Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-27
t. MICHAEL's sTEEPLE.

fell. For over century "de doom OF Ole
Sent Mlkell," as II was called by a proml-
nent Republican orator during the Blaine
Cleveland campaign, had stood the storm.
1t mad even escaped without injury the
rain of iron which was poured into the
city for almost TWO years during the late
war, and all Charleston had come 70 have
an abiding ard mistaken faith IN the
steeple. The Cyclone, however, proved
zoo much for it.
The velocity Of the wind had by this
time increased to a fearful rate. Inc
Wharyes were swept Of their sheds, not
timber of which was left standing. Inc
entire river front was demolished. II a
gigantic razor had been drawn over the
Wharves and shaved down the wharf
sheds more complete sweep could
scarcely have been effected. Everything
Law in ruins-pier heads. sheds Vessels,
offices and docks presented one mass OF
understandable confusion. such sight
had never before been witnessed in
Charleston. The Cyclone had done its
work thoroughly and in about 30 minutes.
Vessels were lifted up and landed IN what
had once been pier head. The roofs OF
what had once been wharf sheds hOated
ia 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 float
ed IN the docks amid mass OF debris.
The destruction was complete.
THE END.
At O'Clock the tide had reached its
highest point, az had also the gale, and
there was sudden lull in wind and rain.
The people began TO creep out OF the lee
ward rooms in the lower floors Of their
residences. and to comprehend the wreck
that had 0vertaken the city. The hull,
however, was of short dnrauOn. Fifteen
minutes after 9 o'clock sharp breeze
from the southwest sprang uD accom-
panied by sharp shower Of rain, which
soon drove every one but hardy mariners
indoors again. Wind and rain continued
TO increase until by 10 O'Clock fierce gale
was blowing from the West. This con-
tinued until about p. M, when the wind
died out and the storm Of 1850 was over.
SCENES ON THE BATTERY.
The storm, as viewed during its height
from the high Battery, was said by eye
witnesses TO have been as grand display
OF raging Natures anger as it is possible
10 conceive.
1t was about O'Clock in the morning
when the wind began to increase, and by
blowing from the southeast 10 bring the
water in the direction of the Battery with
q force greatly augmented by the nearly
flood tide and the bowling blast. With
terrific force and deatening roar the
mOuntain-like waves bounded against the
sea wall Of the nigh Battery. and re-
ceiving a sudden check here they would
burst into huge waterspouts, sending
their spray 30 feet in the air and coming
down in showers upon the buildings
along the water front and many Of those
situated at some distance In the rear.
Thus they came and went, with ag0ntzing
certainty, until the entire street seemed
arched over with water.
At about 7:30O'clOck the sea on the out
side was on level with the top OF the
wall. while the water on the inside was
about inches from the top. The ground
floors of the houses were from 3 to feet
under water. 1t WAS rushing through
w alter street with the speed OF mill race
and was deep enough in some places to
catch a tall man up TO the armpits. Some
thing of its tremendous driving power
may be imagined from the fact that 1t is
said to have been sufficient 10 carry the
water across the city TO Gibbes street.
THE SIGHT TO sEAwARD.
Looking seward at this time the sight
was one Of awful grandeur. The whole
surface OF the haI Dor was seething mass
of surging. towering pillows whirling
round and round in what seemed like
fendish glee at their OmnipOtent power to
tons of man. On top OF the waves, Ike
one vast snow drift, was a sheet Of boil
ing, rushing foam that scarcely seemed
70 touch the water as 1t was blown along
with the wind.
1t was just at this time. when the deaf
ening roar Of the raging blast was at its
height and the waves seemed bounding
and rOllicking with delight at their wan
ton destruction, that the Norwegian bark
Iii 4 at
quarantine. came driving down the har-
Dor before the wind like a mere chip on
the surface OF a whirlpool.
ROUND AND ROUND, AND ROUND
she was whirled by the raging elements.
and then, as If by some invisible giant
hand. her rigging and top-works were
the gallant stOrm-tossed bark lay a com
plete aud hopeless wreck on the turbid
surface OF the water.
At 1:45 O'Clock, when it seemed that the
water would gain the mastery and swal-
low up all before It, the wind shifted from
the southeast to the southwest, and the
waters were slowly and reluctantly
forced to recede.
One of the remarkable features of the
etorm on the battery is said TO be the sud
denness and rapidity with which the
water rose. One gentleman who saw the
water from the battery declares that, from
fits rapidity and fury of movement, it must
have been a tidal wave, or else il was due
to the terrific force of the wind piling up
wave upon wave in quick succession. IL
was grand sight, calculated TO awe and
fascinate the beholder at the same mo-
ment, aud not likely to be seen twice in a
lifetime.
THE WRECK OF TIE wHARVEs.
The most disastrous effects Of the cy-
clone were on the water front on Cooper
river. lt is impossible 10 even approx
mate the amount Of the loss viii b has
been incurred by the wharf owners and
ship owners Of Charleston. Many hun
dreds Of thousands OF dollars were eX-
pended on the wharves last summer In
order 70 bring the sheds and warehouses
mp 10 the standard required by the tnsur-
ance companies. In addition 70 this,
many thousands Of dollars were expended
this season IA putting the wharves in
condition for the cotton business, which
is expected to open by Sept. I. All this
property has been completely destroyed.
Never IN the history OF the city. indeed,
has the destruction been so complete.
IN THE HARBOR.
The casualties IN the harbor were nu-
merOus. The Norwegian bark Meabor,
Capt. Jensen, which arrived from Liver
pool on Monday afternoon and which was
anchored AZ the quarantine station,
drifted In towards the city and lost all
her masts and her bow. She managed IA