The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-03
THE LOSS AT THUNDERBOLT.
The Only Fatality So Far Reported
Was at the Yacht Club.

The Only Fatality So Far Reported
Was at the Yacht Club.
Thunderbolt and vicinity suffered severe
ly from the gale, which swept over the
little burg, unroofing houses, sinking the
sailing craft and yachts in the river and
doing considerable damage to the wharves.
The loss is variously estimated at from
5000 to $1,000.
The only loss of life was at Thunderbolt.
Joseph White, negro, aged % years who
was in charge of Mr.. w. n. Beeketts
sloop yacht Glance, attempted to swim
about 100 yards to the club house, but
was overcome by the flood and went down
when about half way. His effort to save
his life might not have been unsuccess-
full, however, had he thrown off the heavy
clothing, which pulled him down.
Mr.. Beckett was at-the club house, hav-
ing gone out in the forenoon to look after
his yacht. He saw White sitting with his
feet in the water. and had an idea from
his movements he was intending to at
tempt to get ashore. The wind was too
high to call to him, however, and the
only thing was to let the negro use his
own judgment about leaving. He was
probably excited on account of the small
boat having broken adrift short time
before, and thought there was no alterna-
tive but to leave the yacht White lived
at Isle of Hope, but has been working
around the yacht club for the last two Or
three years.
There was considerable damage to the
pleasure boats at the club house, while
the little sailing craft farther south cap
sized and sunk by the score, leaving many
small owenrs heavy losers. The yacht
Catharne, owned by Dr. Charlton, which
had a hole stove in her on running ashore,
went to the bottom. The Norma, owned
by Mr.. w. W. Starr, broke adrift during
the forenoon, but was later secured and
made fast at the club house. Mr. Henry
d. Stevens launch, Yakima, also broke
from her moorings and went ashore, but
was not damaged further than the smash
ing of her windows. With characteristic
good luck the Dewey, launch owned by
Mr.. w. c. McDonough went ashore, but
was right side up at last accounts. The
naptha launch Carrie is reported safe, and
unless there is higher winds, the other
boats al the club house win be all right
| The hackneyed expression that "its an
Ill wind that blows nobody good was ex-
emplified In the case of Capt. Parkers
| sloop Hadley, which has been aground An
! The marshes opposite the club house since
| the last storm. The sloop was tempo
rarily foated in the high water, but no
sooner than released she drifted to the op-
posite side of the river and again ran
into the marshes north OF the clubhouse,
which probably puts her in a worse fix
than before For a long time the sloop
carried lumber and rosn to Brunswick,
but as she is now badly stove up, the days
Of her usefulness may be over.
All communication with Thunderbolt is
81. ~ H.
ed operation. The creek just north of
Bonaventure cemetery covered the track
early In the day, which made it impossi-
bic for cars to pass. 1t cannot be told
whether the trestle was damaged but as
the water had sufficiently receded to allow
a construction car to safely pass about
dark, there is little probability of its haV-
ing been damaged very much.
Supt. H. c. Benagh of the street railway
was busy during the day looking after
the outside lines, both being under water.
He was anxious to make a connection with
Thunderbolt and started late in the after
noon to Sandfiy station by the Second
street line, In an effort to get around by
that route. Between Sandhy and Isle of
Hope the track was submerged, cutting
off connection and leaving that locality in
unenviable seclusion. Unless there is a
rise in the back water, how
ever, cars will run TO Thunder
repaired. Until then however, residents
there can only get to the city by coming
via Sandhy, and thence to the city on Sec
ond street street cars. A card from Su-
perintendent Benagh explains the sched-
ue Connection with Isle of Hope will
likely be again established this morning.
While the news from Thunderbolt is
meager, being obtained from persons who
were unable to see just what damage had
been done, there is enough to indicate con-
siderable loss. Mr.. Henry Ambos esti-
mates his loss to be over 1,0O0 which in
cludes the damage to the wharf where ex-
cursion boats land, and small sail boats
that were sunk. The wharf at the Yacht
Club was also damaged, and the floating
docks swept away Sawyer's store had
the roof torn off, which resulted in the
stock and household belongings being dam
aged by water
The telephone wires to Thunderbolt are
out of order, and communication by this
means is shut off The trolley wire is in
tact, however and, as the street railroad
furnishes the lights there, the current was
not shut down at any time