The morning news., 1888-09-20

Z
known as Walthour's field, high piece OF
arabic land, was hidden by more than ten
feet of water. Some idea may be had OF
the volume of the stream to those who are
familiar with the hight of Ebenezer land
ing, when it is known that the warehouse
was nearly one half under water. At New
landing the water is within three feet of
the caves of the warehouse 1t was the
intention to have extended the trip to Poor
Robin, but Capt. Fleetwood suggested that
Stokes bluff was preferable The ware
house at Poor Robin was turned half way
round by the freshet. No one lives
there, and the outlook was too unfavorable
for four hours of solitude and exposure to
the open air, so the trip ended at Stokes
bluff, seventy-6ve miles above Savannah at
2:l5 o'clock yesterday morning. Communi-
cation here with the high land was cut Off,
except at short distances for over two
miles. Edmunds Stephenson, an old colored
trusty for Mr. Maner, came out and
piloted the reporter into little cabin above
the flood, where the time between o'clock
and daylight was vigorously spent fighting
mosquitoes that came in swarms from the
unde growth, which grows rank about the
landing. The old man lost no time in
going back to his bed in one corner of the
cabin, and from that time on the lonesome
cry of the owl and the exasperatipg tenor
of the mosquito were the only sounds that
broke the hush of the early and lonesome
hours of the morning. After the old trusty
had his sleep out he took n boat and pad
died off for the high ground to provide his
sleepless guest with breakfast. Ia the
course of an hour he sent boy over with
a very appetizing meal, in which the veni-
son steaks were not the least delicious.
STORIES OF THE SUFFERERS.
Old Uncle Edmunds, who is an Isaak
Walton of the flood, and a Nimrod of the
field, brought down a red deer the day be-
fore, but that is small recompense for his
losses, f r he lost his corn, rice, potatoes
and cotton, and says he will haYe TO pay
800 for fertilizers and no cotton to show
for it, His story is a common one along the
Savannah valley on the South Carolina
side. He opened the agents office yesterday
morning, and the clerks desk was appro-
printed for breakfast table. The old man
turns an honest penny in various ways by
which he can throw an anchor to wind
ward as the guest Of Cluny Castle would
put it, but until he can clear Stokes bluff
OF mosquitoes and sand flies 1t will never be
a popular watering place.
Fighting sand flies with one hand and
writing, with a frail box lid for reportorial
escritoire, it was a relief when trio OF
Savannah hulters came down TO the bluff
to await the steamer Ethel on her way
W DhNduuhDs Auo ItIh was hChuou ny n.
M. Martin, Jr., ESQ, accompanied by his
guests, Messrs j. N johnson and w. G.
Hull, who hunted Monday and Tuesday on
the plantation Of Col A. NJ. Martin,
father of the host, and the hunters
were rewarded by killing eight
deer, some turkeys and smaller game,
beside, having great deal OF sport cattle
driving, the party driving 100 head to the
highlands after an exciting swim of two
lns fa,,r INfNxr
Mr.. johnson enjoyed immensely. Mr.. Mar
tin said that he swan his horse across cot
ton fields. Mr.. Martin said that while all
the South Carolina planters contiguous to
the Savannah have lost some stock he does
not believe that there are any heavy losses
as stock owners had ample warning of inn
pending danger, and got most of their cattle
out Of the swamps.
BRIDGES CARRIED AWAY.
There is great destruction to bridges re-
ported, which will keep back the cotton.
Among those reported by planters are
Brier creek, Ellisons, Jones', Bryant's,
Brannen's and Thomas creek The mail
carrier, by reason of the destruction to
bridges, has been unable to get through |
with the mails. The bridges on Beaver |
dam creek, Jacksonboro and divers are |
swept away. These bridges offered con-
Burke and Scriven), and owing to their |
and the delay in picking, from |
rains, it is said by planters that the move
ment in cotton will be retarded fully a
month
Major Smith, an Effingham planter, who
was passenger last night on the Ethel, said
that great damage has been done to bridges
in Scriyen and Effingham counties. Dis
cussing the cotton situation, he says there
will IA M cotton M fia<a - fhia
on account OF rust. This disposes of one
fourth the crop, rains and floods another
fourth, and of the remainder, one-fourth
has been picked aud the other fourth is open,
ready for picking, with discolored staple
and sprouting seeds, the result OF nearly
three weeks of continuous rains. ut is dis
said the Major "I don't know
what to try next; can't make any money
in cotton, and while in my immediate sec
tion we will probably save 60 per cent. of
the crop, it will not average over so per
cent, think, elsewhere"
When the boat reached Argyle island, il
was suggested that 1T would be doubtful
experiment for him to turn from cotton to
rice culture along the swamps or at tide
water. "Yes. The poor fellows have lost
all, q" he said, as he looked over the flooded
area.
RIVER COTTON HURT.
Another planter from the neighbOrhood
Of Ebenezer said, II have got no cotton out,
and that which will get out, / don't know
whether can get anything for it. | under
stand the Savannah mills wont take any
cotton, but clean white. That means that
they will not buy any cotton this season
then, for while it is not so discolored and
bad as some have seen, it is bad looking
stuff at best. We will not get more than
so per cent. of a crop this year in my sec
tion.n
1t may be said in review that cotton
patches varying in area from one
to twenty acres are wholly de-
stroyed all along the valley of
the Savannah in the lower lands Of the two
states, and while the losses may seem small
in detail they will be found to be very large
in the aggregate. To add to the gloominess
of the pr spect, by far the greater part Of
the small planters have lost promising
patches of corn, rice, potatoes and peas,
upon which they were depending to pro-
vision their families and their work stock
The fall of the river has been much more
rapid higher up than here. while at Eben-
ezer, at noon yesterday, the flood had re-
ceded but two feet by the mark, and not to
exceed one foot at the junction of the tide
water near the Charleston and Savannah
railway bridge
ON HUTCHINSON ISLAND.
The ricefelds at the head Of Hutchinson
Island were out of water at G o'clock last
night, although the tides had been up in
them. The shocks are intact, and while the
"a