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

Tho Great Gallo OF 1874.
The Charleston Ne,os and Courier.
of the Goth ult, says:
The long immunity which Charles.
ton has enjoyed from disastrous gales
was interrupted, yesterday, by dis-
aster which has probably destroyed
over $3.50, 600 worth of property. In
the early part of the present month
everybody was on the lookout for the
equinoctial storm, because there exists
kind OF tradition that severe and dis
assTous sI;iino1as occur once in every
twenty years. and it is just twenty years
since the destructive gale of 1854. But
when the 2lst Of the mouth had pissed
without bringing the disagreeable visi-
tor, people began to think that Charles
ton would after all escape the dreaded
infiction. For over fortnight the
wind had been blowing steadily from
the East, and at times the weather had
assumed threatening aspect. but not
sufficiently SO to warrant the appre-
hcnsion Of gale. On Sunday even.
inE. at lato hour, it began to blow
lily in puffs and to rain. and by day.
lpnt the wind had increased oonsidera-
bly,, Glowing from the East and South
east. The steamer Dictator, which
arrived IN the morning, reported heavy
weather at sea, but the captain failed
to observe any Indications of the
coming bloT. About half past 6 or 7
O'Clock in the morning the wind, grew
stronger, with heavy squalls and severe
pnf1s, which created general apprehen-
hIons. At o'clock, it was evident thRt
tho gale was upon US. The sea was
hcnring and tossing in the harbor, aud
the rapidly encroaching tide began TO
Hood tho whurvcs and streets. The
squalls kept constantly increasing in
strengti:, ard tho masters of vessels in
port began to lock anxiously to their
moorings. At Q o'clock, the tide had
risen SO high that it covered all the
whGrvcs on the Eastern front Of the
city and flooded the streets 70 the
depth Of several feet Many of the
wharves were washed up, and several
vessels parted from their moorines aud
were driven on shoie.
The scene at tho whnrvrs ut this
time was terrific. In every direction
drift-wood, bales of cotton. wrecked
boats and debris wcre being tossed
about. The wind, whistling through
the rigging Of the shipping, made me-
lancholy music, and the binding rain
fuillnS III torrents rcndencd !furts to
save anything almost useless. The
tide rose to n grent height, in many
instances lifting the flooring from the
piers and rendering it extremely ha-
IA ko 4
vicinity. The sea in the harbor rolled
mountain high, md the wives dashed
over the piers in huge rollers. At Ac-
commndalion wharf bark wus driven
from her moorings high up on the
lanaing into the wharf oifice of Camp.
bell, Wyliy Il Co., but was blown off
uSein when the wind shifted. So
gr' at was the force of the wind that
the boTsprit Of the vessel entered the
s' cond s:ory Of tho building, which
YVES 81 brick. and cut 1t completely in
two. tn"kirG clean split. AT the
wharf ii ;hr Su!Iivnn's l>i.nd stea me,s
tIr waves wastt Il cicnr over the wood
woIh. a;.t the "D3ious crowd who lad
gathered there to hear ti,i,Egs from
irl' ht.o ". ihr ,s!und were larry driven
! ,''''" :. ''' P'''''''ct' tniti .iU'1
n>ih!; wa'cis. East Bay aud Cnli,onu
/ streets were flooded with water tu such
! II Il. pl ~ 10 ilput the cars ui tue En-
tctpt!s" Railway from thu track. AL
! HE whhTvlS shout Market street were
more or !'ss !mnurel. but those below
that ro,n' suffered the most. At Van.
| drlhci.t wharf al large flat loaded with
! rl!ospIa'. rock Intended for he ship
Border Chiri.ain parted the lasteIiugs.
and was blown lhtU three sioCra il the
dock. sinkIug them almost imGnedi.
ate!y. lii" iiat UnA then lifted IL the
'yarr, nid tnrJwu truEsvcrGtiy across
the deck. nai.inS II complete bridge
between the two piers. The British
hntk Bclt!s'". which had lately arrived
from Liverpool and was anchored III
the s!rcnnl. wns blown from Lcr moor.
ings, d"pi'c two heavy anchors !c!d
by seventy five and iorty- five feet ni
iion cham and dragged Into the dorl;
between Bu!cc md Atlantic wharf
! The wh..ii un the extreme Southern
limit of liz. Eastern water front wa
complet.l!, washed away, aud the piers
immediately adjoining on the North.
at which were moored the steamers
City Poiut and Dictator, wore also
badly damaged. Tho work Of dostruc.
tion continued without interruption
until about half past twelve, when the
wind moderated for II short time, and
I,..,I ~, ft.,1