The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-19
THE FLOOD AT ITS HIGHT.
MILES OF COUNTRY INUNDATED
AND THE LOSS UNTOLD.


where-Damage to the Railroads
Work on the Charleston and Savan-
nah Breaks-The City Flooded by a
Heavy Rain-The Damage in the In
terror.
When the high tide was at full at 6
O'clock last night, there YVES very little TO
be seen opposite the city but water. There
was no indication of a subsid ence Of the
food, although it is believed that its full
volume is here. Ii has not risen, however,
TO 50 high point as was expected. At the
same time 1t has been none the less dis
astrous to planters.
Looking across the river yesterday after
noon, from the tall tower of the MORNING
News building it was plain to be seen that
the water is much higher than the day pre-
vious, and some of the rice ricks are
reached by the food. At the point oppo-
site the foot of Hutchinson's Island the
banks have held well and one or two of the
rice fields were only partially flooded at
dark last night,
Mr. Mitchell King returned from his plan
tation last night, as did most of the down
rive planters. At O'Clock when Mr. King
left his place, the water was inches higher
than it was last year at its maximum. Mr..
Kings entire plantation is under water.
THE HOUSES FLOODED.
The water in the negro cabins was knee
deep, and in Mr.. Kings plantation house it
was several inches over the floors. The
plantation hands took refuge in the barns
out OF the waters reach. Mr. King says
that bis early estimate that possibly one
fourth Of the rice acreage would be saved
will not hold good in his case. Had there
been no freshet and had the weather been
favorable he anticipated a harvest of 5000
bushels Of rice: as it is he has saved
only about l., 100 bushels. His experience is
even better than that of the planters fur
Their up the river, who will be heavier losers
than he There was no indication last night
that there would be any damage to Hutchi-
sons Island, and while the danger cannot be
said to have disappeared, yet there is a
feeling of security which can
only be shaken by another freshet or high
east or northeast winds.
ON NEW RIVER
The indications are that the plantations
on New river may escape the flood, but as
the Savannah river crossed country be-
tween Ferrebeeville and Hardeeville and
poured a volume of water three miles wide
into New river, it may prove disastrous to
crops there. This cut off had much to
do in lowering the hight of the Savannah
river here.
The damage to the banks will be irrepar-
able until the water has entirely receded
from the fields. They have already given
way in many places, and as it is impos-
sible to fill in the breaks now
they will continue to widen as
long as the food continues. The danger
is from the inside as well as from the t.
side The inside of the banks is not built to
a current AS soon as the river
begins to fall the pressure of the water on
the fields will be likely to break through,
and thus do double damage
ON THE ALTAMAHA
Capt. Bravo of the steamer City of Amer
icus, who arrived here yesterday to take
command of the new steamer Maggie Belle.
says that the water is not as high in the Al
tamaha river this year, by 3 feet. as it was
last year, and it is already falling. Capt.
Bravo lay at Piney Bluff on the Altamaha
Sunday night, and the water fell IL inches
in twelve hours. The captain does not
think that the rice planters will suffer by
the freshet, but they may lose some rice by
the heavy rains.
DANGER IN THE TIDES
The spring tides in the next few days are
ilkelE W 10 BOOU uettl Oh damage III SET
ting the water back on the fields aud keep
ing it there. If the flood reached its hight
last night, and there is no other freshet be-
hind it, the water will, of course, not stay
on the fields as long AS if it were backed
up by an after freshet. The dam.
age to the rice, though, has been
done, and the planters have nothing to do
bat wait for the water to subside. The
damage to the banks and canals caunot be
In fact nothing can be told until
the fields are entirely fre4 of water. 1t was
stated yesterday that the water had gone
over Col. sScreven's place and other places
near there. Below the city the marshes are
covered with water.
THE TYBEE ROAD UEINJURED.
There were rumors Yesterday that the
Tybee railroad had been badly washed,
but Supt Collins said last night
that the road bed is intact, and
has not been injured in a single spot. He
went over the road yesterday afternoon,
and there were no signs of a weak spot
anywhere. If the road will stand the
present high water, Supt Collins says that
there is no danger from ordinary freshets,
which good many believed would soften
and wash away the roadbed. The road Will
run its regular schedules, and people will
have good opportunity to see the freshet
from the trains
THE C. AND S. SHUT OFF.
Travel on the Charleston and Savannah
railway was shut off all Of yesterday, but
General Manager Haines said last night
that it is probable that transfer will be
made this morning at the washouts. The
abutments of six culverts and portions
Of the road bed between the IS
and S7-mile posts have been washed away.
Roadmaster Craig and large force Of
bands are at work on the breaks and it was
stated last night thst the repairs will be
completed by tonight, and that trains will
be started across. The water is backed up
along the road for four miles and the country
Is a vast lake. There has so far been no
damage to the bridge across the Savannah
OF TO the long trestle on the South Carolina
SIDE, and the officials of the road say that
they do not fear any damage at that point.
The force OF the food was shown yester-
day morning when the steamship Tallahas-
see, which had just arrived from New York,
and was being docked, in attempting to
wind around parted two finch hawsers
from the bow and stern. She then drifted
down the stream as far as the exchange
when her anchor was let 20, after which
she steamed up to her wharf again and was
moored head up.
ON THE CENTRAL
The trains on the Central came in and
went out yesterday on better time. The
through fast mail train from Atlanta was
only thirty minutes late last night. Supt.
Hege is still at work at the breaks, and
hopes soon to have everything repaired so
that trains may pass over without any
trouble. The water along the road has
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