The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-20
AFTER THE FLOOD IN AUGUSTA.
Graphic PEN Picture of the Temporary
Venice Of America-Greene Street
Roaring River-Loss in the
City Half Million
Dollars.

AUGUSTA, September 1.-THE re-
ceding waters Of the biggest freshet
in Augusta's history are watched by
the entire population from windows
and boats. The water reached 3S feet
II inches, and at ) o'clock this morning
began receding. All day the water mas
flooded the entire business part Of the
city, and the streets were filled with
boats, men wading waist deep, and
water in the stores one to three feet
deep.
During the afternoon the river SUBJ
sided rapidly, leaving the stores and all
first floors with deep deposits of mud,
and cleaning began Immediately. Busi-
ness was entirely suspended, and as
there was no gas or electric light last
night, so there was no communication
to-day. The postoffice was waist deep
in water. Bankers were unable to un-
lock vaults or even enter the banks
and the telegraph office floor was ever
a foot under water; all stores were
closed. Added to this there was no
trains coming or going, and telegraphic
communication could only lie had to
Charleston last night and Savannab
thismorEing.
Locomotion is very difficult to-day on
account OF the torn up streets, and
during last night boats and men re-
fused to goin the darkness and angry
currents. Your correspondent was
lodged within half block Of the tele-
graph Office, hut could not reach it even
with Il boat. One unfortunate man was
swanped in a street corner in the centre
of the city and his piteous cries were
head for hours before a rescu;ng crew
got ropes, and by attaching themselves
together and to fences reached and
saved him, and strange to say only one
person, Williamson, was drowned, al
though several were reported to have
been drowned.
Greene street, the handsomest resi-
dence avenue South, is turned into
torrent. The third level of the canal,
which empties the main channel back
into the river, overfowed and broke at
the head of Greene street, making the
street its course through the city. Sew
eraI small houses were washed down,
and piazzas, brick foundations and cor
| ners of large houses We're washed out.
The corners of the houses of Joseph
Myers and S. Thomas Wright, two Of
the largest in town, were undermined.
The street itself is terribly torn up, and
the eddying current is dangerous for
even the strongest boats. The railroad
bridges across the river are all right,
except the trestling on the Carolina
side, but nearly half the spans of the
old foot bridge are swept away. This
ancient structure has been dangerous
! fer some time.
Bridges across the lower c;tnal levels
on several streets are gone, but the
main canal is all right. 1t was in dam
ger from the river above town last
nigt, but riprapping will put it back in
condition. Augusta can really be called
the American Venice for the past two
days, ,andits appearance was beautiful.
The loss cannot be fairly estimated
till the subsiding waters show the con-
dition Of the streets and sewers, but
cannot fall far short of half million to
the city and residents.
Crops il the lowlands are total loss,
and they will make the loss 81 1000, 600
Telegraph and railroad repairing crews
can hardly get out of town before to-
morrow, at which time Augusta Will
again be- IN communication with the
outside world. w.K.G.