Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-27
THE SOUTHERN CYCLONE.
4 MOST DESTRUCTIVE STORM.
IN Unprecedented Blow for Ausust-Gr,at
Dfmsse Done IN Charleston, =. e., and
OtheT slaess.

AUGUSTA, IA, August Zo.-1es-
torday's storm in Charleston was
cyclone in the proper sense Of the
term, entirely different from the usual
August storms on the coast or equi-
nectisl gales. The wind was twenty
five miles an hour at halGpast ] in the
morning, increasing to thirty-live, forty,
and fifty, which was reached about 8
in the morning, finally running up to
seventy-iive or eighty miles an hour.
The northern edge of the cyclone
touched Charleston and completed its
passage in forty minutes. The streets
Of Charleston were not more deSOlate
at the end Of twO-hOurs' lombard
ment during the war than they were
after Yesterdays storm. The storm
commenced properly at daylight from
She southeast, with frequent gusts.
As early as 6 o'clock the roof Of st.
Michao's church was stripped. At
: A. NJ. the apparatus in the roof Of
the sgnal-ofce, the flagstaff, and
wcatber-yane were demolished. The
last observation before the climax Of
destruction recorded the wind at sixty
eight miles an hour. The fre-bells
were toIled st intervals, indicating
breaks ~ tbs alarm wires. The water
in the river came over the granite wall
on the Battery, breaking fagstoucs
and washing away ratings, and tons Of
ses-water were hurled in upon hand
some residences, breaking windows and
smashing doors. The last time the
Battery was torn up was in ls76. At
3 o'clock the slate roof Of the county
courthouse peeled of. At $3.50 the
gilt ball and weather-yano which for a
century adorned st. Michael's steeple,
high and historic point, were blown
down. The climax Of the cyclone was
about s o'clock. Everything is in
ruins at the wharyes, where bat single
shed remains standing. At Q o'clock
there was a sudden lull, but soon the
gale increased and continued until 10
o'clock, when the great storm Of 1855
was over.
Hundreds Of thousands Of dollars
were expended on the wharyes this
season, putting them in order. The
water front on Cooper river suffered
most. The southern wharf suffered the
least. The commercial wharyes were
completely wrecked. Half q dozen
yachts, two pilot-boats, and dredging
machine were sunk here. The steamer
City Of Pslatka, at AdgerS 5 wharf, rode
out the storm without damage.
Boyce's wharf was wrecked. aud the
pilot-boat Schrefcr and a number Of
hshiDg-smacks and yachts sunk. Four
piers and sheds Of the Atlantic wharf
were blown down and damaged. The
Cotton-E xchange building was also
damaged. Tugs here were not injured.
Kcl's waarf was demolished. Browns
wharfwas damaged, but the yde steam
or Equator was not hurt. The steamer
Planter vas stove in at the Accommoda-
tion wharf. The damage to the Central
wlsrf Was very serious. Market
wharf was heavily damaged. The
steamers Of the Sulliyan-lSland Ferry
Company met with serious damage.
Four piers and three of the sheds Of
the Union wharf were swept away.
The brig Freiheit sank here. The naval
store wharyes were damaged. The
Norwegian bark Medbor lost her masts
and bowsp in the harbor. The
schooner Maud Low went adrlft. The
schooner Lee was driven ashore. The
German bark Peters was damaged.
The Norwegian bark Neritas and the
Italian brig Sanp1iSco went ashore at
Castle Pinckney. The wharf at Castle
Pinchney was carried away. The
steamer Delaware. from New York Sa-
turday, came in all right last night.
She reports a fearful storm at sea. The
damage 70 houses in the city cannot be
estimated or the streets less damage
was done than was first anticipated,
though trees and fences were blown
down and here and there houses were
unroolrd. lieasuIe-bOat, on Rutledge-
Sutct LAKE were piled up on the north
ern shore 30 "a confused mass Of broken
hulls. Along Ashley river there were
-lauy casualties 70 shipping, vessels
beng grounded all along the river.
Two sloup, have not vet been found.
Thief fences ANA out-houses OF the Roper
Hospital were blown down, aui the
roof of hr jail was injured. The con-
vent OF ihe Sisters OF Mercy was see
Iiouslv injured and uErooici the pla,-
teIiug J., down. the library badly dam
aged. and the building temporarily unit
for use. The colorci church in trom-
well 5 ALLY va, completely demolished.
In Franklin street large tree waS
rivon 10 three parts from top 20 bottom,
but renamed standing. The whole
street j hauicaded with fallen trees.
ln Hoaseman court two small houses
were blown down on the occupants,
who ESCAPED without serious injury.
I'm tbs section Of the city the tile
reached q d., .ht Of four feet, and washed
tLcuegro houses IN that locality. The
South Battery was the scene OF great
confusion and damage To shipping. The
stTset. were flooded with wafer. and
crafts OF all descriptions were washed
ashore and were floating m the streets
az high tide. f.,hermm's boats were
destroyed aAs The Wharyes piled high
wiih ucousruous wrecks. The north
weston and central portions Of the
city suffered SLIGHT damage compared
with tLai along The waterfront. al
thooeh ,h, entire portion OF the city
west Of Eutl,cgc avenue was suo-
merged with salt water from one to
thIte ieet deep--.n many cases covering
the It's, hosr, OF houses.
Tie spIe Of Ctadel-Slusre Baptist
church. one Of the talie,t IN the city,
was blown across the four-story dwell
ing of Thomas ID. Do;terer, cutting
away the Vszza and front walls and
leaving the interior oC the dwelling eX-
posed 10 the storm. Several m.racu-
lous escapes occurred here. bat no one
was injured. Il viii take 10000 20
replace the stccple. Plymouth church,
on Pit street. was completely unroOf-
al. ST. Philip-Sueet Synagogue was
also uurooled. The Church Home,