Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-09-15
AUGUSTA SUBMERGED.
The Worst Flood in the History Of the
City-Trom Three to Fifteen
Feet of Water in Many
Places.

The worst flood known in the history OF
Augusta, sGa., has just subsidized. The river
began rising ominously Friday, and at IL
o'clock Saturday reached 2S feet inches
At this point it began falling, and went
down to 81 feet by Sunday noon. This filled
the people with sense of security, all idea
of food was generally abandoned AMI the
citizens retired on Sunday night not gener->
ally apprised of the fact that ct O'Clock on
Sunday afternoon second rise had set IN.
This was the most rapid rise ever known IN
the history Of the river, the guage ut the
bridge showing the rise between P. N. and
la. NJ. Sunday night of five feet one inch,
or over fifteen inches an hour From four
to six inches is considered rapid rise. At
ter o'clock the rise continued at the rate of
ten inches on hour, and by daylight Ind
flooded the lower portions Of the city, and
the people were awakened by the water
running in on them. This occurred in many
instances before daylight, aud the unex-
pected rise, combined with the darkness,
caused great fear among them.
Awakened from sleep to find the water in
their houses and everything in darkness,
they did not know whether daylight was one
or six hours away and were panic-stricien.
The policemen and early morning rescuers
were greeted with wild screams from sub
merged houses and until daylight came and
with it assurance of rescue the panic was
complete. This, however, was confined to
area, embracing the upper eastern portion OF
the city on tue river front, the most serious
n 0nnrAtlVeS'
houses in particularly low section. All
the inmates were rescued, however, without
injury and taken to points of safety.
The river rose rapidly all day Monday and
Monday night, reaching maximum of 80
feet inch at l o'clock Tuesday morning,
which is the highest point on record. The
whole city, from the first level of the canal
to the river, was completely submerged, the
water varying from three to fifteen feet in
depth.
Private residences and stores in all parts
of the city were flooded, very few first floors
escaping water damage. The Chronicle
building, located on broad street, ono of the
highest sections Of the city, had the first
floor flooded. In the press-room the epl-
ployees were up to their knees in water and
it was only with great effort that it was
kept out Of the engineroom long enough to
run the presses to get out the mornings edi-
ton of the Chronicle. The high water pre-
cluded the service Of boys and one of the
editors of the Chronicle had to wade between
the Chronicle office and the Western Union
Office in water breast-high to send and re-
ceive Associated Press dispatches
To give an idea Of the extent of the flood
it is only necessary to state that river steam
boats could have easily navigated many OF
the streets. The Mississippi river in its
angrest mood never looked more dangerous
than the floods that rushed through our
streets. The crops on the lowlands along the
Savannah river have been utterly destroyed,
and the loss to planters must be very great.
In the freshet of 1910, the severest ever
known, the water did not reach its present
height by fifteen inches. There is consider
able distress in portions of the city where
people were compelled to seek refuge in
second stories and were cut off from food
supplies by the water.
The water commenced receding slowly
about o'clock Tuesday morning and at
there had been foil of three inches. On
account OF the extent Of the flood and the
large territory covered the waters have re-
coded so slowly all day that boats have been
in general use. As to the full extent of
damage to property no accurate estimate
can be given. Bridges and fences are
washed away on every hand and the canal
is injured considerably, two breaks in the
banks being reported. The foot bridge over
the Savannah river from Augusta to Ham
burg, S. c., had large portion OF it washed
away No trains have arrived or departed
for about forty-eight hours. Only one or
two deaths are reported.