The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-24
WESTERN FARMS RUINED
The Damage in Mcdowell County
Alone $2OO,OyO.
MARROW ESCAPES From THE FLOOD
In Durham County the Reports Show That the
Full Extent of Damage is Not Known
Even Yet Reports From
Other Points.
Especial to News and Observer

Especial to News and Observer)
Marion, n. c.. May 23.-The storm of
Tuesday was the worst one that has ever
occurred in this section of the State. A
conservative estimate of the damage done
to property and crops in this (McDowelD
county is two hundred thousand dollars.
All crops along the water courses are
entirely destroyed. Some small farms
/ have been left absolutely worthless.
Four or five clOudbursts occurred on the
mountain above here washing away
houses, barns and mills.
So far as known no lives were lost.
An iron bridge over Crooked Creek was
washed away and the one over Muddy
Creek was badly damaged. Catawba
river at this point was three feet higher
| than it has ever been. 1t was two miles
| wide where the average width is one
hundred feet. 1t has changed its course
| in several places. Logs and all kinds of
| timber have drifted TO great heights
against the bluff along the river. Thou
sands of fish were left in the river bot
| tom when the water subsidized.
| Trains have not been able to reach
here since Tuesday. Passenger train
number II that passed here Tuesday
about noon, got as far as Mud Cut, eigh-
| teen miles west of here on the mountain.
where it still remains with no chance of
| getting away for two or three days yet
| The passengers on it are being provided
| for as well as possible. The following
is The list of the heaviest losers:
J. H. Greenlee, $4,000.
| John NJ. Greenlee. $4,000.
| Maj. Nilsson, $4,000.
| Maj. Young, $4,000.
| William Quinn, house and all stock.
ID. n. London, 81 500
| Miss Sallie Young, 81 500.
| Maj. Conley, s., 500.
Silas Proctor, So ,0O0.
| j. G. Neal 81 600
Austin Coney, $4,000.
| j. S. Dysart, 81 900.
| Mrs. Corpening, 50. 500.
| John Yancey, $5 600.
George C. Conley, $15OO.
| A. X Weaver, 900.
Sheriff Burgin, $4,000.
r. w Brown, $1,000.
Lee Williams, 81 900
H. A. Tate, $1,000.
r. L. GreenIee. 81, 500.
G. w. Conley, $1,000.
A great many other lost from one to
eight hundred dollars each.
ANOTHER REPORT.
Marion N. c., May 23.-The rains de-
scended, the floods came and left deyasta-
tion in their wake the like of which is
not recorded in the memory of the Oldest
inhabitant. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
there was a regular downpour of rain.
and on Tuesday from to 10 o'clock a. m.
it was like a water spout. Streams were
swollen beyond the highest known water
marks
The Catawba ricer at Pleasant Gardens
looked like a mad sea. The large eX-
panse of bottom was covered from bank
to bank. The iron bridge supposed to
have been built or 10 feet above high
water mark was reached and run over
and badly damaged. 1t is reported that
the iron bridges across Crooked and
Muddy Creeks have been washed away.
The high railroad trestle across Muddy
Creek was carried down the stream and
the railway irons washed two and three
hundred yards.
| At Greenlees about 500 feet of the rail-
hills have disappeared.
| But the farmers have sustained the
| greatest damage and their losses are ire
parable. Thousands of acres of promising
wheat fields in the bottoms of the Cataw-
ba. and its tributaries are entirely ruined,
and much of the soil of the freshly plowed
corn lands in low and uplands washed off.
The damage in Mcdowell county alone is
| estimated at 100000 and more
Mr.. Alex Wilson was imprisoned for "a
hours in the old Erwin House. The water
was three feet deep in the house and
much uneasiness was felt for him.
Mrs. VIM. Med. Burgin and children
narrowly escaped. They left the house
Tuesday after it was entirely surround
ed by water, and when the river was
rising with amazing rapidity. Before they
| reached the high land the water was
three and four feet deep in the yard, and
the last mule over had to swim to land.
Mr. ]. L. C. Bird was water bound at
the Spence Elliott place on Buck Creek
| on his return from Barnesville, and gives
a graphic and thrilling description of the
| cloud hurst and sudden rise of Buck
| Creek Tuesday morning. He stood in the
door and saw a solid sheet of water
| come down the creek that covered or 8
feet deem the 15-acre field above the
| house (tbe water was never known to
be over il before), and he says the sur