Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-14
DEATHIN THE DOWNP0UR
NIGHT OF HORROR AMONG
THE CITIZENS OF OHIO.


Twenty-Five COrpses Already RscOv-
cred and Eleven still Missing at Xenia
Millions in Losses on Property
Railroad and Telegraph COmmunica-
tion Cut of In Every Direction.
XEN1A. o., May 13.-About : O'Clock
last evening terrible clouds were seen
gathering and terrific lightning was fol-
lowed by peals of thunder. This lasted
nil 9 O'Clock, when an extraordinary clap
of thunder seemed to open the gates and
rain fell in torrents, People living in
houses on Water street escaped by every
yay possible. The spout seemed to
vent its fury on that portion Of the city,
FOR a stretch of $50 yards the Little
Miami railroad is swept away. The
spout struck houses on Water street and
tore them to pieces as if they were shells.
A resident of the street states that within
Two minutes after the clap of thunder be
stood in water up to his waist, he being
about twenty-five yards from the creek.
NINE LIVES JEoPARDIZED.
When the waters reached the residence
Of Aaron Ferguson it was swept away
with nine inmates and lodged against a
bridge. where they were afterward
rescued. The next damage was at the
coal ward of Samuel Clark, in which was
located a tenement house, occupied by
family named Howell, nine in mum.
Der. Up to 9 O'Clock last night not
one of them had been heard from. The
next point of destruction was in what is
known as the bottoms" A dozen houses,
occupied mostly by colored people, were
nnyona of
lost. and the railroads leading out of the
CITY we're swept away so. that it is impos-
sible 10 hear from outside points. At
least a dozen trains are here and within
a few miles Of the city. Telegraph wires
are down and business has been sus-
pended.
TWO FAMILIES SWEPT AWAY.
One entire family of seven persons
white named Morris, was swept away.
The last seen of them was at the Mia mi
street bridge, when "A man was seen at a
window by the terrOr-stricken crowd
waving a lighted lamp. The next instant
the house collapsed and they were gone.
Only one boy, 3years of age, has been
found. Another family of seven (colored }
persons were similarly swept away. The
work Of finding bodies still continues to-
1ight.
The Mayors office has been turned into
a mOrgue and there are now twenty-five
bodies there. The loss of property is
great. Whole lumber yards and all the
bridges are gone completely. The scenes
in the devastated district are indescrib-
able.
CLEARING AWAY THE DEBRIS.
Forces of men are busily engaged clear
ing away the debris and hundreds of peo-
pie surround the places, Strangers have
begun to pour into the city from every
direction. The Council has appropriated
81 600 for immediate use in the burial OF
victims. A private subscription
has already reached into the thousands.
A committee is canvassing the
city for clothing and bedding, The rink
has been turned into a refuge for the
homeless, who are many. All the aid
possible is needed from every source,
Among the losses are Mcdowell & Tor
renee, lumber. $4,000; Miami Powder
Company, $4,000; Little Miami railroad,
$l2j,000: private individuals, $500 The
city engineer places the city loss al
10000. The Little Miami road has about
sixteen miles swept away. In addition
10 the above, two more bodies were found
this evening, being children, and they are
not identified. The complete number o.
deaths whose bodies have been found il
twenty-five, with eleven still missin &.