The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1908-09-10
FLOOD SITUATION
GRAPHIC PICTURE OF SCENES IN
THE GEORGIA CITY.
Question of Relief Now Paramount.
Water Supply Causing
Deep Concern.

Question OF fielleI NC" fdrdIHOuhI.
Water Supply Causing
Deep Concern.
Augusta, Ca, Sept. 2.-Until the
river was in it's banks again the city
was talking of the flood. Now the
water is gone and Augusta beholds
destruction and disaster almost un-
believable. The paramount question
is now relief, quick relief for the
homeless. the half-clad and the hum
CRY.
All attempt at accurate estimate
of the flood damage Is given up.
Daily it is seen that all previous ap-
proximates fell short of the mark.
The city of Augusta is entirely de-
pendent upon her canal for the water
supply, for electric lights and troll
ley car service, for motive power in
the mills. That canal is now a dry
ditch. Above the city pumping sta
ton it's banks gave way before the
raging waters and the wheels of in
dustry are paralyzed.
Result: For three hours each
morning a meagre supply of muddy
water is turned into the pipes The
pressure is not sufficient to force it
higher than the second floor of any
building. During that brief period
there is a crawling current in the
sewers. For the rest of the day they
are stagnant. The water is not fit
to drink.
The streets are in utter, darkness.
save for the feeble light of young
moon and the flicker of house lamps.
The fire alarm system is entangled
and confused. A small blaze just
now might be famed by high wind
into flames that would prey upon
city practically unprotected.
Trolley car service is inadequate,
but all that may be reasonably ex-
pected, when the railway company
are using auxiliary steam power to
propel machines that stood three
days in water and mud.
Four large and several smaller
cotton mills stand idle along the
banks of the Augusta Canal, not a
hundred dollars worth of their ma
chinery injured but unable to turn
furnished. Five thousand mill oper-
wheel until the motive power is
atives are idle, many of them home
less, hungry and without change
of raiment, all of them restless and
discomfort.
A fearful stencil covers the flood
area like pail. Odor of decayed
vegetable and animal matter, the vile
smell of unfinished sewers, the smell
of filthy mud that in many places
lies piled in great heaps waist high
these and a dozen other odors are
everywhere. Inside Coors it is op-
pressive, outside it's worse. When
one leaves the city behind he leaves
it's stencil behind, but not until then.
Down scores of streets the waters
swept like a mill race. Around cor
ners the current jerked water plugs
from their connections; undermined
curbstones and ripped up great
squares of cement sidewalk; priced
up thousands of pavement bricks and
swept them together many blocks in
great heaps like drifted sncw; SCOOP
ed out tons of macadam gravel and
washed it miles away; washed gullies
down Greene street, Augustus most
beautiful residence thoroughfare, as
deep as a mans waist; tore down
buildings, brick walls, fences,
hedges; carried away furniture; cap
sized boats; caught men in the
mighty current and swept them away
like straws, to finally sink and drown
or dash out their brains against OBJ
structions they may have seen, but
could not avoid.
With a situation more desperate
and dangerous than it has ever be-
fore or ever will confront again, the
proud city of Augusta is graphing
with enfeebled strength, but undaunt-
ed courage.
The funds of her municipal gov
ernment have been placed in the
hands of tireless workers, who shall
relieve the destitute, the sick and
the dying, are being paid to an army
of laborers who are toiling like Turks
to bring order out of chaos.
Temporary repairs in the canal
may put it in shape to hold water to-
day, while tomorrow contract will
be awarded by the city for complete
| VI IAO O1lAoSSo WV
tions. The street railway authorities
are sparing no effort to equip their
machinery for full work as soon as
possible. Expert electricians are
here, and work has not ceased since
the water went down, night OF day.
Hundreds of men are at work on the
city's streets. Steam and gasoline
engines line both sides of Broad
street, pumping out cellars. Contri-
buttons for the relief of the destitute
come in afresh each day from every
side. Ferries have been established
at the North Augusta and Centre
street bridge crossings, affording COM
munication with neighboring Caro-
lima counties. The city is resumlng
her activity. Before many weeks
she will be the same old Augusta,
triumphant over disaster.
| Goes Into Bankruptcy.