The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-09-21
The Great Tidal Wave.

The Great Tidal Wave.
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 calculation
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
the sixth. We have thirty days only TO pre-
pare for this event, and with all the diligence
that can be employed our citizens can barely
hope to be ready. On the other occasion our
ancestor had warning of forty years; i'll pro
portion to the difference in the extent OF the
expected deluge we have shorter Warming
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 flood tide. Florida will become wild
waste of waters, and every Indian not the pos
SCISSOR of a canoe must take refuge in the Upper
branches of the lofty cypress or the majestic
magnolia. The vessels in all the harbors must
allow additional cable and a wider swing. The
occupants OF wood houses must prepare to be
foated away in ruins
The public will understand fully that this
tidal wave is not our fault. We would prevent
| it if we could. But there are circumstance"
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 which always compels natural
forces to conform to the 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 i'm
pending calamity.
But leaving the matter of responsibility to be
discussed after the deluge our present duty is
to suggest the course to be pursued in view of
the inevitable calamity. The flood will come
suddenly with violence The ignorant and
bigoted may look upon it only as an ordinary
equinoctial storm, but their grievous mistake
will be manifest to them when they float past
the third-story windows of our more substan-
tial edifices on the wrecks of their own houses.
A tidal wave fifty feet high cannot be triaed
with. If it reaches perpendicular altitude of
no more than twenty-five feet, it will float
three-forths of all the wooden houses in the
CITY and country. Moreover it will not be
gradual stealing slow invasion of muddy wa
ter, such rs sometimes creeps up into the rear
of the city, day by day, and inch by inch; but
the green, salt and mighty messenger from the
ocean will come upon US all at once, with the
bosom of destruction in its wide dash and ruth
less onslaught. All our lower stories will be
flooded, and the beds, bedding, kitchen furni..
ture, poultry and wood-piles of dwellings, and
the stalls of markets, the shops Of grocers, the
stores of millincrs, the saloons of those who
sell potable fluids, and all the haunts OF pleas,
ure will come to sudden ruin. Our streets will
be turned into rushing torrents, bearing sad
wrecks, shingles, weatherboards rails, lumber,
household furniture, family RATS, cats, pigs,
goats, and many other struggling swimmers.
The flood, while it lasts, will be very rapid, and
with all allowance for impediments, those who
float upon it will be carried along at the rate Of
forty miles an hour. The telegraph may give
us a 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, it is just as pos
| sible that the great wave may come few hours
sooner than the time fixed as few hundred
wears later Men of science depend upon their
| figures and their data They know what must
be, they know when it ought to be, and if events
do not correspond with predictions, their theory
must not be held accountable. 1t is better
that hundred predictions should fail than that
faith in scientific calculations should be lost or
weakened.
AS the great wave may result fatally to many
while threatening all, we venture the timely
suggestion to those who have not prepared for
such event by paying their debts and providing
for their families by policies of life insurance
or otherwise, should invest small sum in cork
Jackets gum-elastic bags RATS, skiffs yawls,
oars. and other necessaries 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, to-
gether with such other beverages as taste, habit
or convenience may suggest. The voyage may
be prolonged by their being swept out to the
lakes or Gulf by the retiring wave, in which
event they might find it pleasant and profitable
to be supplied with fishing tackle and few
volumes Of entertaining modern literature, ia
king care to select the dryest In view of the
destruction of dwelling houses it would be well
to bargain in advance for others more likely to
resist the flood, but no foresight can provide
against the inevitable lack of dry kindling
wood and dry bedding.
! IF the distinguished scientist has accurately
calculated the height of the coming wave
monster, the publication of the Pirdyunes 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.-Aew
Orleans Picayune.
A COOP MISUNDERSTANDING the late
Exocnt;ve onnointments we notice that of MIR.