The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-03
Waters of the Gulf and River Raised Fif-
teen Feet and Swept Over
Portion of the City.
MANY BUILDINGS UNROOFED
Vessels Blown Ashore, Trees and
Telegraph Poles Leveled.
Several Lives LOst-NO Direct COmmu-
nicatiOn with the Outside World
The Storm in Louisiana.

MOBILE, Ala, Got 2.-Mobiio was swept
by terrific gale all day and great damage
was done. the extent of which Is not known
this evening. The storm came from the
southeast and struck the city about 4 O'Clock
A. NJ. The wind increased in force until IL
attained velocity of seventy five miles an
hour. The water was blown In from the
gulf until the river reached Royal street.
which is four blocks from the river, and at
an elevation of about fifteen feet from the
mean river height.
There is no possible chance of estimating
the money damage. All the Wholesale and
great portion of the retail district of the
city is some four feet under water. and
thousands of dollars worth of goods have
been damaged. The pilot boat Ida Low
has been driven on the wharf at the foot of
st. Francis street. The bay boat Heroine
was driven on the Mobile 81 Ohio
wharf and almost totally wreck
ed. The Crescent City. another bay
boat, left Point Clear at the same time the
Heroine did this morning. and hasnot since
been heard from. 1t is reported that three
dredges. working on the channel have been
lost. 1t is also reported here that some
fifty miles Of the Louisville Il Nashville
railroad, along the coast. are under water
and that the Biloxi bridge has been swept
away by the gale. Nothing has been heard
from the gardeners in the marshes east of
the city and the worst is feared. Tele-
graphic communication is cut of In almost
every direction.
In this city houses have been unroofed,
trees blown down and one cotton ware
house has succumbed to the fury of the
gale. All the smokestacks of all the manu-
featuring industries have been blown
down. Street-car traffic has been sus-
pended because OF the damage to the
electric wires. The busiest thoroughfares
of the city are being navigsted In boats
and people are wading up to their arm pits
ir an effort to save goods. Ii is conceded
by all to be the worst storm that has ever
visited Mobile. The southern part of tho
city presents scene of wreckaGe as il il
had been bombarded. The towers on the
courthouse and Christ Church are tOtter.
ing.
Dredge No. Overturned near tho light
house. and three men were thrown in the
angry waves At great peril the crew of
the tug Captain Sam steamed TO the rescue
and saved two Of the men. the other being
lost. An unknown white man lost his
footing while wading from the Union Sta
tion at the foot of Government street. and
was swept under the bridge and drowned.
The storm reached Its height about p.
NJ, when the wind reached velocity OF
seventy five miles an hour. From that
hour the fury of the gale began to decrease,
and the wind gradually changed from
southeast to west The rain has been fall
ing In torrents the entire dsy. aud tonight
the city is In darkness. and there is not an
electric light of any kind burning. The
bay steamer Crescent City dragged her
anchor seven miles and went ashore
on the beach between Arlington snd
Monroe Pork. about three miles below the
city, on the western shore of the bay. Capt.
Lumsdcn and crew and one passenger. X.
Lewis q cotton broker. donned life pre-
servers and swan safely ashore through
the angry waves. Nearly.every bath house
along tho western shore was iblown
down. and at Morgans an attend
ant named Graham was swept away
with five bath houses and drowned.
The Magnolia ana Cooley's warehouses;
were blown down and two unknown
negroes were drowned in the cotton yard.
Magnificent oaks oil over the city arc laid
low and the earth 10 covered with the
green leaves which dropped from the trees
by the wind. Houses oil over the city have
been unroofed and fences blown down.
Tonight 1t is simply impossible 20
give details. Nothing has been heard
from tho eastern shoro nor from the market
gardeners In the marshes, where 10 10 ex-
pectcd great damage TO property and pos
sibly loss of life has occurred.
The storm at this writing. 10 +. NJ. has
abated and the waters have receded.
There is not wire In the Western Union
oiijce affording Intercourse with the outside
world and this Is written to be sent several
miles out of town. where IL Is hoped CON-
munication may he established.