The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-08
ILIAD OF THE SEA ISLANDS.
The Tale Of DR.. BabCOCk As Told to
Gov. Tillmdn.

source Forty-hve Thousand Popu-
lation, of Which 10000 Are Starv-
ing-The Very Earth Made Sterile by
the Salt Waves-One Thousand Have
Persisted, and the Survivors Must
Be Supported Until April by Charity.
Columbia, S c., Sept THE awful
enormity of the disaster on the storm
swept coast of South Carolina is at last
realized. 1t proves to be the calamity of
the century. A death roll of several
hundred persons develops into almost
that many thousand while absolute de-
structiOn extends to twenty thOus-
and persons, nineteen-Jwentieths of
whom are ignorant negroes. These aw-
full facts have been aSCertained by DIR. j.
W. Babcock of this city, who spent four
days as the special representative of Gov.
Tillman at Beaufort and vicinity In
point of fact the whole truth
is not yet known, as, on account
OF the impossibility of at present making
a circuit of the score or more islands
that makeup this archipelago; but enough
has been developed to fully warrant the
foregoing statement as to death and de-
vastation. All these islands were sub
merged, and the seething waters literally
aunihilated almost everything before
them, scarcely leaving land mark
These twenty thousand persons are now
confronted by the terrOrs of starvation
and pestilence. These facts have caused
Gov Tillman to give all his personal at
tentiOn to the situation, and he is now
working with might and main to procure
relief
ANOTHER PROCLAMATION.
He tonight issued a proclamation to
the people of the United States, appealing
to them to make contributions to the
~, Al,-E
pie will have to be fed by charity for six
months, and that it will take $4,000 to
furnish them with bread alone. He calls
upon the whole people to aid him, and
pledges his official word that their charity
shall not be misapplied. The Contribu-
tiOns that have been made are a mere
bagatelle in comparison with what will
be needed.
The governor has telegraphed the
mayor of Charleston to come to this city
at once and confer with him as to the APP
pOintment of central committee to take
charge of the work.
DIR. BABCOCK's APPALLING REPORT.
His Excellency B. R. Tillnan, Governor of
South Carolina, Sir-As a result of the in
Vestigation made at your request, I submit
the following report: Three days were spent
in making personal visits to the islands
around Beaufort, and there found the situa-
ton so serious as to demand immediate at
tention. The facilities for communicating
between the tier of islands and the
country between Charleston and Sa-
vannah at best are poor, aud just at
this time especially so. In addition to visit
ing numbers Of the islands, inquiry was made
through reliable sources of the existing con
dtt1onS in parts not personally inspected 1t
Is with great regret that, after careful in
quiry, must confirm the reliability of the
published accounts OF the number of deaths,
loss OF crops and devastation Of that section
WHERE THE LOSS FELL HEAVIEST
that uOptiOr Of South CaroIlpo l~poyB,, ~,
the sea islands, and those parts of Colleton
Berkeley, Beaufort and Charleston counties
subjected to the tide water influences were
more or less seriously damaged by the
cyclone and high tide Of Sunday, Aug. 81
The destruction of crops and homes was more
especially noticeable on the exposed islands
which include Johns Wadmalaw, Edisto
Fort Royal, CoOsaw, St. Helena and others
adjacent. The territory adjoining Combahee
Ashepoo ana tho neigh 1oring rivers was
iound 10 nave suffered serious losses. At the
lowest estimates fully 1000 lives were lost
the coroner OF Beaufort places the number
at 500 The storm swept away at least half
the homes on the islands facing the ocean
such as COOsaw, st. Helena and Edisto Island
may state that on Landsend, Po1lvWanda
and Hope plantation the survivors are
crowded into the few houses that withstood
the storm.
POPULATION OF $4,000.
These Islands are inhabited by population
OF about $4,000 people, most of whom are de-
pendent upon their crops for support. Some
income is derived from work in the phosphate
mines. The tide covered most OF the islands,
and in the lowlands on the mainland the
storm had almost as disastrous effect on the
crops. The salt water entirely killed such Of
the cotton, potatoes andepea crop as it GOV
cred and the wind storm blew down the corn
crop. Inc nlgh tide and long SubmerSiOn of
lhe rice crop has ruined it. In short the plan
tatlons of that section have no right to ex-
pect more than an eighth of the ordinary
crop. With their homes destroyed their
crops ruined, and the phosphate industry
paralyzed by the loss of its equipments there
Is very little for these people to do. They
nave no resources their all was in the de-
stroyed crops. They are willing enough to
work but there is nothing Tor them to do.
Inc people are to-day living on salted pota-
corn saved
MUST Unsupported TILL APRIL.
on ms cannot last long. There are from
~ to 25 people who will have to he sup
ported almost wholly until another crop can
ne planted, about April when they can Sc
cure advances. There is no other solution
aAe history OF this section shows that after
lle less severe storms of 1917 1854 and 1871 an
epidemic of malarial fever of malignant
type followed. There Is now a serious
possibility OF such an epidemic. In addition
10 Inc great loss of human life there have
zen zen great many animals drowned and
mere mas been extreme carelessness in the
tpuIl4i OF the bodies. The water supply is
WdehlSh. The people are forced to live in
tLu"ued houses in many localities and with
oLe snort supply of provisions the conditions
art Iar TOO favorable for the spread of fever
5'V lVOu ana ClOtnlng winch are surely
Lelue9 VIII do a great deal to minimize the
tUsSl'utleS of disease. A number of cases of
rea5I and diarrhOea have been reported al
taS The central relief committee at Beau
tto.g mas Tor the last few DAYS been distri-
TSo.;;ns Tauons among the needy on a careful
,iSyl3 realized that the food stufs contributed
a. cl-l nave to last many months and on that
T,y-ul me limited supplies are given those
lNu TO he deserving of help.
.oW what l could see, there is no encOur-
&c fhfaVf -
WIN WIN 10 abuse the charity by assisting those
er to arc able TO find work, The superintend-
ib vi lhe phosphate works advises me that
WI nave daily to turn away hundreds of men
80 seek work. The seriousness of the stu
s er91 can hardly be overdrawn. The distress
far Apendlng dangers of starvation appeal
'O' prompt assistance.
RELIEF COMMITTEES ORGANIZED.
aroHPetent relief committees have been or
Sist1tglu, with cOloFed representation, and the
All iIullon OF the supplies is being system
I IN 3s ana cautiously managed.
rae" "!IlI ION to the supply of food there is a
srrvf2ll} lor clothing Most of those who
facff 'tu saved only the clothing on their
H. . ana are without proper raiment for
'Is winter season
1UDllonal medical assistance and larger
a. les OF medicines and disinfectants re-
do prime necessities. j. w. BABCOCK
AcClon of the Maritime Exchange.