The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-09-12
THE SEA ISLAND DISASTER.

The Worst Calamity OF tho Century
ands, with Starvation. and Pesti
lence Threatening tho Living.
COLUMBIA, s. c., Sept. THE
awful proportions of the disaster on the
storm swept coast of South Carolin,
are at last realized. 1t proves to be
the calamity of the century. A death
roll of several hundred persons de-
velops into loss of that many thou.
sands while absolute destitution ex.
tends to twenty thousand persons, nine,
teen-twentieths of whom are ignorant
Negroes.
These awful facts have been ascer-
tanned by DR.. j. w. Babcock, Of this
city, who spent four days as the special
representativeof OF Governor Tillman in
Beaufort and vicinity.
| In point of fact the whole truth is
noe yet known on accout of the impos-
sibility of at present making circuit
OF the score or more islands that make
been developed to fully warrant
the foregoing statement of death
and devastation. All these islands
were submerged and the seething
waters literally annihilated almost
everything before them, scarcely leav-
ing landmark. These twenty thous-
and persons are now confronted by the
terrors of starvation and pestilence.
These facts have caused Governor
Tillman to give all his personal atten-
tion to the situation, and he is now
working with might and main to pro-
cure relief. He has issued q proclama-
tion to the people of the United States
appealing to them to make contribu-
n To ,%n4
that these people 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 contributions that have been
made are mere bagatelle in compar-
ison 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 appointment of a central commit
tee to take charge of the work.
The comprehensive report of DR..
j. w. Babcock reads as follows:
COLUMBIA, S. c., Sept. Z, 1893.
His Excellency B. r. Tillman, Gov
ernOr Of South Carolina:
Sir: AS q result of Investigations
made at your request submit the fol-
lowing report: Three days were spent
in making the visits to the sea islands
around Beaufort and there found the
situation so serious as to demand i'm
mediate attention. The facilities of
communication between the islands and
the country between Charleston and
Savannah are at best poor and just at
this time especially so. In addition to
visiting numbers of the islands. in
quiries were made through others of
sonally inspected. regret to say af-
ter careful inquiry l must confess the
inadequacy Unpublished accounts of the
number of deaths, loss of crops and de-
vastation OF that section.
The portion of South Carolina known
as the sea islands in those parts of
Colleton, Berkeley, Beaufort and
Charleston counties subjected to tide
water influences were more of less
seriously damaged by the hurricane of
Sunday, Aug. 9th. The destruction of
crops and homes was more especially
noticeable on the exposed islands
which include Johns, Wadmalaw,
Edisto, Port Royal, Coosaw, st. Helena,
estimate fully 1000 lives were lost.
The coroner of Beaufort places the
number at 800. The storm swept at
least one-half the homes on the islands
away. The salt water killed such of
the cotton, potato and pea crops as it
covered and the wind storm blew down
the corn crop. The high tide and long
submersion of the rice crop ruined it.
In short the plantations have no right
to expect more than an eighth of the
ordinary crop. Their homes destroy
ed, their crops ruined and the phos-
phate industry paralyzed by the loss of
its equipments, there is nothing for
these people to do. They have no re-
source. There are 10000 to 5000 peo-
pie who will have to be supported al
most wholly until another crop can be
planted.
"The history Of this section shows
that after the less severe storms of 1874
and 1881 epidemics of malarial fever of
malignant type followed. There is
now worse danger. In addition to the
great loss of human life there have
been great many animals drowned
and there has been extreme difficulty
in the burial of the bodies. The water
supply is brackish.
The people are forced to crowd in
houses in the locality and with short
supply of provisions the conditions are
in all respects favorable for the spread
Of fever. Good food and clothing are
surely needed without delay. A num-
ber of cases of fever and diarrhoea
have been reported already.
THE central committee at Beaufort
has for the few days been distributing
supplies among the needy on q conserva-
| tive basis. 1t Is realized that the food
| supply will have to last many months
and only limited supplies are given
those known to be distressed. From
what [ could see there is no voluntary
idleness nor Is there any disposition tC
abuse charity by those who are able tc
find work. The superintendent of the
phosphate works advises me that they
have daily to turn away hundreds Of
men seeking employment. The Sc
riousness of the situation can hardly be
overdrawn. The distress and immi
nent danger of starvation appeal foi
prompt assistance"