New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-03
FULLY 1900 DROWNED.
THE SEA ISLANDS 4 WASTE.
FIFTEEN THOUSAND OF THEIR INHABITANTS
STARVING.
Reilly SENT IHE STRICKEN PEOPLE FROM
CHARLEsToN-THE COAST sTREwN WITH UN-
KNOWN wRECKs-PATHETIC STORIES
OF EXPERIENCES IL THE CYCLONE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIRrSE.l


IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIRrsEl
Charleston, :. G., Sept. 2.-Thc city is already
getting down to its normal condition and is busy
repairing the damage of the cyclone. The situ-
alton, however. is serious. There have been
only two days of sunshine since the cyclone and
to-day heavy rains, with cyclone indications have
aided in depressing the spirits of the citizens
Above all, the news Of the terrible devastation and
loss of life and crops on the islands has east
q gloom on the city. The situation is appalling.
A large part of the business of the city comes
from the devastated REGION, and with no cotton
and little rice tn. business outlook is extremely
bad.
IL was estimated to-day that on the Sea Islands
inward of 800 persons have been drowned. and
that L. 900 are in a starving condition Many OF
the negroes on the Sea Islands are tenant farmers
who also work on the large plantations. All the
crops are practically destroyed. the stock is all
drowned, and there are actually not enough pro-
visions in the country to keep the people alive.
In response to Mayor fIcltcns proclamation
for a meeting of citizens TO help the Beaufort
sufferers, large number OF representative citizens,
of all colors assembled in the City Hall this morn
ing Mayor Ficltcn presided. The sum of - 200
WIS subscribed Oh the spot ana lare" contributions
Of food and clothing were made by merchants
Several tugs and steamers Offered their services and
the Savannah Railway Company offered free trans
portation A general relief committee was APP
pointed with J. b Birnwell as chairman. full
canvass will he made IN every ward III the city
for money, food and clothing for the sea coast
sufferers The first relief train departed for the
destitute district this afternoon. There will be-
collections in all the city churches tomorrow.
At Rockville. on Edisto Island yesterday the
bodies of twenty-onc wrecked selIn"n Wel"
buried in one grave. The beach along th" coast
is strewn with the bodies of dead seanen and
with wrecks of which no account can be- given.
As refugees from the stricken coast come III
they bring pitifnl stories From Ponpon comes
= patlrtic narrative Laura Hamilton, col
ored woman. escaped with her baby from the
rapidly rising water in her house and tired t"
find place of safety, bat the waters rushed
down upon her. She attempted II swim, mold
ing her child above water with her teeth. but
was finally exhausted and drowned with the
child negro woman washed ont OF her
house, holding her baby in her arms. As Snc
driftcd by Il toll-pate she eraspcd one of its
pillars, to which she cung through the terrible
hours of the storm. She not rescued until
8 o'clock Monday morning. Two negro boys
noatcd on on q straw stack, which parted after
they had gone several miles up the river, one
boy being drowned. b. II. Pinncar rescued the
family OF Richmond Branlan.
John Rcb.rts came 10 the city yesterday from
Dcvc,'s Island and reported desperate condition
Of things among the few people living there; lie
-sid that he fishing for terrapn IN Bun
Bay when the storm came up, aud that he couid
not possibly reach home When he returned he
found that three OF the -four houses on the lsldit
had been swept away and that he had lost every
thing he owned in the world. The house in when
his mother lived Was blown down and she was
caught III the wreck. where she renamed loI Two
days before help cane She was badly hart Dy tiir
timhcrs. His wife and five children, me youhsc''
only two davs old suffered an awful experience
When the stolm blew the ends ont OF the house
his vile pushed the children through hole INTO
the loft and Monday swan win her c'nute.n, 'i,
sbc wrapped diem up in two old shawIs and waited
for the wind and waves 10 -ubsidc For two days
they did not have a mouthiul to eat ana th'y ios'
all their provisions