The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-18
fHE FLOODS MAD SWEEP.
THE LowLANDS COVERED AND
THE WATER STILL RISING.

Thousands of Acres Inundated and
the Hight of the Flood Not Yet
Reached Strengthening the Rauks
of Eutchinson's Island - Watching
the Water from the City Merchants
Still Hauling Goods from the
wharves-The Situation on the
O-eechee-The Freshsts in the Coun-
try.
The food is here and the rice fields are
covered with water. Thus far only one Of
the plantations has escaped, and that is the
plantation of Col. John ScreveH. Col
Screven said last night that he believes he
will be able TO keep the water Off of his
place. Instead OF hurriellY harvesting his
rice he has worked leisurely. taking early
precautions TO strengthen portions of his
banks that be had any reason to suspect Of
weakness, and prosecuting that work up TO
Yesterday His place was not flooded last
year, and he reasons that as the bulk of the
water this year is not of 50 great a volu ne
as last year, he ought to escape without
damage, but TO lessen the danger he con-
cluded to strengthen his banks.
NOT AS BAD AS IT MIGHT DE.
Taxing the two first freshets of August,
1887, "a feet and 81 feet. gives an average
bulk of SO feet; taking the two first freShets
of September, 1888, 81 feet and 2S feet, 1T
gives an average bulk of but "A. 8 feet. Here
is a difference If So feet. Now the average
bulk of the 1887 rise, "a feet, 80 feet and 80
feet, is 80 feet, while that of 1888, 81 feet,
Is feet and 80 feet, is but 20 feet, a falling
off in bulk of feet, and with the figures
before him, Col. Screven does not think the
GOOD of this year will be rs disastrous as
last year. At any rate, he says, he has OK
cellent drainage on his place and can stand
feet more of water, on high tide, than
there was last night. He admits, however,
that he will know better this morning
whether the foods will go over or break
through his banks He has saved and
entire acreage OF which amounts to 475
acres.
AT WORK on THE BANKS
Chairman Nell of the drainage committee
of council has had a force of men on Hutch
ison Island Strengthening the bank which
devides the dry culture from the water
culture Of the island. City Surveyor Col
w. J. VIM made pers )nal examination
of the banks some days ago and found two
places on Back river that he considered too
weak TO stem the h)od, and a force was
Immediately put 70 york to strengthen the
suspected places. A gang of twenty men
were on the island yesterday finishing up
the work, and Col. Winn said last night
that he does not believe the water will come
upon the island below the dam. The rice
above the dam, Mills 81 Taylor's crop of 500
acres, Is under water.
THE FRRsHET AT ITS HIGHT.
Capt William T. Gibson, manager of the
Savannah river line OF steamers, said last
night that the bulk of the freshet is here,
and the river will be on stand some time
this morning This opinion is not shared
by the planters, who say that the highest
point reached by the river at Augusta, 35
feet 10 inches, was on Tuesday morning,
and that il would be an uuheard-of thing
for the full volume Of the food TO reach
here in seven days. Besides, they argue
that there is a great difference between the
channel here and at Augusta, it being mar
row there and must soon run out, but when
il approaches the mouth of the river, where
IL is affected by the tides, and spring tides
at that, the danger is greater.
j. II. Uhlman, planter on the mainland
above Argyle Island, was in the city yester-
day, and lie says that everything Is lost up
there. 1t will bea clean sweep. There is no
hope for the young rice which comprised
the greater proportion of the crop, the early
planting being impeded by drought.
THE FLOOD SPREADING OUT
The volume Of water on the Carolina rice
fields was not as large Yesterday morning as
was expected, but last night the waters had
spread all over the low lands, and when
darkness came on the tide had not reached
Its maximum hight. This morniag as far
as The eye can reach, Hutchinson Island
excepted, will be- a vast lake, with here and
there knoll cut of water, with its ricks OF
rice heating and adding to the damage from
the food.
Viewed yesterday afternoon from tho
tower Of the MORNING NEWS building, a
scene of desolation was spread out TO the
northwest north and northeast of the city.
The food, backed up by the tide was grad
ualiy working its way across the rice fields
toward Back river, and from the broken
banks above the city another body of water
was rolling eastward to meet the advancing
tide. The work of the planters in strength
ening their banks had been in vain. Moth
ing could stay the impetuoeity of this phe-
nomenal food. In no direction was there
a thread to hang a hope on
WATCHING THE WATERS.
The roofs OF buildings aud tie balconies
on the bay were crowded with siqhtseers,
who watched the rise of the food that is
running not less than 5000 acres Of unhar-
vested nee. Those with marine glasses
could see here and there stock being driven
along the canal banks to higher points for
safety, but the work of the planters was
done. Not another sheaf could be
saved, and they watched in silepcs the
fruit Of their labors disappearing in tho
rising waters. Looking out through tho
drizzling rain that was falling at intervals,
nothing but waste of waters met the eye,
and still the waters rose, and the tide
swelled until darkness concealed, but did
not,stay the work of destruction. Those
who visit the city front this morning will
find the food near its maximum, and
grand and picturesque in lis
wide spread. with here and
there a little green island dotting the
lake. an oasis in the desert Far to the north
a fringe of forest trees on the Carolina
mainland borders an expanse of water
stretching for miles in every direction,
where but two days before rich fields of
rice were ripe for the harvester, or the
thrifty young rice was about to swell TO
budding or burst in blossom. The wand of
the enchanter never wrought such change
a change that will entail loss Of third Of
a million dollars to the rice planters.
TALK ABOUT THE FREsHET.
When will the waters recedea has taken
the place Of the question Of but yesterday.
when viii the 3S-foot rise be herei 1t is not
probable that the river will begin to fall
here before tonight and possibly to-mor-
row, but the spring tides will affect the
river 50 that the fall viii be slow and vex-
atious. II the wind veers to the eastward
END remains two or three days in