The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-06-10
THE LOSS IS COMPLETE

THE LOSS is COMPLETE
and the lively Paco!et OF yesterday is q scene
of destruction and gloom. The inbabitants
here are completely demoralized and awe
little town, who will be thrown out of work
for at least year. The operatives, who wit.
nessed the awful catastrophe. could not real.
ize what was happening until the mighty
flood had done It's work.
so QUICKLY DID THE RIVER RISE
that the country surrounding was covered In
forty ieet of water in an hour. Timber, cot.
ton, debris Of all kinds, broken machinery
and tops OF houses came down from the coun-
try above bore, presumably from the wreck
Of Clifton Mills. The debris. which struck
the dam above the mill property, was unable
to break 1t, and all fthis came with terrific
impetus against Mill No. !, and tore IT 10
pieces. The newest mill, No. 8, was saved
from complete destruction by the breaking OF
the huge dam.
PACoLET MILLS
were on the west bank OF the calm and peace
ful Pacolet River. This property was below
the surrounding country and direty next to
the river. Normally the river never reaches
a height Of five or six feet, but today the wa
ters rose about the dam to the height OF over
fifty feet. Fortunately the houses OF the opera
tors are situated on the hills nearby, and the
water did not reach these buildings. There
are $500 operatives thrown out of employ
ment. and although there Is no suffering at
present among these people, so suddenly de-
prived OF livelihood, they will certainly
need aid from outside until employment can
be obtained. Most of the operatives will go
TO Union and Spartanb nburg. Some are pre-
pairing TO leave at once. The Spartan Mills,
which is practically under the same manage
ment as the Pacolet Mills. will take most Of
the people.
THE MOST HORRIBLE SCENE"
OF the whole disaster was that of q little
white child seen clinging 10 a mass OF debris,
which came down from Clifton. The child,
OF about d. was heard crying and pleading
for some one TO save his life. The hundreds
OF people along the sides OF the raging river,
though awestricken and horrlfied at the
scene, were unable TO do anything to save the
drowning boy.
A white man and woman were also seen
floating down among the raging waters and
timber.
Quay Worth, who was bossing a gang OF
negroes in saving the cotton and cotton
goods, In his eagerness to do all that he could
was caught by the terrible onslaught OF wa
ter and was carried under and drowned be.
fore any thing could be done for him.
THE SCENE ON THE RIVER BANK
this afternoon is appalling, although the river
has fallen many feet. The water is still rag
Ing over the dam. or Mills Nos. and 2 the
broken off water wheel Is all that Is left. AS
the mad, splashing yellow water comes down
b
mil property that was worth millions yesler.
day ones heart is sicken.
This morning before 6 o'clock, a number OF
operatives came across the bridge to their
work. On the east side Of this bridge Is the
mill village and all OF the operatives live
there On the other side Is. the mill property.
Those who came over before the wreck are
unable to get back 10 their homes. and will
not be able 10 see their wives, mothers and
families until the river subsidies and they can
be carried across In boats. Those on the 9TH
er side were unable to aid In the work of saw.
ing the property. The suspense on the other
side of the river must be something awful,
for there Is NJ possible way of their knowing
| II their relatives on this side are alive. The
wreckage IA strewn all along the banks OF the
river. There is not trace OF the machinery
| TO be seen. Below tue site OF Mill No. 2 there
Is slight bend in the course ofthe river, and
! 4 great deal of cotton and many bales OF
goods were beached there. Probably 1000
bales OF cotton will be saved here.
wRECKING PARTIES
have been sent out to save as much OF the
property as possible. ALI along the Broad
River parties will look out for as much of the
cotton as possible. About $50 o'clock this
below the bridge. This height was rather
| unusual and was caused by the heavy down
| fall OF rain of the last week. An eyewitness
says t. at In the quickest time possible, about
| five minutes, the water rose 10 terrible strides
as If caused by water spout, and In this
time the river had risen to the appalling
height OF forty feet The long wooden bridge
which connects the two sides of Pacolet was
| the first object taken in by the raging waters
Thls long bridge WAS torn into shreds In few
seconds. Alongside of the bank of the river
below the mills were row OF wooden build
| ings. These were completely demolished in
quick succession after the destruction of the
| bridge. Among this property was shoe
shop. owned by Mr.. George w. Brown; next
came the post office. Fortunately all Of the
| ynOtl aun1h hnfn hn
this building and washed 1t away.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
handsome edtic. which cost $4,000. was nex1
| taken in by the hungry waters. The church
| was take of completely, and IL was specta
cuar sight TO see this magnificent building
| floating Intact into the rushing streams witt
its tall spire standing far out of the water
The church was not torn TO pieces until it hac
| floated about quarter Of mile.
| Next to the Presbyterian Church was tht
dental office OF Dr. Gunter. The office wal
taken of bodily and the loss complete.
THE COTTON WARE HOUSE
brick. The onrush of the water WAS territi
and, with It's mighty forces, this building wa
carried off In sections. The cotton when tn
company had bought for summer consumr
tion was stored here and In less than fifteel
minutes 3Gil bales Of cotton were seen float
ing In all directions and with lightning spec
a fortune was seen to float away. The timber
machinery, cotton and other debris whic
came down from the Clifton Mil were TO
much for the strength Of
THE PACoLET MILLS,
and In a few minutes these magnificent m III
which had been the pride OF their fouude
Capt. J. H. Montgomery, collapsed and. piec
by piece, were seen to float away. The dt
struction was accompanied by terrible nois
which could be heard at Pacolet. Two mile
G from the mills. The spot where the mill
I Nos. l and 2, stood is now O seethlng, foamin
body OF yellow, muddy water. These tw