The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-09-20
ANDERSON. S. c., THURSDAY MORNI

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food was an assured fact, and nearly
everybody vas out of bed. Then the rise
continued as follows: 4 a. NJ, 80 feet, 6
inches; 5 a. m., 33 feet, 81 inches; 6 a.
M, "a feet; a. NJ, "a feet, u inches; 8
q. M, IS feet; 9 a. M, IS feet, 44 inches
10 q. m., IS feet, 9. inches; l l a. NJ, sc
feet, 2 inches; II NJ, SO feet, 81 inches
1 p. M, S6 feet, u inches; 2 p. M, SO
feet, 81 inches;3 p. m., 36 feet, liz
inches; p. m., 81 feet, II inches; 5 p.
M, 81 feet, 3! inches ;6 p. NJ, 81 feet, 81
inches; - p. M, 81 feet, Z inches.
The rise then continued till Monday,
about midnight, when it attained 20 feet
and one inch. At that hour Augusta
was in her most perilous situation-the
most periloua, in fact, in her history.
The banks of the canal had given away,
her streets were surging streams; her
people were unable to tell what wopld
follow. Business men were unable to
move their goods, and families could not
leave their homes. Her level.headed
people realized the situation, and, leaving
their homes did all that could be done to
restore an easy feeling, if such thing
was possible. The police and fremean,
under the leadership of their chiefs, were
on hand working, too. Except in some
portions of Broad street locomotion was
utterly impossible. The few boats which
we're out could not be handled in the
dark with safety, go swift were the cur
rents in the street. Those who moved
about on Broad street did so up to their
hips in water.
This, of course, was fun to the small
boy, who vas high enough to keep his
head shoat, but it vas not at all funny TO
the grown up man. Some time after mid
night the waters began to fall, at first
very slowly, and by daylight this morning
it had gone down four inches. With
daylight. and receding waters, the people
began to feel better aud by 10 o'clock
everybody was happy and turning the
food into picnic; boats began to grow
abundant and occasionally q lady could
be seen yachting. The boats, however,
were used by men who were compelled
to 20 out, and were used also in removing
persons rom their homes. As the day
wore on the waters continued to recede,
and by dark Broad street showed up in
many places.
It will be two or three days yet, how.
ever, before the water leaves The town.
Just now it is impossible to give anything
like the damage done. Augusta covers
about five square miles, and four f ifths of
this vas inundated. Every street in the
city was under water except the Bublin
and the West side, where the water did
not 60. Fences have been washed away !;
houses have been moved and bridges torn
to pieces, but the exact amount of damage
cannot be told till the water disappears.
The canal banks have been torn, how
badly cannot be told and the mills must
remain idle till the repairs are made
I shall not attempt TO give anything
like q detailed account of the losses; that
is simply impossible at present. 1t is
necessarily great but the greatest part OF
it is the astonishing manner in which the
people have taken it. They laugh at it
and say: sob, it's The greatest thing that
ever happened for Augusta, see how ne
will come out. 1t is the biggest adver-
tisement we have ever had, we recognize
that it is grave disaster which will en-.
tail great personal Inconvenience and
large municipal expense, bat we face the
matter with sturdy, reaolute determi-
nation to bring even better things out of
the temporary calamity"
The high waters have caused a great
deal of suffering. Whole families have
been without anything to eat since Sun.
day night, but tomorrow they will all be
fed bounteously. When the waters began
to rise Sunday night, it was 80 rapid that
no thought of anything TO eat was in.
dulged in. All edibles were left in the
pantries, as the people went higher in
the buildings, and when hunger mani,
tested itself the water had destroyed the
-four and washed the meats away.
In many instances families bave had
an absolute two days fact; but tomorrow
they will have feast. The mayor has
just issued a proclamation in which he
asserts that those who need help and can
not call for it will be supplied at their
homes tomorrow by committees in boats.
This is just like Augusta. There have
been many rumors of loss of life, but so
far only one person has been
drowned. Bolivar Williams, an employe
of the sibley mills, with his brother un.
dertook to make money out of boat.
They had two passengers, and in CROSS
ing the canal the boat was capsized.
The two passengers escaped SO did
Williams brother, but he went under.
The trip across the canal is not only dan.
gerous but lengthy. This morning three
commercial men hired a boat. Their
sailors started out and the boat reached
the Arlington at twelve o'clock to night.
For awhile rumors we're abundant that
the entire party had been lost. The Dow
dy boys are we'll known as hunters and
fisher men. They tried to cross the
waters with lady and gentleman, and
nothing has been seen of the party
since.
Conducting a funeral in boats is most
unusual occurrence, but it was done here
yesterday. Undertaken Platt had three
calls for coffins. 1t was solemn thing