Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-06-10

Dy the manu- anu Wnen tney CdIIle CISdi
of the wrecked house he clutched her
mass of driftwood. There, In plain
view, they CLING to each other and
sang together, so that all on the banks
heard. The driftwood rushed against
larger mass and separated, and
Swanguare and his bride went under
the water locked in a last embrace.
Fleta Gosa boarded with a Mrs.
Bailey, where also lived Mr. and Mrs:
! Kirby and J. E. Grier. Miss Gosa and
Mrs. Kirby were carried out into the
water and drowned speedily. Mrs.
below Converse, and swinging to
piece Of plank, revolved in the eddy
until she was drawn in by a rope that
had been thrown to her rescue. Grier
caught the branches Of an oak tree
and remained there till he was rescued
by boat that was bravely manned.
Mrs. Katie Long and her SON, Gar
land Long, and his bride, and her son,
Richard, were hurled into the current.
saved by catching the branches or a
tree, but Garland Long and his bride
were drowned. The bodies Of none of
these people have been recovered.
The greatest loss Of life Is at Mill
No. 2, the furtherest mill down the
river. 1t Is said that at least so oper-
atives here lost their lives. The only
names Of the dead that are obtainable
now are Mr.. and Mrs. B. s. Johnson,
and four children, Mr.. and Mrs. r. A:
Finley and five children. Several OF
the children of T. M. Massey were
drowned, but he and his wife escaped.
Massey himself had an extraordinary
escape. He was carried through the
No. 2 mill out through the opening at
| the far end Of the building and swan
to the shore.
Pacolet Mills Nos. 1, and are In
ruins. Mills Nos. 1 and are togeth-
er. They went first. No. 8 withstood
the flood for longer time, 1t also
| went at length. Some twelve or fifteen
lives were lost. This graphic descrip-
tion Of the tragic scenes enacted there
was written by Mr.. Randolph w.
Smith, Of the Columbia State:
The mill operatives were just going
to their early breakfast when the
sound Of a mighty rush Of waters
broke. on their ears. From their cot
tages that dot the hillsides they wit
messed a scene, for there was actually
not time enough for many Of them to
get to the banks, that will live on their
memory. With one great bound the
flood surged down the valley. An or
namental swinging bridge that con-
nected north and south Pacolet was
swept away as If it had not the
strength of cobweb The mill opera
tives, some of whom had fastened
down to the waters side in hopes OF
being able to get across to their work,
backed up the hill horror stricken. In
five minutes 1t Is said that the water
rose more than 20 feet.
The Presbyterian church, which was
picturesque!y located on the river side
just between the mills, was the first
building to go. 1t stood out on little
promontory Of land that made 1t
great mark for the waters. The flood
surged upon it in a twinkling. 1t had
served as q school house and place OF
worship for every congregation In the
village until the town grew to Its pres
ent proportions, and. Is the most his
toric building in the village. For few
minutes it's fine masonry withstood the
battle Of the Niagara-like onslaught
then without a moments warning the
foundation gave away and 1t went
down on the maelstrom as If 1t had
been made Of straws.
Hardly had the fascinated spectators
recovered from this scene when the
little fiat Of buildings comprising the
postoff1ce, market, barber shop and
blacksmith shop went down before the
inrushing flood. These buildings were
near the church and at the foot Of the
road or main street Of the village.
They went down in the rush Of waters
one, after the other 80 quickly that
the spectators differ as to which went
first.
kLo I,o1 rican IN
feet higher until It's waters were surg
ing through the third story windoys of
the mills built to Withstand ordinary
freshets, but in no contemplation of
flood of such proportions all the exis-
ting one. The walls Of the building
known as No. and mill were seen
to be trembling and the crowds Of VII
layers were watching them closely
when a scene on the red torrent ar
rested their attention.
A raft which looked like TIN, side of
house was coming down the great red
turbid mass Of waters at lightning
speed. Seated on the rafters near the
edge was a child in his night dress. "A
rift in the clouds had let the sun
through brightly and the face Of the
baby turned up to the light, pale and
appalled,. The raft struck the falls
Just below the dam with an ugly smash
and the child stepped on into the wa
ters. The great torrent turned the lit
tie body over and over, dashing 1t
against the rocks until it disappeared
around the bend Of the river.
In a brief space Of time the great
warehouse in which were stored some
5000 bales of cotton was swept away.
Three thousands bales Of goods and g.
649 bales of cotton were lost In this
wreck, and 1t Is now difficult to see
Just where the foundations were.
Hardly had the wrecked warehouse
been swept out Of sight when there
was an ominous cracking in the mill
buildings, No. i and 2. The river In
stead of receding as the wiseacres had
said 1t would do certainly when IT
reached 80 feet it went with a rush
to 40 feet and the old part OF NO. 1
and 2 went down. The other sections
of the building gave away rapidly and
the entire structure went down with
great crash that the mill people say
could be heard for miles.
A small section Of the building Is
still standing but the force OF the wa
ters has utterly destroyed everything
on the small part of the building that
was left standing.
The mill No. was the last one to
go and a part of the structure was left
standing that it Is thought can be re-
stored. The end Of the mill nearest the
town is wrecked, the slashing room,
engine room and boiler room are also
gone and Mr.. Victor Montgomery, the
president Of the mill, has already made
arrangements to sell some Of the ma
chinery that was recovered as old
junk.
Several thousand bales Of cotton
and also several thousand bales of
cotton goods were washed down the
river. In the first reports all this
property was put down as lost; but
salvage parties were promptly organ
lied at various points down the river