The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-05-27
THE RAGING RIVERS.
DISASTROUS EFFECTS OF THE FLOOD
IN THE STATE.


Canal and other Public Property
Gloomy Reports of Great LOSSES to Far
mers.
COLUMBIA. May 2l.-We have q
deluge in South Carolina. No wonder
can be felt that the rivers are furious
and unmanageable, when it is learned
that the rainfall here night before last.
between 6 2. NJ. and A. NJ. was six
and ninetv-one-hundredth Of an inch.
This is what the gauge of the signal SER
vice office registered. as the observer re-
ports to-day. DR.. Jackson's smaller
gauge was oyerhowed as reported yes
terGaY.
Although the rain had ceased in this
section the rivers continued to rise, and
great uneaslness was felt here last night
as to the fate Of the two bridges which
connect Columbia with Lexington Coun-
ty-the one over Broad River, above
the city, and the other over the Congarec.
opposite. Columbia. Fears were enter
tanned also for the Canal. 4 large
force Of couyicts worked yesterday to
build ''protection embankment" at
the upper end of the Canal. and made
great progress. They were stopped at
sunset, leaving the bank five feet higher
than the water was at the time. 1t was
unfortunate that they were not kept at
work all night to insure the safety OF the
work, because what they had done
proved to be useless. Manager Ander-
son, of the Canal, was unfortunately
sick in bed and could not direct the
force as it should have been directed.
This morning alarming ru.nors were
circulated on the streets concerning the
bridges and .nc Canal. Shortly before
IL O'Clock a representative of the News
and Courier went down to the Congaree
bridge to begin a canvass Of the situation.
A large number of vehicles were found
collected at the Columbia terminus OF
the structure, having been employed to
convey sight-seers to the spot. Many
ladies were among the visitors. The
sight which met. the eye was wild and
thrilling. At the ferry crossing, Just
below the bridge, the river at its ordl-
nary level is $50 yards wide. Now
foaming mass Of water fully 500 yards
in width hurried downward toward the
coast.
The water had spread all over the
low!ands below the bridge, carrying de-
struction with it. The ferry approaches
and Pearce's granite Quarries were sub
merged. A negro house on the Colurl-
bia bank near the bridgeman's quarters.
s:,;s:s.sbYnerseti te the eavesfot the root.
A walk across the bridges furnished eX-
citcmcnt enough to stir the most slug
gish blood. The swollen stream was 4
secthing mass Of tawny water, speckled
with debris of all kinds. Huge logs, up
rooted trees. boxes and trash were hnr-
ried down the torrent at a speed which
could not be less than ten miles an
hour.
Th, water covered the great granite
bu,tresscs of the old bridge, about five
feet below the flooring Of the present
structure. 1t ragged against these piers,
swirling around them in huge cddics,
many yards in diameter, which boiled
like m;elstroms. The trlmultuous yell
low water, breaking into foam every
second. the black shapes Of trees and
logs dancing and whirling down the cur
rent or being momentarily arrested by
the blockade of the debris which formed
about some of the piers. formed q
strange contrast to the bright sunshine
overhead and the pretty dresses of the
ladies who. undismaycd by the aqueous
saturnalia, looked from the bridge upon
the rare spectacle.
The river at noon had risen two inches
since 10 A. NJ. Opinions differ as to
whether this flood is greater than tine
famous one of 1852. The bridge is built
upon piers superimposcd upon the piers
ofthc bridge of that year. 1t is five or
six feet higher than the old structure.
which was submerged in that year. Old
observers say that the river is three feet
lower than it WAS then, but other en-
perlenccd Judges dissent. and ii does not
seem probable that the first statement
is correct, as the water was at noon
within five feet of the flooring Of the
bridge. All agree that it is higher than
it was during the noted freshct Of 1868.
The canal was full of water, and
leaving the bridge still supreme above
the flood. a visit was made along the
bank to Tic Penitcntiary and the upper
works Of the Canal.
Superintendent Lipscomp Of the Peni-
tcntiary was in great distress about the
ravages Of the lreshct. He considered
the losses great, but could not estimate
what the damages to the Canal would
be.
At 10 O'Clock last night the protect
ing embankmcut at the upper end ofthe
Canal had broken, and from an empty
rcscavoir that great ditch was suddenly
transformed into 4 furious river. The
outer bank, III anticipation Of treshets,
had been securely rip-rapped except
where there was an old and naturally
solid bank.
The water ut noon filled the Canal to
a depth six feet greater than the "work-
inc level" which would be used if it