The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-03
STORM DISASTERS.
Fearful Loss OF Life by Floods at Canton,
CHINA South Carolina Cyclone.

WASHINGTON, August 27.-Details of
ity by the recent great rain storms there
have been received by private parties IN
this city. The flood was the most serious
which has visited Canton in thirty years.
More than 10000 persons lost their lives
and far greater number a-s left in a starry
ing condition. Entire villages were Ell
quilted and the rice and silk crops in the
vicinity were almost ruined The price of
rice has been raised IS per cent in conse-
queHce of the loss to the crop. The rain
fell since the latter part of June, filling and
overlooking the rivers. Many streets OF
Canton were flooded for over a week.
At Semi City the water broke
through the city wall. 1t is reported
that several thousand people were
drowned at that place. The entertainments
of the rivers We're broken in numerous
places and the waters swept aCsOss the sur
rounding country carrying everything be
fore 1t A foreigner who was an eye wit
ness of the devastation reports that one
night he occupied house anchored near
bamboo grove. BY morning the water had
risen 10 the tops of the bambOos. st othe:
points i rose as high as forty feet LUiIn.
the night time. The inhabitants fed from
the villages and camped Oh the hillside. Al
kun-in, market place situated near an en-
bankment Of one OF the streams connected
with the river which brings wafer from tie
north and west rivers, the majority Of ia"
inhabitants were drowned by the brrak.n-
fhrOuUil the pInba nL-Ypant pf tho NIaf,.r
Some escaped 10 rising ground IN TIE neigh
borhoOd, but the water continued to rise
in@ gradua ly 0vertopped the elevation.
trOwn1g those VINO stood upOn if. Seventeen
chinese graduates in Canton, hearing vI
the distress aud suffering prevalent in
their native vill6geS- took passage Oh =, boat
with view 10 proceeding home to TenIrr
what assistance they could On the way
the boat was capSiZed and all who were in
1t were drowned. In some places parents
tied their children on the high branches of
trees whilst they instituted measures fcI
their general safety, but the trees were
washed UP by the roots. and the heart
rending cries of the children We're sienced
in the surging waters. The body of a brid,
dressed in her bridal robes was found float
ing in the river at Canton. 4 large tub was
also seen. Il was picked up and found
TO contain boy and a girl. With them
was found paper stating their names. the
day and hour of their birth. The parents
had instituted this means to save the life Oi
their offspring. The writer adds that the
suteringS which thousands are enduring
are heartrendlng, parents replying with
tears IN their eyes to their chi.GrenS request
Tor food that they have none. The people
are obliged to use the filthi-st water. and
4 II Il.
upon the subsistence of the waters, greatly
aggrdyate the horrors of the situation.
Meantime all that is being done by the Ia
habitants to abate their misery is the bea:-
ing OF goHgs burning OF incense and howl
ing of prayers to idols.
THE SOUTHERN CYCLONE.
AUGUSTA, GA, August 27.-Full details
of tie storm at Charleston show that TN.
dau age was even worse than had been rc-
ported. In Franklin street a large tree
was rivcn in three parts from top to bottom
but Remained Standins. The whole street
is baITlcad-,; with fallen trees. The south
battery was the scene of great confusion
ana damage 10 shipping. The streets were
flooded with water and crafts of all de-
ScTptGnS We're washed ashore and were
floating in the streets at high tide. The
boats were destroyed and the
wharves piled high with incongIuous
wrecks. The northwestern and central poi-
lions OF the city suffered slight damage
with that in the water front.
though the entire portion of the city west
Of tutledge avenue was submerged with
salt water rom one to three feet deep.
The spirc OF the Citadel Square Baptist
Church. one Of the talest in the city. was
blown across the four-story dwelling of
Thomas ID. Dotterer. cutting away the
piazza and front walls and leaving the in
terrier of the dwelling exposed to the storm.
Several miraculous escapes occurred here
but no one WAS injured. 1t w.ll take $4,000
10 replace the stecpe. The Plymouth
Church was completely mroofed. The
Phillips Street Synagogue was also TN
.Oofcd. The church home in Lawrence
street was badly damaged, and the Avery
Institute was myoofed. Trinity Methodist
Episcopal Church and the chapel Of the
Citadel We're unroofed. The Mount Zion
Presbyterian Church, colored. was unroofed
and badly wrecked. 4 rough estimate of
the damage is as follows: Wharf property,
1850, 900; private property, $500 Doc; cot
ton presses, $4,000; churches, $50 900;
city property. $4,000; railroads, $50, OG0;
Ashley river bridge, $4,000; shipping,
sl50,0 600; lumber mills, $4,000; miscella-
leOuS, 100000: total, 81, 123. 9Oa
The track of the South Carolina Rail
road from the intersection of the Northeast /
arm railroad to the wharveS inated all about :
and was deposited in zig-Zag shape on I
whatever foundations Were exposed by tho .
receding waters. The loss To the railroad .
IS estimated at $4,000 al this point
At SulliTan's Island many houses were
damaged. The New Brighton hotel Lad
windows blown in and crockery broken, but .
the storm bravely. The Casino
was lifted entirely from the foundation and
dashed to the ground.
1t was impossible yesterday to telegraph
IN adequate description of the cyclone Ii
proves the most disastrous storm that eYeI
visited Char eston. Within comparatively
. few minutes the injury TO private resi-
ieRees was very large in the aggregate
hOrGh individual losses were cOmpaTatiyely
small, chiefly IN roofs and fences Some
If the wholesale dealers, however lost
heavily by damage To stock. The heaviest
osSes were along the water front
The Sullivan Island steamers. PooSSin and
Sapph0- went aground in the harbor and
Ire considered beyond repair. The Union
naval stores and city wharves are badly
wrecked
On Charlesten,s faxorite promenade. the
asst battery, the ground floor of residences. 4
we're from three TO SIX feet under water.
md the handsome gardens were covered
leep with sedge. The sea rose so rapidly .
S TO haze the appearance of a tidal wave.
The steamer Nonticels6 of the Florida {
inc encountered the gale twenty-four hours {
eforc she reached Charleston and had |
errible passage, but was not injured.
p General Palmer Talks.
SPRINGFIELD, HI, August 26.-General
ohm NJ Palmer was interviewed last night |