The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-10-23
IN THE CENTRE OF STORM.
Vilocity of Wind in Charleston
Reached SO Miles-Heavest Storm
Since the Great Cyclone of
1898.

The State.
Charleston, Oct. 20.-Ckarleston
was struck by the West Indian hurri-
cane this afternoon, the wind at
tanning a velocity of 62 miles an hour
about 4.30 o'clock, knocking down
trees, fences, poles and sign boards
and doing other damage and perhaps
causing loss Of life among ventur-
some marsh hen hunters and fisher
men.
The barometer has been falling
for several days, giving notice Of the
approach of the disturbance, but this
morning it took lively tumble and
continued to fall with most remark
able rapidity. Late this afternoon it
registers the exceedingly low point,
reading of 20.17 inches and is still
falling, while the wind has dropped
it's velocity to So miles, but is ex-
pected to increase near midnight,
when the tide will be high. The tide
is more than two feet above the nor
NAL and fortunately the wind holds
to the north and unless it gets to the
east, the damage by water, which is
always q most destructive feature Of
storms on the coast, will be averted.
The barometer pressure is the lowest
at Charleston of any place Oh the
coast and this depression invites the
disturbance towards this coast.
Charleston seems to be in the
center Of this depression along the
South Carolina coast. Much uneasi-
ness prevails with the fear that con-
ditions will grow worse and Charles
. ton may be struck with full force
during the night. The storm is the
worst that Charleston has had since
the terrible cyclone of Aug. %, 1898,
when the wind attained force of
12O miles, at which time the storm
caused loss of much life and de-
stroyed property to the amount Of
$1,250,0O0.
The Clyde steamer Algonquin start
c;a "n her trip to New York this morn
ing, but had to put in port on ac-
count of the weather. The tank
steamer Paraguay came in for har-
Dor. Vessels are putting out extra
hawsers and making preparations to
stand the storm. Maritime interests
are probably being hit another hard
blow, but the weather is too severe
for the tow boats to venture out Of
the harbor to look for distressed YES
sells.
Abated at Night
At 10 o'clock tonight the wind had
abated considerably, blowing at the
rate of 81 miles an hour, with occa-
sional gusts of so miles. The max
imum velocity recorded was G4 miles
an hour, about S o'clock, after which
time the wind decreased. The rain
has also let up. The barometer has
been rising steadily since o'clock,
which is favorable indication that
the storm has passed. The wind
veered around to the northeast, adj
ding to the height of the tide, which
reached its full measure tonight about
10 o. 'clocll, but the wind having lulled,
the tide did not have the destructive
force that it would otherwise have
excrted. Many houses are surrounded
by few feet of water and the in
mates waterbound. Not few of the
places being, however, deserted by
their occupants who had foreseen the
rise of the water.
Braved the Storm.
The steamer Sappho made, her last
trip between Mount Pleasant and the
city on the trip from the opposite
side Of the river shortly after 4
o'clock. Capt. Cherry had received
orders not to make the run, but he
assumed the responsibility and
brought the passengers safely across,
as there We're many boys at the ter
minal, who had been spending the
day across the river on the Young
Mems Christian association outing.
The steamer had hard trip coming
over the ri.e:. rocking and pitching
and the women and children cried
and s"r"amed with fear. The water
washei' , vessel from side to side,
Cant. Cherry telling your correspond