The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-30
BOOM OF THE STREAMS.
THE OCoNEE RIVER STOPS RISING
AT ATHENS.

ATHENS, GA, March 29-The Oconee
river at this place has not been rising since
4 o'clock this morning, and it is hoped that
if the weather remains clear tomorrow the
waters will recede, and the factories and
mills commence work again. The rise in
the last few days has been over three feet.
All the roads and small houses close to the
river banks have been submerged. The i'm
mense sheet of water rolling over the fac
tory dam presented a grand appearance.
The railroad authorities have placed watch
men on all the bridges and trestling to stop
trains in case of washouts, or other damage
done by the spreading waters.
To-day was the time set apart by young
farmer of this county for his nuptials with
a fair and lovely lady. The invited guests
and groom elect had all assembled at a typi-
cal Southern home waiting for the clergy
man to arrive and make the couple one, but
the pastor came not. Later on message
arrived stating that the creeks were up and
the minister had been advised not to at
tempt crossing them. The marriage has
been postponed until the water recedes and
the ''clouds roll by"
RISING AT AUGUSTA.
AUGOSIA, VA, gu us TlNbT
here has been slowly but surely rising all
day. At II o'clock the register at the
bridge showed the height to be 80 feet
At the same hour water burst out of the
sewer at the corner of Greene and Cum
ming street in front of r. p Sibley's resi-
dence. The section of the city next to the
river is covered with water from 10 feet
over the banks out to Broad street, while
the canals have carried the backwater into
the milling section of the city, which is
now vast sea. One foot more will cut Off
the section south of the second level of the
canal from the Broad street portion. The
food of last August was 81 feet Z
inches high. The signal service officer
says the heavy rainfall up the country leads
him to think that the water will rise for
some hours yet. Some merchants are busy
tonight emptying their cellars and placing
their stocks out of reach OF the advancing
waters. In the upper portion of the city
homes in the bottom lands have long since
been abandoned, and the water is half way
up to the ceilings. All manufacturing in
terests run by water power have been com
PEELED to shut down. Boats of every de-
script on are in great demand,
and are plying several principal
streets. The Augusta and Knoxville road
train is unable to reach the city tonight
The track is submerged for almost mile
within the city limits. 1t is feared that in
the morning transportation will be threat
ened materially. All the roads up to last
accounts have been fortunate, and no wash
outs of any consequence are reported. Great
care is exercised in crossing submerged
bridges and trestles.
TRACKS UNDER WATER.
M1LLEN, GA, March 29.-The terribly
hard rains have flooded the country for
miles around The water is running over
the track in several places between Millen
and Midwife. Supt. Hege and Road Master
Marvin are on hand with force of hands
watching the dangerous places and repair
ing washouts. The flood seems to be more
in the creeks and branches than in the river,
and the country is a vast sheet of water.
The water is now falling and trains will run
over the road tomorrow. Farmers are suf-
fering from the continued rains, not being
able to do any work.
NO DAMAGE AT THoMASvILLE.
TOWNSVILLE, GA, March 29.-There
was no storm here to-day and very little
rain. The sky cleared off at 5 o'clock this
afternoon. No damage whatever has been
done in this vicinity.
BRIDGES GOING.
HALCYoNDALE, GA, March 29.-Rain
has been falling several days, and it is ap-
pretended that the food will do great dam
age to farmers along the line of the Ogeechee
river as they have planted their crops.
The bridges in this vicinity are being washed
away. The river is impossible, and is ris-
ing rapidly without abatement.
ALBANY ALMOST ISOLATED.
ALBANY, GA, March 29.-The flood has
been terrible in this vicinity. Nearly all
communication has been cut off with the
outside world owing 10 the washouts on the
various railroads. Several trains laid over
here to-day, being unable to proceed
further Dreadful wnshouts are reported
along the line of the Southwestern railroad.
All communication with Montgomery has
been cut off. A long trestle has been washed
away at the Muckalee creek above Smith
vile, and another between Andersonville
and Americus. Passengers TO the North
had to be transferred by
pole car across a temporary trestle-
work over the Muckalee. But one mail has
been coming in daily, and that is several
hours late. An engine has toppled into the
creek, and has to be removed 10 permit the
rebuilding Of the trestle. Large quantities
of perishable freight was stopped here to-
day, consigned from Florida points to the
North and West. 1t could go no farther,
and was sold for express charges. Shad
sold for So per barrel, and strawberries for
So per crate. The city has been full Of
strangers on the delayed trains. The farms
are under water and the crops ruined. No
blowing can be done. The country is one
great pond.
IN CENTRAL GEORGIA.
MACON, March 29.-Last night there was
considerable rise in the river, and the
waters were still rising this morning, but
slowly, and as yet there is no special fear Of
a large freshet Much drift wood IS float
ing down to-day, which is an indication
that the Ocmulgee higher up is still rising
The rains ceased TO fall about o'clock this
morning, but the weather still remains un-
settled. though the atmosphere is
slightly cooler. No very serious
damage is reported on the
railroads Trains went out on the Central,
Macon and Western, Georgia Southern,
and Cogington and Macon roads to-day, but
transfers were necessary on the Central
and on the Southwestern. This morning
for the first time in two days, a North
bound through train reached Macon via
the East Tennessee road, but no passage can
be made at juliet owing to washout.
Reports from the country say the rains
were very heavy, and the land washing is
great. Several mills are reported washed
away, and also some bridges No severe
damage has been done in Macon.
FORT GAINES AND THE FLOOD.
FORT GAINES, GA, March 29.--The
freshet in the river is very high and within
few inches of the Harrison freshet Of 1871,
and is still rising slowly The village Of
Franklin, Ala, opposite Fort Gaines. is
almost submerged. No boats are plying