Omaha daily bee., 1893-09-02
~ II ~ A'L ANAss~ ~
Awful Destruction Wrought in the South
by Sundays Cyclone
CHARLESTON SURROUNDED BY DEAD
Greatest Loss Of Life in Localities Remote
from the City.
INHABITANTS OF THE ISLANDS SUFFER
Scores of 0olorsd People Requiring the
Attention Of the Coroner.
GENERAL ESTIMATE OF THE DAMAGE
Rice and Cotton Crops Destroyed in Enor-
NOUS Quantities-Money Being Con-
tributcd Toward Helping
the Destitute.
GENERAL ESTIMATE OF THE DAMAGE

CHARLESTON, S. c., Sept Especial Tele- |
irem to The BEE AS far as the city of |
Charleston is concerned the cyclone and its |
damages to life and property are |
now almost back number. The |
victims of the cyclone in the city and
its suburbs number fifteen persons, of
which number eight were white and
sever black. Twelve of these were
drowned and three crushed by falling
walls and roofs. The value of
property destroyed in the city proper
amounts in round numbers to sl0O00O0
about half Of which is covered by storm
insurance.
Before the result of the storm had passed
away on Monday the work of rebuilding
and repairing had started and when
t,egraphic communication with the rest of
the world was opened tonight the city was
in somewhat better plight than 1t was in the
morning Of the lst of September, 1886, when
1t was almost destroyed by the earthquake,
BY far the greatest amount of the losses,
probably SS000O0, falls on the municipality
and on the East Shore Terminal company.
The damage to private residences isn't as
great as was the case in the cyclone of 1885
or even in the earthquake of 1886; it was
more widespread, but the individual losses
were lighter.
when the Cyclone Appeared.
The outer rim of the cyclone struck the
city at 2 O'Clock Oh Sunday, the wind blow
Ing in gusts, accompanied byrain, with We
locity of sixty miles an hour. Sixteen hours
were consumed in the passing of the storm
center. The wind during the night at
tained according to the observer,
n velocity of 100 miles an hour. At 3 a. m,
nf tor hn
of the cyclone, the wind veered to the south
west, indicating the passing of the south
western quadrant, and the worst was over
The old city has been wrecked so
often that the people are quite used to
1t. The first thought was to rebuild and
this was commenced at once. So far
the city itself is concerned the cyclone is
regarded rather as blessing in
disguise. 1t came at q time when
there were thousands of workmen
out of employment and it puts money
into circulation. The principal sufferers are
property owners, and while there are cases
of individual loss and suffering, the effect
generally is good. No one has thought of the
financial strngency since the cyclone. But
while the horizon is clearing here, and as
the news from the islands and the interior OF
the state comes in, it begins to be evident
that Charleston was not alone in the battle
of the elements.
Great Destruction on the Sea Islands.
The death roll on the sea islands seems to
be growing appallingly, and it is greatly
feared the END is not yet. The news from
the cotton and rice fields is also very gloomy
1t looks as If the cyclone of 1893 is going TO
beat the record.
The sea islands of South Carolina, which
comprises the country between Georgetown
on the north and Hunting island on
the south is the richest part
of the state. In this belt
1T raised all the j long staple
cotton and the rice, which are valuable sta
pies in the business of Charleston. The en-
tire belt of country is densey populated
with blacks who live in primitive cabins
scattered along the coast and the banks of
hundreds of streams and rivers which per-
meate it.
The loss of life in this section OF
the country is simply appalling. The
means of communication with the city
at best very uncertain, has been
entirely destroyed by the wreck OF
the Charleston & Savannah railroad and
the almost totel disappearance of the light
draft steamers, sailing vessels and small
boats which were used for TRANSPORTATION
and communication Accurate news is there
fore difficult to secure, but on this, the
fifth day after the cyclone, information
has slowly drifted in. which puts very
serious face uron the situation. Information
has been received showing the followinl
loss of life, and the probability is that later
information will double the total.
Appalling Loss OF Life.
At Port Royal. where the naval station o
the United States is located, the loss of Inf,
aggregates over 100, and eight negroes wer,
buried Yesterday. At Coosaw island the cen
very few persons escaped. 1t is though
that upwards of seventy-tive ne
groes, We're drowned on Wasav
island Thrty-one dead bodies have bee,
recovered there, and the dead are said to b
living around in scores On tho Combahe
. river on one rice plantation coroner hel,
an inquest on eighty bodies at one time. .
the seventy bodies recovered a
Coosaw seven were those of white people
On Edston island upwards of thirty person
were drowned. Reports have been receive
from half hundred localities in the sam
region. The death list threatens 10 ms
sumo horrible proportions, The country
SO intersected with rivers and ther
has been such total destruction q
bridges and blockade of roads that ther
probably never will be any further particl
lars of the great loss of life. BY the tim
matters resume their normal condition
will be impossible in such IA country AN
among sueh u people TO obtain any detnlt
account of the calamity that has befalle
them.
Those who know where and how thes
people live can realize now great the loss
life might be in such storm as that Of Sun
day.
Great Loss to shipping.
OF the losses Of shipping in this immediat
vicinity no possible estimate can yet
made 1t is feared that all Of th
- vessels, probably dozen ia number, whc
cleared from this port on Friday am
~ Saturday of last week have been los
E The sea for miles around Charleston bay
| filled with dead bodies and wreckage Thel
are no means of arriving at any reliable a
count of the casualties at sea. The conditil
OF the rice 1t is impossible 10 speak Of y