The herald., 1893-10-03
SWEPT BY A HURRICANE.
A Terrible Storm on the
Gulf Coast.
Fearful Havoc in Alabama and
Louisiana.
A Tidal Wave Floods the Streets of
the City of Mobile.
Miles OF Railroad Track Washed Out
and Plantations Laid wastc-The
Orange Crop Ruined-Large
LUss OF Human Life.
By the Associated Press.

BY the AssOclateu Press.
MOBILE, Ala, Oct. "A terrific gale
struck this section of the country, com
ing from the southeat, before daylight
this morning, and this afternoon was
still blowing over 80 miles an hour. The
water was blown in from the gulf until
the river reached ROYAL street, four
blocks from it, and at an elevation of
about 15 feet from mean river height.
There is no way OF estimating the
money damage tonight. All the whole
sale and large portion OF the retail
district are under four feet of water and
thousands of dollars worth of goods
damaged. Several tugs and other small
craft wera driven ashore, and it ia re-
ported three dredgers working on the
channel have been lost. 1t is also re-
ported that 80 miles OF the Louisville
and Nashville railroad, along the coast,
is under water, and that the Biloxi
bridge has been swept away. Nothing
mas been heard from the gardeners in
the marshes eaet Of ths city, and the
worst is feared.
Telegraphic Communication is cut off
in almost every direction, and from the
present outlook everything will be gone
before late at night ia the way OF wires.
In the ,ity many houses were unroofed.
One cotton. warehouse was destroyed and
much minor damage done. The smoke
etscke Of all the factories have been
blown down. Street car traffic ia totally
suspended because of the damage TO
slectric wires. The busiest thorough
fares OF the city are being navigated in
boats, and 81 thi5 dispatch is sent q
p. m.) people are wading up to their
armpits trying TO save their goods.
Il ia conceded to be the worst storm
ever known here. The southern part of
the city presents sceue of wreckage as
If it had been bombarded. The towers
on the court house and Christ church
are tottering. Two men are known to
have been drowned, 60 far.
u no srorM reached Its highest about
I 3 p. m when the wind reached veloc-
ity OF 75 miles per hour. Rain was fall
ing in torrents the entire day and to-
night the city is in darkness and not an
electric light of any kindis burning. The
bay steamer Crescent City dragged her
anchor and went ashore on the beach
below the city. The crew were saved.
Nearly every bath-house along the
western shore is blown down, and at
Morgan's an attendant was swept away
with FIVE bath-houses and drowned. The
Magnolia and Coley's warehouses were
blown down and two unknown me-
groes downed in cotton yard. Mag
nifcent oaks all over the city are laid
low and the earth is covered with green
leaves whipped from the trees by the
fierce temptest. Houses all over the
city are unroofed and fences blown
down. 1t is simply impossible to give
details tonight, as there ia no way of as
certaining them.
Nothing has been heard from the
eastern shore nor from the market
gardeners in the marshes. The storm
at this writing Ill p. m.) has abated
and the waters have receded. These is
not wire in the Western Union office
affording intercourse with the outside
world, and this is written to be sent
several miles out of town where it is
hoped communication may be estab-
li6hed.