The age-herald., 1901-08-16
Much Damage Reported But Loss of Life Is Not
 Known
BIG FLOOD OF '93 RECALLED
Water Three Feet Deep in Telegraph Office When Last Message Was Sent, With a Strong Wind
 Blowing.

Atlanta, August 15.-The tropical storm which has been raging along the gulf coast for two days has tonight completely isolated the city of Mobile from the out side world. It is known that considerable damage has been done along the water front, but whether there has been heard from the country south of Mobile up to the time the last wire to that city failed At 4.3O o'clock this afternoon the Western Union office in Mobile was abandoned the water at that time being three rect deep in the operating room
 Two hours later communication was had for a few moments with Mobile. The Associated Press operator there had made his way to the operating room s' a boat. He took up his position on top of the switchboard several feet above the flooded office, and detaching the AS sociated Press wire from it's place Ill 'he board, sent this message:
 Last Message Pessimistc.
 ~Am on top of the switchboard here with a lineman. The water is over three feet deed in this room and it is stlll rls- ing. The wind is blowing at the rate Of fifty mile an hour and we look for worse things tonight. The business district is deserted"
 Here the wire failed and nothing more could be heard from him although the most persistent efforts were made.
 The water at p. m. wa sreported as high as in the great flood of 1S9S al- though at that time the wind was not as high From Mobile to Fort Morgan Is distance of thirty-five miles and on both riaes of the bay summer resorts and sum mer houses are located These were, 1t is believed in the direct path of the storm. The telegraph line to Fort Morgan runs around the bay through the country and covers eighty-five miles before 1t reaches the government reservation.
 Loss of Life Feared.
 It is feared that there has been some loss of life on the islands in Mississippi sound. which are located just outside the bar below Fort Morgan. These islands, which are inhabited by French fishermen, rise only four or five feet above the wa ter under ordinary conditions and were the scene of great loss of life in 1893.
 According to dispatch received in Att lanta, the Louisville and Nashville rail- road has washouts near Chefmentur, Lake Catherine, Lookout and Rigolets. Two miles of Louisville and Nashville track through the Tensas swamp west of Mobile is reported under water. All trains have been abandoned for the pres ent Several bridges are reported out of plumb.
 The weather officials here sent out spe- cial warnings tonight forecastng high winds for Alabama tomorrow.
 The Western Union company has gangs of men and special engines waiting at several points to move towards Mobile as soon as the tracks are clear of water It is possible that they may restore commu- nication from this side within twenty four hours but from reports received of damage done between New Orleans and Mobile, 1t Is believed several days will elapse before the wires are restored
 Last Wire Fails.
 Up to midnight no communication had been established with Mobile. The West ern Union here has hundreds of messages for that city, consisting mainly of inquir- tes as to the whereabouts and safety of people, from all parts of the country. but is unable to move one of them. The one remaining wire from Atlanta to New Or leans. routed via Jackson and Meridian, Miss. failed at Il 80 D. m.
 Forecast Official Marbury said tonight: "Port Eads' report on the weather con- dition has been missing two days and that from Mobile twenty-four hours This storm will probably move up the Missis- sippi valley and then eastward to the Att lantic coast. Atlanta is likely to get touch of it in heavy rains or high winds tomorrow. Emergency warnings were sent out today to over one hundred towns in Alabama indicating heavy rains and high winds for Friday
 Conditions in the Morning.
 A dispatch gotten out of Mobile before noon today says:
 'The average velocity of the wind at Mobile since daylight has been harmless and the greatest 45. It has been raining since late last night. The water in the river has been backed up and is up to Water street
 "Al the mills north of One Mile creek and the foundries and boiler-making es- establishments in the southern part of the city have been forced to shut down. Both houses and wharves along the bay have suffered considerably. Reports from Co., den and Portersville say the shell road is overfowed to some depth and several families have been compelled to move further into the interior.
 '4The coast train from Biloxi arrived on time this morning and reports the Biloxi bridge not damaged. But little damage Is reported between Mobile and Biloxi.
 At Il 80 the wind continues at an aver age of fory miles an hour, with occasion al spurts of ten miles faster The river has overf1owed the cotton wharf and Front, Commerce, and Water streets are flooded two feet deep, between St. Michael and Congress streets.
 Row boats were employed to bring out members of the Cotton exchange at