The record-union., 1893-08-31
Special to the REcoRn-UN1oN.

Special to the RECoED-UNIoN.
AUGUSTA (Ga.), Aug. 30.-News from
tho storm-swept district of Port Royal
and Beaufort is still very meager. There
IS no telegraphic communication with
these places. the only news obtainable
being by mail. News received by the
Chronicle tonight brings the startling
intelligence Of seventy dead and swollen
bodies taken from the Coosaw River to-
day by searching parties. Not half of
the horrors of the storm are yet told, as
messengers from the surrounding sec
tions, arriving hourly, bring news of
deaths and terrible havoc caused by
Saturday nights gale. The result Of the
days work relief puts the number of
missing at over 100. In several places
along the Coosaw River eight or ten
bodies were found lying on the bank to-
gether. Graves were hastily dug near
the places of discovery, and without cere-
mony the storm victims were placed be-
meath the earth. The suffering in some
Localities among negroes Is reported as
distressing. There is no news Of def
mite character from st. Helena and other
surrounding islands. They are for the
most part thickly populated, and it is
feared the loss of life is very great.
TERRIBLE STORM AT SEA.
SAVANNAH (Ga.), Aug. 30.-The steam
ship Birmingham arrived this evening
from New York, two days overdue.
bringing a portion of the passengers and
crew of the steamship City of Savannah,
wrecked Monday morning off the shoals,
six miles from the St. Helena Lighthouse
). G. The City of Savannah lett Boston
Thursday afternoon last and went through
three storms, each one being worse than
the preceding. Sundays was the worst,
and, after terrible day, the ship seemed
that it could last but few hours more.
Captain Savage headed her for shoal
water. All night long the vessel ran in
the storm, the passengers expecting death
every minute. Early Monday morning
she went aground, and all the upper
works began TO give way. In the after
noon a small boat, with three of the crew
who volunteered, was sent to find
place on the shore where a landing might
be made. Tuesday morning, the boat not
having returned, the only two boats left
were manned and filled with women and
children. -Four of the strongest Of the
crew were selected for each, and started
for land. They have ueen heard from to-
night, having arrived at st. Helena
Island, where they are being well cared
for.
Those who remained on the steamer
were rescued by the Birmingham. The
latter vessel left New York Saturday.
and Sunday night labored in terrific
storm. There was no abatement Monday
until evening, by which time the ship
was blown far out of her course. BY day
light Tuesday the steamer was running
through wreckage of all description. She
came across the schooner Joseph Suther
with crew of seven men, the vessel be-
ing water-logged. The men were rescued.
Later capsiZed vessel was sighted, but
no signs of a crew. A number of other
vessels were met with, their masts and
rigging partly gone.
Tuesday night at 8 o'clock the CITY of
Savannah was sighted, and efforts made
to rescue those remaining on board. 1t
was impossible, however, to do anything
owing to the tremendous sea running. so
the Birmingham laid off shore until this
morning, when with great difficulty the
work OF rescue was accomplished.
Captain Finnie of the steamer Bessie.
which arrived from Beaufort, st. Helena
and Bluffton half an hour before the City
of Birmingham, says the Beaufort was
wrecked, and that on Sea Island the loss
of life among the negroes was very great.
Fully half the population of the island
was drowned.
AT CHARLESTON.
CHARLESTON Is. C.), Aug. 30.-This
city was subjected to the full fury of the
tornado Sunday night, and not until yes
terday was it possible for the outside
world to gain tidings OF the terrible dam
age wrought. The only loss of life in the
city was the drowning of three negroes,
but the property damaged was enormous.
The tornado left the city almost in
ruins.
The streets were strewn with debris
from the buildings and uprooted trees,
a f-f,,
packed with wreckage. The damage to
churches will amount to over 50,O00
The new bridge across the Ashley River
was swept away; loss, $4,000. All but
two of the thirty or more wharves are
badly damaged; dozen of them are COM
pletely wrecked and scores of yachts and
small boats in the docks are wrecks
The work of reconstruction began to-
day and is proceeding vigorously. The
damage here is placed at about 81 200, 600
There are no lights in the city, the gas
and electricity having given out, and
there is no railroad communication south,
The total loss of life had not been ascer-
tanned up to tonight.
LOSS AT SAVANNAH.
SAVANNAH Ca, Aug. 30.-It is diff
cult to give an estimate Of the damage
done by the storm. To buildings, SlO0.-
600 would scarcely cover the injury done;
vessels wrecked, Si50,0O0; damage done to
railroads leading out of the city, Sl00, 900;
damage to rice crop. $1,000 600 To the
interior tributary to Savannah the dam
age will probably amount to 81 100000 or
more, as the cotton crop over wide ter
ritory suffered severely, and in many
turpentine districts at least ope-fourth of
the trees were destroyed. The Battery is
badly wrecked.
The greatest wreck is at PregnalFs
dock-yard, where the loss is $4,000.
Hundreds of small craft in the harbor
were carried out to sea.
During the storm dozens Of lives were
saved by hard work. One boat saved
ABOUT fifty persons, by carrying off the
inmates from houses fast being over
Whelmed By the rushing waters.