The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-01-15
EXEMPTION pr ABBEVILLE FROM
NAIpMaL CeNvULsIotIs, Ca
/IAMITIES AND DISASTERS.
Editor Press and Banner :

s %
An old school-fellow of mine,
who has read much and seen much
Of the world, both by sea, and by
land, some time ago made to me
the remark, that Of all countries
he knew of, Abbeville is most ex-
empt from natural convulsions,
vGlamities and disasters. This has
$, t me to thinking, and [ adduce
some "reminiscences in confirmation
Of the remark. I speak particular
ly of the region between the Savan-
nah and the Saluda, but in a great
degree the same condition extends
to the whole region in the North
Western portion of the upper coun-
try Of this State.
EARTHQUAKES, VoLcASoEs.-In
1912, when New Madrid, on the
Mississippi, was engulphed, there
were here slight tremblings, denot-
ing great volcanic action distant
from us. Nothing of the kind
since.
Hurricanes, 7ornadoes. In Edge
field, and in Anderson counties, ad-
joining Abbeville, may be seen at
wide distances, narrow breadths of
Hurricane Lands, over which whirl-
winds have swept with irresistible
force, sometimes for moment ele-
waited, and then in the next moment
descending, SO that the apex, or
some portion Of the side Of the
funnel, touched the earth, talk
ing with it forests, houses and
everything in its path. In Alb
beville there have been two or
three of these whirlwinds, made
especially extraordinary, by the
preservation Of human life, when
whole houses, down even to the
floors, were scattered piecemeal
throughout the neighborhood with
out hurt to the inmates in them.
Water Spoatts- and SO
Ice Goryes. >
Strokes Of Lyhtning-the same as
in other regions in the same lati-
tude.
Floods.-The rivers Of this re-
gion rose to a height almost incon'
ceivable in 1899 and in 1910; and
at various times, before and since,
in less degree. Two persons were
drowned in an attemptto cross Lit.
lie River in a canoe, but no other
loss of life has been heard Of
Property has been destroyed, but
such ravages are unknown as have
been made by the Rhone, the Po
the Patapsco, the Ohio, and the
Alabama.
Fan,i,1e.-Years of. drought and
scarcity have occurred; but nc
death from hunger, nor even great
suffering, has been known.
Measles, WAooping Cough and
Humps have prevailed here as else
where.
Small Por.-This terrible scourge
of the aboriginal Indian population
has, within the last hal f century
been several times brought from
abroad into Abbeville District; bu'
after careful enquiry only two case:
of death from it have been heard O.
-bo:h females, one white, the 9th
er, colored. -,
Diptheria and Scarlet Ferer, have
sometimes prevailed
Memngetis has been, and now
is, in this region, and there is rea
son to fear that many Instances O.
its speedy destructiveness yet re
main to be recorded.
Congestire UiAs have been here
although rarely.
Intermittent MalGrial Fevers pre-
vail in some parts every aatumn.
not however such as depopulatt
Calabria, nor even such as are com
mon in the bottoms of Mississippi
and Arkansas.
YcNoav Ferer and 1yphus Fere
are both unknown but 1yphoie
Ferer sometimes enters a habitatio1
and fingers long about it.
Black Tongue, which, twent.
years ago, or thereabouts, passe(
from the Cape of Florida t0 Cana