The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-15
HIGHEST TIDE EVER KNOWN.
The Oldest Inhabitant of Whining

ton, n. C., Never Saw the Like.
WILMINGTON, n. c., Oct. 4.-The old
est inhabitant was forced to admit that the
terrific outburst of wind and wave that
swept through the city yesterday surpassed
any storm in his day or generation. Thurs
day night was stormy. There were fitful
showers and violent gusts of wind that
foretokened the furious gale that followed
with the early morning, and that increased
as the day wore on, until the climax Of the
big blow was reached near mid day. The
wind started in from The southeast and
Eeld in this quarter until about D. m,
when IL gradually veered around the south
west and the rest of the gale was
from this direction, the wind blowing with
diminishing force after rightfall until about
10 O'Clock, when 1T suosided TO almost a
perfect calm. and the big blow of 1893
passed into history.
The tide was the highest known even in
the memory of the most antiqaated resi-
dent being sixteen inches above the high
water mark registered and recorded In 1883,
which had surpassed all previous known
records it is believed, since the deluge On
the river the scene was almost terrible In
it's grandeur. The waves dashed with ire
riendous force against the warehouses ana
sides Of vessels. throwing clouds OF spray
high into the air. The tide came In win
mighty force and swiftneSs, covering the
lowlands opposite the city and stretching
In an unbroken sea across the rice leids as
far as the eye could reach Ine treui ieo
stream as it swept by the city, bore or It's
broad bosom an immense quantity or wreck
age, broken gangwGys, trunks OF tlees
drifting boats and thousands OF STICKS
of timber washed from the timber
pens at the sawmills. There was little ship
ping in port, and nearly all rode tnrougn
the gale in safety Inc CITY era VIA No sshed "a
up and the wharf on the north side OF the
dock was landed bodily on Water street.
The fire wharyes at the toet so Pd badIy dSms
aged and will cost the city considerable
sum 10 rebuild. At the Cape Fear * fad-
kin Valley railroad wharf the Hood COW
cred everything and some damage resulted
to goods belonging TO merchants anu await
ing removal. The Wilmington compress
warehouse was also flooded water stand
ing from six TO eight inches on the moor:
There were about three thousand pales OF
cotton in the warehouse, all OF Which Is
damaged TO some extent by water AT the
Champion compress the damage was COM
paratfyely slight, only few bales or COT
ton being in the water Ielegrapn, l esie
phone and electric wires were In tangie.
Oye of the small spires OF the FIRST Tres.
bvterian Church was blown down about .
O'Clock. People were passing wnen ~ ILL len,
and some persons barely escaped beihs
crushed
At Southport the storm was much more
severe tnan mere Inc thStoiA AoNDN
ing and nearly all the wharves were ashed
away Many residences. warehouses; al mo
other buildings were badly damaged. The
brick foundation OF the Oak Island ngnt-
house was undermined and the mouse sci,
tied down in the sand. At Ocean View an
tho large payillions and many cottages were
either swept away or more or less damo M
aged The loss will probably reach Sio.VO
there. No serious disasters TO shipplns ore
vet reported, but II Is feared some :;ad to-
ries will be received tomorrow Inc ohly
loss of life was reported from sarsoh,
vvhere n tree fell n house OF farmer
named Lane and crushed two or MS chill
drcn TO death. The total loss in this lmmc-
dinfe section will probably reach $l9O.OOo