Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-12
SWEPT BY WINDAND RAIN
HEAVY DAMAGES ALL ALONG
THE COAST.

Losses Many Thousands of Dollars
The Crops on the Savannah Nearly 9
Total LOss-Hutchinson's Island Under
Water-The Railroads washed-Two
Wrecks On the S. +. & W.-The storm
in the City
Since the hurricane Of August, 1881, Sa-
vannah has not been visited by so de-
structiye a storm as that which swept
over the emit coast Yesterday and last
night. Ii is impossible yet to form any
estimate OF the loss.
Throughout Saturday the weather was
threatening, and the wind blow an incip-
lent gale al dav. Early Saturday
night it increased in violence and
the danger signals were ordered up
at the signal station cyclonie dis
turbance Of considerable energy was re-
ported m south Florida and dangerous
gales were predicted for the entire South
Atlantic coast. A. IL O'Clock it began
raining ami continued nearly all night,
bur the storm proper did not begin until
yesterday morning.
The disturbance is believed to have
originated in the neighborhoOd Of Key
West, where the barometer on Saturday
was very low. The wires were down at
that point and no report could be obtained,
but il was plain enough that a storm was
coming up the coast. No information
other than the regular bulletins was re-
ceived at the signal office, here, yesterday,
but from these the progress Of the storm
was seen TO be in the
DIRECTION OF SAVANNAH.
Low barOmeters prevailed on the gulf
coast, Yesterday morning, and in the in
terror country. indicating that the storm
was general Later IN the day this was
confirmed by reports showing that
it extended over entire Georgia and
Florida and along the coast as far north
as Wilmington.
The rainfall has been heavy throughout
the entire cotton belt, and the loss will
be great. TIE greatest damage is to the
rice crop on the lOwlands. which if not
total loss, is nearly so. The wind, which
blew gale all Saturday night AT Tybee
and on the coast increased yesterday
morning, and at IL o'clock was blowing a
hurricane.
A HURRICANE AT TYBEE.
For an hour the storm ragged in all its
fury. At noon there were no signs of
abatement, and. If anything, it increased.
The waves ran high on the beach, and
washing over the sand hills, deluged the
upper end Of the island. Bloody Point
and the lower end OF Dawfuskie island
were covered. COckspur island was I'M
der water up TO Fort Pulaski. The water
in the river was backed up by
tidal wave, completely inundating
the islands below the city. Hutch
inson's island and the rice panta-
tons below and above the city and on Back
river we're overlooked. The water at noon
was Is inches higher than It
has been since the great wave Of 1881.
The wnarves opposite the city were un-
der water and back Of Kinsey's mill and
Willinks Marine Railway, the island
was
PERFECT SEA.
The water rose rapidly from IL o'clock
in the morning until / n tue afternoon.
The river was soon away beyond high
water mark, aud was washing over
the "wharf lots" and the bank back
OF them. This bank which is nearest to
and parallel TO the shore did not long keep
back the flood. The waves first washed
up 70 the shantiCs close to the rivers
edge and rose over the floors. The colored
families hurriedly left and went to their
nelghbOrs. whose houses were on the
banks. 1t was hoped that the large bank
some distance north Of the first one
would keep the tide back Never since
the tidal wave OF four Years ago had the
water been SO high, and it seemed like
another tidal wave was TO sweep over the
island.
The rapid and steady rise Of the food
was watched with anxiety by the people
on the island. The rain fell in torrents and
the wind kept blowing nearly gale from
the northeast. This drove the water up
the river and over the island. A crowd
collected on the docks on the south side
of the river aud watched the food with
much interest.
THE BANKS GIVE WAY.
opffa 40
way back OF dry dock, and the water
poured through the break and over the
low land lying beyond.
About 500 acres of the city's
land III the "dry culture" tract
is rented and cultivated by
Mr.. W. Barnwell. He has large
crop Of sweet potatoes and other vegeta-
bles, besides corn and hay. Much OF
this will be a total loss. Nearly 1000
bushels of sweet potatoes that are in the
ground will probably rot. The long spell
OF wet weather this fall has prevented
the corn crop from being saved. and II is
badly damaged. Mr.. Barnwell had a
large patch OF strawberry plants.
the most OF which will doubt
less be drowned out. The
grounds Of the Chatham and Forest CITY
Gun Clubs and all Of the ground opposite
the city FOR long distance in on the
island were covered with
THREE FEET OF WATER.
The bank on the north side Of the island
Is strong and high and II kept back the
water Of Back river, which Tipped the top
Of the bank. but did not break through.
In the afternoon the water fell but the
islanders. fearing a repetition Of the dis
aster Of 81, left their houses and came
over 10 the city by boat loads.
general alarm seemed 70 prevail.
and when the red light was boisted on the
top OF the signal service building, the
few remaining families left the island.
gentleman who had conyersed with some
OF the islanders stated last night that be
believed nearly everybody had deserted
the island, for all predicted a much higher
tide at night than there was during the
day. Fortunately the spring tide was
several days ago. Nevertheless, the water
that overlooked the island Yesterday was
said 10 be salty, and an OF the drinking
water on the island tasted brackish.
THE STORM IN THE CITY.
The rain fell IN torrents during the
forenoon. The streets were flooded and
the sewers were taxed 90 carry OF the
water. Tine wind blew steadily VI 10 II
O'Clock, when II increased in violence aud
RACED with Intensity that rendered pedes-
trianism anything but pleasant. The
damage, however, was not as great as
might have been expected. Numbers OF
trees in various parts Of the city were
Issts 4