The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-20

recollection of the oldest inlabitant has
the Congarce been as high as it was
to-day. IN 1855 a frcshet, which caused
the suspension of travel on the Colum-
bia and Greenvilfe Railroad for months,
bore away several spans Of the Conga-
rec bridge. The bridge was rebuilt,
with five feet added to its height.
Che extent of the freshet to-day may
be estimated from the fact that at p.
III. the river had risen to point less
than > feet from the flooring of the
bridge. 1t is useless to attempt a de
scription of the river as it appeared this
evening. The Mississippi at New
Orleans during an inundation is not
larger. The stretch of the flood was
enormous, and took in hundreds of
yards o! territory heretofore considered
safe Houses on the river bank were
up to the caves in water.
THE BUN OF TIE RIVER PLANTERS
in lower Ri"hland is complete. \ week
ago they had the most superb crop
prospects enjoyed for ten years, but
to-day they can expect nothing. Take
for instance the two State plantations
owned by Mr.. John c. Seegers. His
crops, which were magnificent, are
utterly ruined, and he will deem him
self fortunate if he can save part Of
the stock on the place, which is proba-
bly, entirely under water.
RUIN FOR TIE RAILROAD.
Enormous damage has bee: done to
the Columbia and Green1ille Railroad.
Trains did not leave or arrive on this
road to-day, and will probably not co
so for weeks to come. The damage to
the Charlotte Road can only be guessed
at, as there are no reports from Augusta,
but it must be great The fate of the
South Carolina Railway bridge at
kingville is in doubt. The Saluda at
the maximum point Of the flood to-day
was ! foot inches higher than the
Broad. The strain on the piers on the
Saluda side of the Congaree was terrific.
The swollen waters of the Saluda were
projected far oyer the Ccngaree to the
Broad River bank, and loaded the
stream with debris. \ huge uprooted
tree pressed against one of the piers Of
the Broad River bridge, which was
considered in momentary peril, but the
food was arrested just in time to save it.
TIE DANGER OVER.
At 80 the Congarce had fallen an
inch and tonight it is stationary. Be-
fore morning it is expected to subslde.
The following account will give ali idea
Of the situation before these later ac-
counts were made: At 1880 the river
was SO feet and slowly rising. In May,
1886, the highest was 81 feet 6 iches.
The sills supporting the floor Of the
Columbia bridge are barely one foot
from the water and constant vigilance
is necessary to prevent the Judgement
OF drift. The giving away Of Broad
River bridge would certainly involve
this fine structure in ruin. The water
iu the Columbia Canal is Oh d level with
the river current, the banks being sub
merged at the point where the city
watcr-works were destroyed in 1856.
There is also communication between
the Broad River and the Canal at the
point where the Columbia, Ncwherry
and Laurens Railroad bridge crosses
them.
At this hour, 1890 o'clock, large
force CT hands with sand bags are at
work, under Engineer Ellis, trying to
prevent serious break. The gates of
the bridge are kept closed, and only a
few OF the hundreds of siglt-secrS and
one vehicle at time are permitted 10
go upon it. The bridge Of the Char
lotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad
over the Congaree, at6p. m, was i'm
passable, the approach to the bridge Oh
the trestle having been forced by the
current four feet from lis normal posi-
ton, and the track on the bridge itself
being three inches out of lire. Until
the water subsidies there will be no
communication by the Charlotte, Co
lumbia and Augusta Railroad to Au-
gusta. NC. e.