The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-03-04

Throughout the Gulf States "A
Water Spout af Columbus- Ca
I~nnumerable Washouts Railway
Schedules Abandoned - Warnings
of Further Rise Of Stream

Atlanta, Ga. February 1.-THE
southeastern gulf states were deluged
by rain last night and today. The pre-
cipitation was very heavy and nj Co
lumbus. Ga. a bridge was swept away
at 5 O'Clock this evening. The rainfall
was almost a cloud burst, the Chatta-
hoochee river rising at the rate OF two
feet an hour. Several washouts were
reported on a number OF roads and
trains out OF Columbus were annulled.
There has been no loss OF life.
The Columbus bridge broke in two
about 100 feet from the Georgia shore
and went sweeping down stream at a
friShtIul pace.
The electric light and telephone wires
running over TO Phoenix City and Gil
Tard. Ala, went across on the bridge,
and they were snapped like threads.
The water pipes which supplied the
city with water were also on this
bridge and they too were broken like
sticks and carried away. leaving the
city without water for a time. The
water company has an old submerged
main across the river and his was
placed into commission tonight saving
the city from a water famine
The rain has been falling in torrents
all day. No trains eNcep the Central
Of Georgia from Macon have reached
Columbus since Eoon. a washout near
Scale, Ala, holds the Mobile and Gil
rard passenger train due this morning,
and the departing trains on that road
was annulled. There are several
washouts on the Seaboard Air Line
between mere and Albany, Ga, which
stops traffic on that line. Several wash
outs are reported or the Southern be-
tween heI and Shiloh. There is a
large waShOGt on the Southern railway
in Columbus city limits. AL trains
since this morning have been annulled
and there is little hope of any tomor-
row. The Associated Press wire is the
only one in operation toward the
north.
After an Intermittent rain OF two
days Birmingham was deluged early
this morning. The rain flooded the
streets and many awnings and street
signs were torn away. Flooded tracks
are interfering seriously with street
railway traffic, and tonight the rainfall
had not ceased. All streams are SWol-
len and rapidly rising.
The total rainfall in Montgomery,
Ala up to Z p. m, was $50 inches and
a heavy down pour is reported in other
points of Alabama. The barometer
recorded Z9.Z5, the lowest rea0lng on
record in that city.
The excessive rainfall has caused a
rapid rise in the Coosa and Alabama
rivers. The director of the weather
bureau has issued warnings for points
below Wetmpka, and advised that
stock be remoVed from lands subject
TO overflow at a 35-foot stage.
AT West Point, Ga, the merchants
are busy tonight removing goods from
stores to places of safety. The rainfall
there has rendered the recent improve
ment along the river utterly useless.
Fancy prices are being paid for all
kinds of labor. A patrol for all night
duty along the river was established
there at 9 o'clock p. m.
In Atlanta rain fell in torrents al
day. The wind damaged the ventila-
tors of the capitol and blew in several
panes of glass. The water damaged
many of the offices and plastering fell
in several of them. The telegraph COM
pan1es were seriously Handicapped by
the rain and lightning which was at
times incessant. The rainfall up to s
o'clock was 1856. The mean barometer
was the lowest ever recorded.
The Atlanta weather bureau tonight
sent flood warnings to all points in AL
ALBANIA and Georgia reached by the
Chattahochee n Alabama rivers
Atlanta, Ga, FEBRUARY 27.-In the
southwestern section of this state the
rain and windstorm almost attained
proportions of a cyclone and it is fear
ed considerable damage will result. In
Americas trees and fences have been
blown down by the gale.
Tampa. Fla. February 1.-THE hurri.
cane signals are out here and the wind
is blowing thirty-four miles an hour
tonight with increasing speed. All
boats are close in port and a severe
storm is raging in the gulf. Indica-
tons are for a hard blow before morn
ing. Advices from Martin. state that a
hurricane has struck that place and
scores of houses in the town and in the
community ave been demolished or
damaged by the storm. There was a
cloud burst at that place also and the
town was flooded. Advices from Key
West state that a heavy blow is IN
progress with strong indications for a
sever storm