The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-05-20
JACKSONVILLE FLOODED.
Local GIoudhurst Fills Streets With
Water and Floods Houses.
PEOPLE TAKE REFUGE UPSTAIRS.
Mule Drowned in Main Street.

Jacksonville, Fla, May 13.-The
rain, which had been falling internnlt-
tently all day yesterday and all last
night, assumed this morning about
daybreak almost the proportions of a
cloudburst, and when the citizens
prepared to leave for their places of
business many of them found their
homes completely surrounded by water.
But these were not the unfortuntes.
Many were driven from their resi-
dences or forced to 60 to upper stories
by the water that in some cases reach
ed the level of the first story windows.
In all as much as one square mile Of
the town was under water. Fully a
half mile of Bay street, the principal
thoroughfare of the city, was under
water and much damage was done to
stocks of goods. On this street mule
hitched to a wagon got beyond its depth
and was drowned, and the driver, at
tempting to cut it from the vehicle,
nearly lost his life. Skiffs and later
in the day a naphtha launch were ply
ing on Bay street, removing people
from their submerged homes.
The water was two feet deep in the
waiting room of the union depot, and
every railroad track entering the city
was under water. One train each
over the East Coast Line and Atlantic
Coast Line came into Jacksonville in
the morning, and one each over these
two reads and the Seaboard at night.
The damage to the railroads in and
near the city is considerable, but it is
believed that it will be repaired by
morning and that trains will make
their regular schedules tomorrow.
The rain il its intensity seemed to be
local and the railroads are not dam
aged, except in or near the city,.
The city is in total darkness tonight.
| The water was a foot deep in the
electric light power house and stopped
the dynamos. The damage to the
electcric light plant, which belongs to
the city, is estimated at S., 600. 1t
will take probably $4,000 to put the
streets and bridges in repair.
The railroads suffered losses prob
ably amounting to 500, ,O00 The loss
es of individuals cannot be accurately
estimated. Many bridges in the coun-
ty were washed away. The total loss
Will pIODdDly IOG ce lSSS Guau S9Oc, VOO.
In addition to this it is feared that
Bridge street viaduct, which cost $3.50, :
600, has been made dangerous by the
food.
The water of McCoy's Creek was all
Gay rushing under it. It is broad and
rapid stream, and it is feared that the
supports of the bridge have been so
weakened that it will be unsafe. How
ever, it was soon to have been replaced
by new one. Ropes were stretched
across the viaduct to keep the crowd
off. Whether it was weakened serious
ly can only be determined after the
waters subside.
Five houses were overturned or de
molished near the banks Of Hogan s
Greek, in the negro part of the town.
They were all small. The foundations
of many others in the same locality
were undermined and they were rem
dered uninhabitable. a number Of
negro families were rendered home
less.
The food was caused by the heavy
downpour in Jacksonville and few
miles to the north and west. Three
small creeks flow into the river from
the northwest, in the limits of jack
sonville, but they spread over great
portion of the city. The total rainfall
for the twenty-four hours ending at
3 a. M. amounted to s. Al inches.