The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-10-01

menade on East Battery, which on
Saturday night last was thronged with
promenadera, was almost entirely sub
merged. The angry waves dashed
over the stones in hinge pillows and
flooded the street below, tearing up
the huge hag.stones and washing away
the she'll road On South Battery the
destruction was equally sudden and
terrible. The water poured. in vol.
umcs over the abutment, and long be-
fore 8 O'Clock was fully two feet deep
in the lawn of White Point Garden.
The beautiful battery is now scene
OF -uin, and it is calculated that it will
take OF least $40, 900 to repair the da-
mage done at this point alone.
at 8 O'Clock, messenger arrived at
the main Guard House. with tho news
that the ftail bridge, leading to the
bathing house. had been swept away,
and bathing house itself, With it's owner
and his family, who were in it, we're in
imminent peril. The news spread like
wildfire. and in short time hundreds
OF excited spectators had nHsembled on
tho battery to satisfy themselves as to
the truth OF the report. The gale at
this time no o'clock) was absolutely
furious; terrible hurricane, hurting
huge masses OF water over the high
battery and rolling huge breakers
breast high along the South walk.
The garden was fully four feet under
water, presenting clear sheet from
East to South Battery. But all eyes
were turned from the scene of devasta.
ton Immediately around them to q
point of more thrilling interest. The
bathing house, cut of as it was from
all communication with the land, was
rocking on its foundation, and it was
at once scen that every effort must be
made, without delay, to rescue the uu.
fortunate inmates. These were Mr..
McManmon, his wife and two children,
and yonng man who occupied one O!
the rooms.
The first attempt was made by s
number Of colored fishermen and
policemen, headed by Mr.. Il. Mott
Parker. the stroke oar of the Palmetto
boat crew. A yawl boat was procured
from the numbero usually moored
around Moreland's Wharf, und with
twenty-five or thirty volunteers, the
leaders drsgged the long and anxiously
looked.for boat through the water,
which WAS quite sufficient to float her
across the garden TO the spot imme.
diately opposite the bathing house CT
tho South walk. The bridge in it's
fasi had torn away considerable por-
ton OF Tue masonry, and the sea sooE
increased the rent to wide gap. This
was deemed a favorable point from
which to launch the craft, and go. with
tue hundreds of hands which were
now ready and willing TO nesist the
daring spirits in their perilous venture.
the hoat was launched at on opportune
moment, and five men. two policemen.
two fishermen and MIR. II. N. Parker.
threw themselves into her, seized the
oars and mnde strenuous Efforts to
head for the bathing house. A line
had been attached to the stern OF the
yawl to draw her in TO shore in case of
swamplng. This piece Of pr.cnutiou
was tie cause Of The fist future. for
the men entrusted with the rope, when
1t was seen ny every one that the boat
could not be managed with the strain
OF the line "D her stern, 1e:naed to let
Z" until the boat had heen borne too
lar To Reward, Lni nothing was left
for tile crew but to keep her bow ia
| / le breakers aud let her drift on with
he snrf md current. They effected Il
landing nn@er tGa lee OF the battery
wall without serious lilE.u.ty The
situation iiuw bcGon tn look desperate.
lhe bathing house irrmbltd ut every
fresh gust o: wiud. uuu the troiintuin-
like bil!u"s were hurried AS 80 many
batteiing rams with merciicss lupiaitv
ng"iust the cruGi5:iug foundation.
Previous 10 this the little tug Relief
had hove III sight, and her captain
made heroic efforts to rescue the in.
mates Of The rapidly falling house.
The little vessel breasted tho storm
gallantly, pitching and rolling in the
heavy sea to an Alarming extent, and
every time she made un attempt to
round to the gale she was u,-rciiessiy
beaten back, and in n short time she
faded from sight like phantom ship
III tts MIST and rain, driven NJ the
river a! u frightfn speed The failure
OF lhe tug to relieve the inmates of the
hOnse. and the iruitleas effort uf the
ynwl boat crew, tended to increase to
fearful pitch tho excitsmcnt of the
crowd. An unusually heavy blast of
wind, together with an enormous wave
ut this time, stove in the rear portion
OF the doomed house. the shattered
timbers swayed hesitstingIy for mo.
| mani md than oan,a 1own p,tI, n