The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-24
4 TREMENDOUS GUST.
Damage In the City and Hnrbor-Boats
Sunk and Several Persons Drowned
Houses Unroofed and Trees stripped
Of their Branehes-A Wall OF the
Cathedral Ruins Frustrated, sc.

Houses Unroofed and Trees stripped
Of their Branehes-A Wall OF the
Cathedral Ruins Frustrated, sc.
The weather on Saturday forenoon was ez-
tremely warm, the heat being up to our summer
standard, the thermometer during the hottest
part of the day indicating temperature OF
ninety degrees. Early in the afternoon the
gathering OF dark clouds was noticed in the west,
and the signs which usually indicate the up.
proach OF a thunder squan wore strikingly ap-
parent. These tokens Of o coming change in
the weather continued to accumulate and
gather over the city until half-past three P.
M, when fierce wind from northwest, ac-
companied by rain, suddenly arose, the heavi-
est of the blast lasting hardly ten to fifteen
minutes. That time, however, sufhced for the
gale to do deal OF damage. Fences and light
and exposed buildings we're prostrated in every
direction; powerful branches were twisted
from trees that could have withstood any ordl-
nary blow, and the roofs Of quite number OF
buildings were more or less injured.
THE GALE IN THE HARBoR.
But the most disastrous and lamentable effect
of the force OF the wind was experienced on
the water, where several boats we're capsized,
in one of which three persons, mother and
her two sons, were unfortunately drowned. A
Mr.. Douglass, wife and three children, accom-
panied by two colored boatmen, left the city
shortly before the blow, in . substantial
sailing boat, called the Malta, bound for
Bulls Island, where Mr. D. was in the future
to be employed as assistant keeper OF the
lighthouse When the boat had reached a
poin. IN the harbor near Castle Pinckney she
was struck by an overwhelming gust, forcing
the vessel on her broadside, and filling her with
wafer. One of the colored boatmen got into
a small craft which was sent from the Unltod
States revenue cutter Racer, and with his
aid Mr.. Douglass and one OF the children was
picked up, the other boatman also MANAGING
to keep afoat uatil rescued; but Mrs. Douglass
and her two sons, who were undertook, were,
we learn, not seen after the accident, and 1t Is
supposed that they were Immediately dro "ned.
Up to last evening their bodies had not been
recovered. Nothing was saved but small
box Of wearing apparel. The boat was taken
in tow, after the squall, in q sunken con-
dition, and brought to position off the
battery, by the pilot boat Wild Cat, Captain
Jones. A water.boat was capsized in Ashley
River, but was afterwards got into shallow
water off Chisolm's Mill, where she was secured.
There were reports Of othsr accidents In the
harbor, but they were generally OF an unimpor-
tant character, and not attended with disss-
trous features. Vessels arriving from sea since
the squall report having the wind only in the
usual form of an ordinary thunder gust, with
out any features indicating unusual force.
IN THE CITY.
The dangers, though not Of very serious
character, as far as we can hear, were quite
numerous.
The roof OF the fre-roon, attached to Stein.
meyers saw mill, Gadsden-street, was taken
of by the sind, carried entirely over the mill
and landed safely in the middle OF the mill
yard-a distance Of about seventy feet. ne
gro who was in the yard at the time saw it
coming and had presence Of mind enough to
fall fat on the esound, and thereby escaped
being killed. The shed fell over him, but lett
space enough for him to crawl from under. All
Of the mill hands except two fled, being under
the impression thnt the boiler bad burst.
Maulding's and Brodie's mills, both in the
western part OF the city, were partially un-
rooted.
Tue rO0r or the cooper sn0pgJ the nme KILL
Of Olney & Co., Ashley River, opposite Ssvan-
nah Railroad landing, was carried away, broken
up and scattered over the neighborhood. The
negro coopers employed in the premises, think
ing the last day had come, incontinently held
. prayer Meeting.
A wooden house at the west end of Spring
street wac blown down. It had no. been occu-
pied for some time, but had been rented. For
tunately the tenants had not taken possession.
The wheel Of the windmill at Mr.. George A.
Trenholm's residence vas carried away.
e A large portion Of the west wall OF the mas
siye cathedral ruins in Broad-street gave way
to the b.ast and fell with crash inside the
church.
The stating on st. >Mchael's Church was
damaged, and portion Of it ripped of and
whirled into the street.
The tin roofing on the new Customhouse
was rolled up like bolt OF cloth, exposing
the shed to the weather.
A freight car in the yard OF the South Ca
rolina Railroad had the roof taken of.
The roof of Senator Sawyer's residence was
damaged and hole made therein.
In various parts Of the city the scuttles on
the tops of houses were Lifted and blown
some distance BY the gale.
aSome anxiety WAS felt about the. safety Of
Messrs Jarvis Barber and Ludovici, who we're
on their way, by water. to . place on Cooper
River; but note received from them yesterday
announced that they had been fortunate
enough to affect landing In time.
THE GALE ELszwHERE.
From the accounts which reach us by tele-
graph. the gale must have swept with more or
less force over wide extent Of country. We
hear of it ct Augusta, Savannah, Columbia,
Wilmington and even as far north as Fortress
Monroe. We shall have the details Of it's effects
to-day or tomorrow.
TIE RICE TIERoE QUESTION. PLANTER
writes to the Georgetown Times, complaining
that the recent action of the rice dealers here
is ga genteel way Of debating that the price Of
rice shall be reduced one fourth Of cent per