New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-02
SEA ISLANDS DEVASTAIED.
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE CYCLONES
AWFUL WORK.
An APPALLING LOSS OF LIFE AMONG THE
NEGROES ALONG THE SOUTH CAROLINA
CoAsT-THE DEATHR0LL STEADILY
GRowING-DEsTRUCTIoN OF
LIFE AND PROPERTY
IN CHARLESTON.
fPy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSE.J


Charleston. s. G.. Sept. 1.-The Sea lsiahus Vi
South Carolina which comprise the country be-
tween Georgetown on the north ana Huhtihs is
and on the south, are the richest part oi '"e
State In this belt are raised all the long staple
cotton and the rice. which are valuapie SHAPES
in the business OF Charleston. The entire oen Vi
country is densely populated with blacks. VINO hVe
in primitive cabins scattered along the coast anu
the banks Of hundreds of streams and rivers winch
permeate IT, The losss Of life In this country 's
simply appalling. The means OF communicative"
with the CITY, at best uncertain. have peeh en-
trey destroyed by the wreck of the Charleston anu
Savannah Railroad and the almost total disap-
pearance OF the lasht-draft steamers. sailing Ves-
sells and small boats which were used Tor trans
portation and communication. Accurate news 49,
therefore. 1ificult to arrive at, but on ths, 'ne
fifth day after the cyclone, Information mas Slowly
drfted I'm which puts serious face upon the situa-
ton. The probability is that later Information WI"
double the total loss of life so far reported
At Port Royal. where the naval station OF the
United States is. the loss Of life aggregates over
100 and eight negroes were buried yesterday Al
Coosawa Island the centre of the river phosphate
mining industry. few persons escaped. IL Is
thought that upward of seventy-fve negroes were
drowned on Wassaw Island; thirty-one dead podies
have been recovered and the corpses are said to
be lying around in scores. On the Comoahee
River on one rice plantation coroner had an IN
aIest on eighty bodies at one time or seventy
bodies recovered at Coosawa. seven are those OF
white people on Distone upward or thirty per-
sons were drowned. Reports nave beeh receNeu
from half a hundred places in the same region
The death list threatens to assume horrlpie pro-
portions The country is intersected with rivers
and there has been such total destruction OF
bridges and blockade of roads that there prooa-
hv never will be any further particulars or ths
great loss OF life.
or the losses at sea by shipping in this immedi-
ate neghborhood no possible estimate can YET De
made The sea for miles around Charleston par
is filled with dead bodies and wreckage
So far as the city Of Charleston is concerned the
c,clnne and its damage to lie and property are
now almost a back number. The victims OF the
cvcloue I'm the city and its subur1s number hfteen
uersons of whom eight white and seven
negroes Twelve of these were drowned anu t"iee
crushed by falling walls and roofs Inc value oi
property destroyed in the city proper amounts IN
round numbers. to 100000. about ohe-ha'i o'
which is covered by storm insurance
Refore the storm had passed away on Mohuay
the work Of rebuilding and repairing had started
and when telegraphic communication with the rest
of the world was opened tonight the city was III
n somewhat better plight than 1t was on the morn
stroyed by the earthquake BY far the greatest
amount Of the Losses probably SSovD lsis on ,,,e
panv which owns most OF the wharyes. on the
phosphate mills and the shipping In port Inc damage
10 private houses IL not great as was tne cass
in the cyclone Of 1855 or the earthquake OF lSS; y
was more widespread but the individual losses
lighter. .,x ..o o,,,, n,
r'clock on Sunday. the wind blowing III gusts
accompsnicd by rain at a velocity Of sixty miles
an hour sixteen hours were consumed IN the pass
Inc ~ the storm centre. The wind during tnt
night attained. according to observers ,.a veIocy
OF l2o miles an hour. At a. m nearly thirteen etd
hours after the appearance OF the cyclone tne VIM
veered TO the southwest. indicating the passing OF
over This old city has been wrecked so often ina,
the people are quite used to H.. The hrst tnousH,
fsr as the city is concerned. the cyclone Is re,
earded rather blessing IN DISGUISE ~ 20 va',1, ~,
=, a time when thousands Of workmen are out OF
amnIoyment. and IT puts money into circula'ion;
The principal sufferers are pIopeI'y% % oo~ na,s IA nT
huo' ,here are cases Of individual loss ana sur
sering the effect generally is good NO one nS1 i
thought OF the financial strngency since '"e
cyclone.