho tuorn. ing. The swaying of henry magnetic | needles for the detection of earth currents , was rery great. At 7 a. in., at tho begin* ning oi the obscrrations, a heavy needle nine inches long swung an inoh and a half to the West of the uiagnetio meridian at s intervals. A needle two and a half feet long was deflected fire inehes toward tho . West. t (Concluded on fourth page.)