Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-03
WEDNESDAYS STORM.
lis Full Force Passed Across
Beaufort County, 5, {,
THE SEVEREST IN YEARS.
Reports Of Next Few Days EIpectu
Show Many Fatalities.
For Fifty Miles West of savannah
the Country IL Practically Uu6un
water-Business Accordingly 1t q
standstiII-Damage, sf,oOO,0OO u

SAVANNAH September 2.-The latest
reports from the storm indicate that
Savannah was in the southern edge OF
II. It's full force passed ten 10 twenty
miles north across Beaufort county, 8.
c. The full extent OF the damage there
Is not yet known. and may not be for
several days. owing to the inaccessibility
OF the locality.
AS the reports come I'm the indica-
tions are that the storm was severer
than any that has swept this section In
years. The loss OF life. so far as shown.
has been small, but It Is expected that
the reports OF the next few days will
show large fatalities.
The steam plot-boat J. II. Estill ar
rived I'm Tybee Roads tonight. after a
day and night cruise, ana reported six
wrecks OF coastwise schooners Off Mar
tins Industry Llghtship, fifteen miles
from Tybee. Several of them were sunk.
others were bottom upward and all ap-
parently were anchored when the storm
struck them. None Of the vessels were
Identified.
CREWS persisted (D
There were no signs OF the crews, and
it is believed they perlshed.
All sort Of wreckage lines the coast. in.
dicating heavy losses at sea. The steam
ship City of Birmingham arrived from
New York this morning. and other YES.
sells arriving during the day reported that
a short distance OFF the coast the storm
was not felt, Indicating It's limited area.
RAILROADS ABANDONED.
With five lines OF railroad entering here
| the only present outlet is by the PLANT
| system south to Jacksonville. The Cen.
| tral Of Georgia, Georgia aud Alabama
| Florida Central and Peninsula. and
| Charleston and Savannah railroads ar,
practically abandoned within the storm
radius. No mails except local mails have
been received for two days. Three car
loads OF Florida mail are awaiting an out
let north.
Business IS practically at n standstill.
owing to the blocking OF tho railroads
| For fifty miles west OF Savannah the
country Is practically under water. on
the Central OF Georgia railway the track
Is washed In places all the way from Sa-
| yannah 10 Macon. 1t is estimated that at
| least twenty miles OF track are under
water. in some places TO "A depth Of near
ly two feet The railroads are unable to
form any estimate Of the damage or 10
repair the tracks until the water falls.
| WATER STILL RISING.
| Instead Of falling, however, the water
| Is rising The OcOnee Ogecenee Ockmul-
| gee. and Altamaha rivers and their
| tributaries. are oycriowed. and the water
| Is flooding the country.
The same conditions exist on the
| Georgia and Alabama and Florida Cen
| trail and Peninsula roads.
| Ii was attempted tonight 10 get train
| over the Savannah and Charleston rail-
road, but II was abandoned.
The condition Of the people in the small
| towns and in the sparsely settled sec
| tions Of the flooded country, IL the Hoods
i continue. and communication Is not soon
re-established. will be serious. There has
been great loss OF stock In the country,
and the floods are likely 10 do still greater
| damage.