Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-27
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ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCHES.
The Cyclone.

The Cyclone.
CHARLESTON, S. c., Aug. 27.-As has al.
ready been stated the climax of the cyclone
reached the city about S o'clock. Upto that
time there lad been considerable damage
done, but it had been distributed over a
large portion Of the city and consisted chiefly
in the unroofng Of houses, and the blowing
down Of fences and trees. At o'clock,
however, the velocity of the wind increased
at fearful rate, and within thirty minutes
more destruction was wrought in Charles
ton than has been known for many years.
When The reporter who writes this left At
antic wharf at 7:30, after having visited all
the wharves from Market street TO Southern
wharf, the outlook was stormy, but the dam
age was comparatively light. None of the
wharf sheds had been blown down, although
The tin had been ripped from the reef OF
some of them and all the vessels moored
along the east front were riding freely and
apparently safely, save one or two yachts
whose owners had no one on board to look
after their moorings, and which were conse-
quently wrecked. When the reporter re-
turned at S:45, but single she'd was stand
ing intact on the water front-that of Ad-
GERS wharf-and the entire river front was
demolished. If gigantic razor had
been drawn over the wharves and shaved
down the wharf-sheds q more complete
sweep could scarcely have been effected.
Everything lay in ruins, pier-heads; sheds,
vessels, Offices and decks presented one
mass of indescribable confusion. Such
sight has never before been witnessed in
Charleston. The cyclone had done its
work thoroughly and in about fifty minutes.
Vessels were lifted up and landed on what
had once been a pier-head. The roofs of
what had once been wharf.sheds foated in
the docks; barrels and boxes of freight and
cargo were found half mile from the places
from which they had been swept, and
broken masts and spars loated in tho docks
amid mass of debris The destruction was
complete At o'clock the tide had reached
its highest point, as had also the gale, and
there was sudden lull in win! and rain.
The people began TO creep out Of the lee
ward rooms in the lower floors of their resi-
dences, and to comprehend the wreck that
had overtaken the city. The lull how
ever, WAS Of short duration. Fifteen
minutes after nine o'clock u sharp breeze
from the Southwest spraug ap, accompa.
i H., l,
soon drove everyone but hardy mariners
indoors again. Wind aud rain continued to
Increase until by ten o'clock fierce gale
was blowing from the west. This continued
unit! about one p. IN, when the wind died
out and the storm OF 1885 was over. How
sudden the change. Before six o'clock in
the afternoon the sun was shining softly on
the summer sea; the clouds were drifting
idly by, and the Battery: or what was left OF
it, WAS thropged with hundreds Of lassies |
and thci: SWANS, anxious to see how much |
havoc The storm could have done. 1t was
such change from dark to light, from win
ter TO summer, from storm to sunshine, as
can only be seen in Il place like Charleston,
where it is so rare TO have storm that its
very happening becomes the occasion of
general remark, and its cessation the oppor.
tunity for celebration. The damage to |
wharves will probably resah half.a-mllion
dollars, but large gangs Of hands are at
work ard in few days sufficient accommo-
datous for all possible business vii! be pro
vided