The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-09-12
THE GREAT TIDAL WAVE (!
4 NATTER VIEW OF THE
WRATH TO CONE.
Get Ready Your Rats, skiffs, Yawls,
Sork-Jackets and Life Preservers.
From the New Orleans Plcayune.l


1t is sad but an Imperious duty to warn the
inhabitants of all our Gulf and Atlantic coast
that it is time to begin to prepare for the great
tidal wave, which, according to the calcula-
ton OF profound astronomer, is to sweep
over the whole ocean coast from Hatteras to
Bahia, to the height of fifty feet or more, on
the night of the fifth of October, or in the
morning of the sixth. We have thirty days
only to prepare ior this event, and with all
the diligence that can be employed our citi-
zens can barely hope to be ready. On the
other occasion our ancestor had q warning of
forty years; In proportion to the difference in
the extent of the expected deluge, we have
shorter warning. The tidal wave of
Agassiz must submerge all parts OF the surface
of the eastern shore that are not more than
forty feet above the coast level at food tide.
Florida will become wild waste of waters,
and every Indian not the possessor of canoe
must take refuge in the upper branches of the
lofty cypress or the majestic magnolia. The
vessels in all the harbors must allow addl-
tional cable and wider swing. The occu-
pants OF wood houses must be prepared to be
loated away in ruins.
The public will understand fully that this
tidal wave is not OR fault. We would prevent
1t II we could. But there are circumstances"
over which we have no control, such as the
attraction OF the moon, the effects of rotatory
motion, the Joint influence of several planets
all operating simultaneously, and the impera-
tive necessity Whicn always compels natural
forces to conform to tie calculations and pre-
dictions of science. If the matter had been
at an earlier day called to our notice, in all its
serious importance, we are not quite sure that
we could have changed the character of the
impending calamity.
But leaving the matter of responsibility to be
discussed after the deluge, our present duty is
the Inevitable calamity. The flood will come
suddenly and with violence. The ignorant and
blgoted may look upon 1t only as an ordinary
equinoctial storm, but their grievous mistake
will be manifest to then when they float past
the third STORY windows Of our more substan-
tlal edifces on the wrecks OF their own houses;
A tidal wave fifty feet hign cannot be trifled
with. IF it reaches perpendicular altitude OF
no more than twenty-five feet, 1t will float
three-fourhs of all the wooden houses in the
city and country. Moreover, 1t will not be a
gradual, stealing, slow invasion OF muddy
water, such as sometimes creeps up
into the rear of the city, day by day, and inch
by inch; but the green, salt and mighty mes,
at once, with the bosom of destruction in Its
wide dash and ruthless onslaught. All our
lower stories will be flooded, and the beds,
bedding, kitchan furniture, poultry 81 :: wood
piles OF dwaRMgs, and the stalls of markets,
the shops of grocers, the stores of mlliners,
the saloons Of those who sell potable fluids,
and all the haunts Of pleasure, will come to
sudden ruin. Our streets will be turned Into
rushing torrents, bearing sad wrecks, shingles,
weatherboards, rails, lumber, household fur
niture, family RATS, cats, pigs, goats and many
other struggling swimmers. The flood, while
it lasts, will be very rapid, and with all allow
ance tor impedlments, those who float upon it
will be carried along at the rate of forty miles
an hour. The telegraph may give us few
hours warning after the first dash Of the great
tidal wave upon the Atlantic coast, but not
enough for due preparation. Therefore the
work should begin at once. In view OF the
uncertainty of all predictions, 1t is just as pos
sible that the great wave may come few
hours sooner than the time fixed as few hum
dred years later. Men of science depend upon
their figures and their data. They know
what must be, they know when 1t ought to be,
and If events de not correspond with predic-
tions, their theory must not be held account.
able. 1t Is better that hundred predictions
should fail than that faith In scientific calcula-
tlons should be lost or weakened.
AS the great wave may result fatally to many
while threatening all, we venture the timely
suggestion that those who have not prepared
for such event by paying their debts and pro-
viding for their families by policies of life In.
surance or otherwise, should invest small
sum in cork Jackets, gum-elastic bags, RATS,
skiffs, yawls, oars, and other necessities for
new departure on newly imposed flood. The
great salt tidal wave will not be fit to drink,
and therefore they should provide fresh water
for their boats, together with such other beve-
RACES as taste. habit or convenience
may suggest. The voyage may be pro-
longed by their being swept out to
the lakes or Gulf by the retiring wave,
In which event they might find 1t pleas
ant and profitable to be supplied with fishing
tackle and few volumes Of entertaining mo-
dern literature, taking care to select the dry.
est. In view OF the destruction of dwelling
houses 1t would be we'll to bargain In ad-
vance for others more likely to resist the
flood, but no foresight can provide against
the Inevitable lack Of dry klndling wood and
dry bedding.
If the distinguished scientist has accurately
calculated the height OF the coming wave
monster, the publication of the Plcayune will
not be discontinued On the 9Th October. Those
who call upon US during the flood will row
their canoes to our third story windows, and
there they will be kindly received as usual.