The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-01
SAVANNAH IN RUINS
DESTRUCTIVE STORM SWEEPS AWAY
MUCH PROPERTY.
TeIegraphic Communication Is Cut OF
and 1t Is Feared Many
Lives Are Lost.

ATLANTA, Ga, Aug. 31.--A heavy storm
is sweeping along the coast. The wind at
Savannah has blown a gale since o'clock
last night, reaching a velocity of about six
~ miles an hour at this time 6 a. No. Tele-
phone connection with Tybee island is cut
off and nothing has been heard from there
since early in the night. There is much
fear for the shipping there and at quaran-
tine The lowlands are flooded and heavy
damage TO rice and cotton will result. Rail-
road tracks are washed out and trains on
all roads are delayed. AT o'clock this
morning the wind reached a velocity of
seventy-five miles an hour and rain is pour
ing IN torrents. The streets are filled with
debris. The last report from Tybee early
III the night was that the wind was blowing
seventy miles ar hour and the operator
in the signal station was just leaving for
the lighthouse for safety. The quarantine
station is believed to have been abandoned
before the escape of the occupants was
cut off.
The officials of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company report to-day that Savan-
nah is completely isolated, no connection
being made to that city from any point. The
only places reached by wire are Charleston,
S. c., and Jacksonville, Fla. The telegraph
company has put on a force of extra men
at Augusta, to which city all business for
Savannah is being sent. From there it goes
by train.
The storm, which came up the coast, evil
IDENTIFY took to the water before it reached
Charleston, and after travelling about one
hundred miles again came to land and
started northward. About fifteen vessels
put in here during the afternoon, and
toward night several more ran in, reporting
a terrible blow" outside.
The Atlanta Journal has the following
dispatch from Savannah Ga, sent from that
city at $50 o'clock this morning BY train,
and put on the wires at Millen:
so far as can be learned no lives were
lost in the gale; that is directly in the city.
The adjoining Islands are to be heard from.
These reports may add to the horrors of
the storm, giving some deaths. Communi-
cation with Tybee, Georgia seaside resort,
cannot be had at this hour. There are about
five hundred people at Tybee, many of
whom are United States troops, both volun-
teers and regulars. The North Carolina
troops are there. The island is directly upon
the ocean and was exposed 10 the fullest
extent to the gale. There are other resorts
to he heard from. Wilmington island has
three pundred people on 1t, and there are
about many on Island Hope, another re-
sort. The road to the latter place is blocked
ny fallen trees.
Savannah presents a terrible aspect.
Roofs of houses are scattered through the
streets and in the public squares wires of
the telephone, Geographic, electric light and
street-car systems make the streets impas-
sable for vehicles. The loss to property
owners will be fully 100000
There must be much suffering the
islands near Savannah These are inhabited
by negroes, who raise .vegeta bes and such
things for living Their habitations
rude huts: these could not have stood
against last nights winds and when an in
vestigation comes ii will be found. no doubt
that many of these islanders are dead"