The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-12
AUGUSTUS EVACUATION.
THE RIVER BEGINS ITS RETREAT
FROM THE CITY.

Thirty-Eight Feet and One Inch the
Highest Point Reached-vivid Pen
Pictures of the Exciting Seen es and
Incidents of the Invasion Many
Narrow Escapes from Death.
AUGUSTA GA, Sept II, II; 80 p. M.-The
water Is now receding. Last night was
horrible, and those who experienced both
say 1t equalled Charleston's first eartl quake
with the water rising, no lights, the fire
alarm ringing, and later in the night a lurd
blaze in the southwestern sky, telling of q
conhagration, constant rumors Of casual
ties, cries of capsizad boaters for help and
in many cases anxiety about the safety Of
the very shelter occupied tended to make
the bravest hearts quail. The most trench
ant pen fails to fully picture the situation.
Tonight, with the receding of the waters
the streets are filled with pedestrians who
are up to their waists in water wadiag.
Rumors are still rifo of loss of life, but
only one case is verified by an actual wit
ness. lie was a white man who was an en-
ployee Of one of the mills. and while in COM
pany with three others, was capsZed in the
strong current and did not rise any more
His comrades were saved ouly by great ex-
ertion after following them a mile. They
chung to wreckage.
SWINGING TO TREES
The NEWS correspondent saw at least
fifteen persons swinging to trees and in
houses who begged to be rescued, but boat
men would not approach them on account
of the perilous current. The police force =
badly scattered, and is just being pulled
together.
The fire department crew huddled in a
heap in the middle of Broad street,
and spent the night up to their
knees in water. They will start
to work in the morning pumping out cell
lars. Several buildings have collapsed,
one of them being the large warehouse OF
Lee & BoGhwe!l, wholesale grocers, and
the wreck is awful to contemplate. To-
night the community is celebrating tho
falling of the water by firing Off rockets
and fire crackers. Everybody is at this
hour tubilaat in the extreme.
MUCH STOCK DROWNED.
Much stock has been drowned, and in
numerous instances cows and horses have
been taken into rooms.
Holes in the sidewalks endanger the lives
of those who attempt to walk. One man
was only saved by strenuous efforts from
being carried into a cellar by the suction Of
the water.
Central hotels, and some hospitable homes
near by, are doing all they can to accommo-
date the demands upon them.
The Arlington corner was crowded to.
night with waders. Rubber boots are USE
less, as the water goes over them. The
crowd at the Arlington is composed Of
young men in exuberaut spirits and they
cry for speech after speech from prominent
citizens, and the most extravagant speeches
are greeted with cheer after cheer.
WORK OF THE JOURNALISTS.
The newspaper men came to the front
handsomely, and have labored since Sunday
night to record all the events of the freshet.
All the bakeries are to work up their en-
tire stock of -four in the morning for the
relief Of those in want.
There has been considerable drinking,
but much of it was done to dispel chills.
Willie jackson was rescued from trees in
Green street, where tho worst current was,
which turned over all craft that pr resented
a broadside to it. Al railroad traffic and
postal facilities are suspended, and there has
been no mail service since Saturday.
oETTTINa OUT THE CHRONICLE.
The Chronicle issued a paper this morn
ing with four feet of water at its front door
and the flood threatening its furnace fires
every moment. The editorial staff ard com
posing room force remained in the building
all night. The reporters labored under
great difficulty and worked in wet clothing.
J. S. Cohen, as reported, narrowly escaped
drowning and his clothes are now lodged in
trees.
Mayor May had advices that two spans
of the foot bridge across the river to Ham
burg were swept away by the food. For
the last thirty-six hours all communication
has been carried on In boats.
There have been several instances where
l..A
tempted TO reach the homes with the coffin
in boats. Undertaken Platt had a narrow
escape from drowning and almost lost his
ghastly cargo.
FAMILIES SEPARATED.
The separation of families by the water,
and uncertainty about the whereabouts and
fate Of different members, caused great
anxiety throughout The community.
Cows, horses, dogs, cats and chickens
hoated through the principal streets and
filed the air with their cries.
Stores were flooded up TO the counters and
stocks are floating about.
The damage cannot be estimated. Every
store in the business portion Of the town
was invaded by the water.
K. @. Rogers, a furniture dealer, started
home about dark in a boat. he was thrown
out and lost sight of his boatmen in the
gathering darkness. He followed the cur
rent until he was swept into a tree in the
park, and was there found this morning
greatly exhausted.
sHATcHED FROM DEATHS CLUTCH.
Willie Farmer, young man employed In
the Central railroad office, attempted to
reach Greene street, but was swept away,
and rescued when on the point Of dro owning
by two negro boatmen.
Two white boatmen rescued three men
to-day from trees on the southwest corner
of Pollock and Greene streets where they
had swan from an overturned boat Mon
day afternoon, about o'clock. They were
weak from thirst and hunger
Dr.. W. Ii. Doughty, Jr., had thrilling
adventure and considered himself safe when
he caght friendly limb and clambered up
in tree in the middle Of Green street
yesterday afternoon. Chief Frank Rou-
lette. of the fire department, had to strip
aud swim to him with safety line to rescue
him.
ROUGH ON MESSENGER BOYS.
Telegraphic facilities were badly crippled
to-day. Messengers are out trying to 6es
liver kilograms in boats, but cannot find the
people wanted. The people are also ip
search of the messengers, thus reversing tue
regular order.
There are probably not half dozeu
bridges in place in the city. They havd
been torn up and swept away.
The canal bank is broken and it Will take
ahonf Ftnnfh m rapuir If