The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-07
Estimates of the Loss Of Life VaThey Run from Is $3.50 Sudden Was
the Rush Of the Waters from the Hills Where Ina Rains Had
Fallen, That Little Time for Escape Was GVen-AbSOIutey Without
Warning the Disaster Came-Great Suffering and Distress
Will ReSut--Again Calamity Calls Upon More
Fortunate People to Aid the Stricken.

Columbia, S. c., June 6.-Many lives
and millions of dollars worth of prop
erty were lost in South Carolina to-
day, and there was absolutely no warn
ing until the moment of peril
throughout the state for several days,
but no danger was contemplated. No
warnings were sent out of unusual
rises in streams. and last night
throughout the Piedmont country there
was absolutely no cause for the least
uneasiness.
But during the night, on the crest of
the southern slope of the watershed in
the mountains just to the north of the
state line, there was an appalling
downpour of water. What damage was
done in the mountains cannot now be
told, but South Carolina has many
tales of sorrow, misery and desolation.
There are empty hearths, homeless
people, thousands left unemployed, and
rich men staggered by overwhelming
financial losses.
Small Streams Became Torrents.
Every stream that has been ripping
out of these mountains was this morn
ing a torrent; the little rivers were
mighty streams of rolling water. THIS
was the case for seventy-five miles
across the north of the state.
Wires have been down, railroads
blocked, communication impossible.
and it has been difficult to obtain de-
tails, but as each hour has gone by
the extent of the disaster becomes
greater.
This morning it was supposed there
was no loss of life. Tonight it de-
velops that fully fifty are dead. The
greatest damage was on Pacolet river.
This stream rises near Flat Rock, N.
q and flows down through Spartan
hpre county. thence into Broad river
and on by this city.
Caught Them Unawares.
The Atlanta and Charlotte All Line
crosses the stream at Clifton on high
steel bridge. Clifton is a mill town,
the three cotton factories there being
known as the Converse Mills. There
are over 1000 operatives in the village.
1t was o'clock when the people
were awakened by the bells calling
them to work. They had but just be-
come aroused when it was noticed that
the river was rising. An alarm was
given. but the people did not compre-
bend their danger until it was too late
for many to escape.
In sixty minutes Pacolet river
sprang up thirty feet. The mills were
doomed, as was the great railroad
bridge.
The preachers of Clifton unite in
putting the loss of life at fifty. Several
entire families were washed away.
There were heroic rescues. but one lit
tie boy was carried off on a log. He
called for aid. but no help could reach
him and he persisted in sight of all.
Whole Town Is Idle.
In that town every man, woman and
child is in enforced idleness. Their
means of earning livings are destroyed.
The great Converse Mills. with $1,000
spindles is total loss. while the Cliff
ton and Dexter mills each almost as
large, as half washed away. Proba-
bly, 100000 is the loss in money in
that village.
The work OF the waters was but half
done. Rushing and rolling over corn
fields and meadows for twenty miles
further, they came to the village Of
Pacolet. where stood three Of J. II.
Montgomery's mills. The mills were
built on the river banks. their found
alton being solid rock. Three thousand
horsepower 70 run tho machinery Is
furnished BY the river, but when the
wave struck these dams they melted,