The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-31
The LOWIands Flooded and Rice
Fields In Danger,
FEARS FOR THE SHIPPING.
Storm Came With Little Warn
ing.

Savannah was swept by a cyclone last
night From 9 o'clock until o'clock this
morning the wind blew a gale. 1t started
in at 81 miles an hour, and increased in
velocity to nearly 20 miles The weather
bureau closed at 1920 O'Clock. AT that
hour the barometer was falling rapidly,
and the indications were that the storm
had not reached its hight. The observer
said the center was then passing Savan-
nah.
From 10 o'clock the rain poured and was
driven in sheets by the gale. On the Bay
and on the river front the blow was most
severely felt. Wires were blown down all
over the city.
The telephone lines were partially dis
abled but communication was kept up all
night. The electric light and power wires
along the Bay were rendered useless and
telegraph, light and trolley wires were
twisted and hopelessly mixed up together.
The car lines managed to run until mid
night After that all travel on the streets.
was at an end. On the Bay it was impos-
sible. Between - and / o'clock the gale
increased in energy and intensity Street
signs, and loose cornices and window blinds
were blown through the streets in every
direction. Out Bull street and towards
the park and in the southern section the
pavements and sidewalks were litterd
with broken limbs and branches of trees.
These were blown down everywhere. II is
impossible to estimate the damage, but
there is no question that it is heavy.
The northeast gale, together with the
local rains, swelled the river and the tide
almost put the water level with top of
the wharves. Early in the night fields and
the lowlands along the river were over
flowed.
AT o'clock the storm had increased in
energy and the wind was then blowing at
the rate of IS miles an hour. The last re-
port from Tybee at 10 o'clock was that the
storm was raging at 70 miles an hour and
station for the light house. No report was
received from quarantine and it was be-
leved it was abandoned before night.
Between and 4 o'clock the wind reach
ed higher velocity than it had up to that
time and the heaviest damage in the city
was then done The electric lights were
then out and the streets were in darkness
1t will be impossible until day to give any
estimate of the damage.
On the sixth floor of the Morning News
building the storm was felt in its full
force. The stopping of the electric power
current dniapOd ~ xrArlripc Of ba
lnotypes and presses until the reserve
steam engines could be put in operation.
Inc tall building swayed in the storm,
Dut the linotype operators stuck to their
machines. Although delayed the Morn
Ing News is able to give its readers the
news ofthe storm.
AT o'clock the storm showed no signs
Of abatiug. The wind had shifted farther
to the west but blew with the same force
that il did an hour before, and in gusts
that struck buildings and trees with ire
mendous power. The electric lamps and
tN' framework on the city exchange tower
We're blown away and the roof of a num-
Der Of buildings on the Bay were torn
loose. The rof on the Lutheran Church
or the Ascension was torn off on one
corner and chimneys all over the city were
toppled into the streets.
Savannahians were apprehensive of a
storm all day. The ugly weather of Sunday
ana Monday and the threatening condi-
uons prevailing yesterday morning natur-
any led people to believe that a storm Of
unusual intensity was heading this way
The knowledge that gale had been
ore wing down IN the Gulf added to the
pedng Of uneasiness. Weather conditions
similar to those which had existed for the
previous forty-eight hours have so FIRE
qlentiy been the forerunners of destruc-
1--WE storms that the statements OF the
weather bureau that no signs of,a severe
9elone were apparent dld not appease
''e anxiety OF the rice planters and 9th
t who are the chief sufferers from
''tms az this season Of the year.
Nl day the telephone az the bureau was
't ringing al frequent Intervals, and
''nS noe satisnci with the Information
'' obtained. mado their way TO ,he wealth
- headquarters IN the Board Of Trade
tHllns for more detailed information.
i'y'eialy was this she case after the 10.