The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-07-29
HEAVIEST RAIN
EVER RECORDED
IN "a CONSECUTIVE HOURS
FELL IN SAVANNAH YESTERDAY N
SERIES OF HEAVY DOwNPOURS.

Instruments at Weather Bureau Re
cord Total DownpOur of 81 Inch
es-Water Flooded streets. Filled
Easements, DeraiIed Cars and Cut
on Lines of Electric Company.
Mill Haven Cars Cannot Reach
City Before This MorninE-Aber-
corn Car DeraiIed in the sand.
Dangerous WashOut Reported.
Partial Record OF Damage.
The heaviest rainfall ever recorded
in twenty-four consecutive hours in
Savannah since the establishment Of
corded yesterday. The total dOwnpour
was 6i2 inches, the record al Il O'Clock
last night. The next highest twenty
four hour rain was IN June, 1887, when
there was a total OF SO.
For the most part the rain fell in
a series Of showers OF short duration.
nearly two inches falling in a half
hour. This made il utterly impossible
for the sewers 10 carry the water or.
and streets were flooded. Easements
filed and trolley cars derailed.
After the first shower in the morn
ing the water stood in pools about
the mouths OF the mains and then
slowly was carried of. The sun came
cut brightly and the indications were
that the day was to be a clear one.
In the afternoon the heaviest show
ers Of the day occurred. however, and
the streets were soon running with
water
The water appeared 10 be falling in
one long continuous sheet. II struck
the paved streets with great force and
bounded back in heavy spray. I'M
brellas were useless and pedestrians
were forced to seek shelter in the
most convenient buildings
Blocked the Sewers.
The water mains could not carry off
the streams of water and in few mo-
ments the streets were miniature riv-
ers. The sand and dirt from the IN
paved streets washed down to the
paved streets and formed great is
lands Of sand. Many Of the streets
were absolutely impossible.
At Castor and Bull streets there is 4
lake and water is filing the Easements
Of residences. On Whitaker. between
Oglethorpe avenue and Liberty street.
the same conditions prevailed at mid
night. and it was necessary to wade
through water up 10 the shoe-tops TO
cross. At Abercorn and Oglethorpe
avenue a small lake formed and the
water was flush with the running
boards Of the trolley cars.
Trolley Cars suffer.
The water at Park avenue and Aber-
corn street washed A great quantity
Of sand across the car tracks. com
pletely covering the rails. An A. &
B car rushed upon this obstruction.
the wheels sunk into the mud. and
the car stuck. At midnight It had
not been placed back on the rails and
a transfer of passengers was neces-
sary TO accommodate those riding on
the belt
The Mil Haven cars were caught
out of the city and at midnight two
Of these large cars were unable TO get
into the city owing to the flooding
of the tracks. Inquiry at the car
barn brought the information that it
would be impossible to get the cars
back before morning.
Schwarz avenue is under water and
the Central Railway subway is sub
{ AA4TA gu ~ tAlAtE us u POINTS III the
city the water was running flush with
the running boards Of the cars and
great sheets Of water were spurted
out as the cars passed through the
miniature lakes. Along the dies of
/ the tracks, small rivulets were run
/ ming and bits Of paper. chips. and other
light materials were floating gaily
along.
The Heaviest RainfaIIs.
The records at the Weather Bureau
/ show that the heaviest rainfalls &C
/ Cured in short intervals. with the
| heaviest shower of the series passing
/ over the city Just before 10 O'Clock at
/ night. The following table. compiled
/ from the registrations at the Weather
/ Bureau show the time and amounts