The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1901-06-06
BAKERSvILlE
DESTROYED.
AN APPEAL MADE FOR AID
In THEIR GREAT
DISTRESS.


dred Houses Swept Away-Psop,s In
Need Of Assistancs.
To Charlotte O,s rver.
'sThere Is . tide In the affairs of
men, taken at the food leads on to"
destruction. Our quiet little town
nesting meath the lofty mountains,
hitherto undistu.led by dire dis
asters, was on the 2lst Of May, visit
ed by the most disastrous food ever
known to our people.
On the night Of the Goth inst, a
gale from the east began to blow
with unusual velocity, and continued
with undated force, with lowering
clouds Of frightful darkness, and
great waves of drenching rain, Tues
day morning when it became ap-
parent that we We're to have q great
deluge.
By 10 O'Clock the people living on
what is called "Water street," OBJ
serving the rapid rising Of the
stream and being terror-stricken, be-
gan to flee to the hills for safety.
Scarcely had they gotten out of their
houses until the whole valley with
in which our town Is situated pre-
sented a scene alarming, appalling,
and absolutely indescribable.
With mighty rush and roar, bear
ing upon its furious bosom the
debris Of demolished barns, dwell
ing houses, grist and saw mile,
store houses with entire contents,
live stock and growing crops, the
flood came like mighty avalanche,
and in its mad rush drove to ruin
the entire part of the town on Water
street.
Mingled with this maddening
rush Of turbid waters and crushing
houses were to be heard tn. piteous
cries Of those astride floating build
ings, rushing on to watery graves,
begging and screaming and praying
for help, in sight of the multitude
drenched by the mighty downpour
Of rain, anxious to save, but power
less to help. 1t is not known how
many lives have been lost, nor is il
known how many dwelling houses,
mills and stOre-hOuses were swept
away. A conservative estimate
would fix the number at about 500
Men whose judgment is regarded al
tsafe, put the damage in the entire
county at one million dollars.
The damage to this town alone
will reach near one hundred thou
sand dollars. In the face of this dir'
calamity, and realizing the situation
of our town, it being 35 miles to th'
nearest railroad point, with the road
all washed away, and knowing tha
great and wide suffering in our mids
is imminent without outside help,
mass meeting was called by tn
mayor of the town. The town com
missioners, ministers of the gospel
merchants, all the good citizens o
the town being present, and partici
pating, it was deemed best and proI
or, and it was ordered by said mas
, meeting, that an appeal be made t
all charitable ir stitutions, Christia
, organizations and all other bushes
2 organizations, by whatever name G
names known, or private individt
4 ais, for contributions for the relic
( of the suffering and distressed PEI
g pie in our midst.
l May the God Of mercy inspire OF
r people and incline their hearts
aid US In this our great distress an
o save us from suffering, starvatio
O and death. Contributions may |
: made either in money, food or cl
: thing, to Rev. l.. II. Green, paste
+ of the Baptist church; Rev. ].
Carpenter, pastor of the Method
q E. church, South, and Rev. Il
It Huddleston, pastor Of the Methodi
"a E, church, at Bakersville, N. {.
" 8. J. TURNER, Mayor,
:. J. 8. WILSON,
"a j III. GREENE,
10 g. X. PRITCHARD,
Town Commissions
nc D. A. BOWMAN, Secretary.
Pskorsvillo- N. G.. Nav 25. 1901