The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-09-01
CITY OF AUGUSTA
SUFFERS HEAVILY
LOSS MUCH WORSE THAN WAS
EXPECTED.
Death List Placed at Sixty-Resl-
dents of Submerged Districts In
Great Distress.

Augusta, Ca, Aug. 22.-The flood
water at Augusta is receding rapidly
and as the water leaves the streets
it is apparent that the loss has been
underestimate. In addition to the
disasters already reported it is found
that the Riverside mills, damage to
plant and loss Of cotton which float
ed away, sustains loss Of 3loO,W;
Reid's cotton warehouse, the finest
in the South, is damaged in large
sum, but it will require survey to
determine the amount; Triangular
block. where the wholesale houses are
assembled, is badly injured. The
Nelson, Morris & Co. warehouse has
collapsed and is being razed; the Au-
gusta Grocery company's building is
damaged to the extent Of $4,000; Hill
& Merry escaped serious loss; the es-
tablishments of c. D. Carr & Co.,
Paul Muslin and Murphy are COM
paratively slightly damaged The
National Biscuit company building is
wrecked. The Central Grammar
school is badly hurt and the Davidson
Grammar school is damaged severe
ly.
In addition to the fires already re-
ported it develops that there were
ten smaller houses burned in differ
ent sections of the city.
.. As the water goes down further it
is feared that damages similar to the
Triangular block damage will devel-
op.
As to the loss Of life, % bodies
have been recovered and corpses are
found every hour or so. The captain
Of the river steamer Swan, which got
in today, reports that he saw, on the
up trip, at least 25 corpses, all ne
groes, except one.
Shere are reports Of many drown
ings among negro farm hands IN the
lower valley. The Chronicle estimat-
es the death list at 80.
The citizens in mass meeting, the
city council in special session and the
board Of health in special session
have taken measures to relieve the
. distress. Citizens are subscribing to
fund to help the poorer people IN
the submerged districts, for portions
Of the town are still under water.
There is sure to be great suffering
and relief must be quick to prevent
starvation swelling the death list. In
some districts people unable to leave
their houses have not tasted food
since Wednesday night. Augusta is
tying hard to measure up to the de-
mand upon her. At the public meet
ings today it was decided not to make
an appeal for outside assistance, but
to accept any contributions offered.
It is question if the citizens, meet
ing and city council did not err in de-
clining to make public appeal for as
sistance and many believe they will
yet be compelled to ask aid Of the
outside world. It is certain that the
mayor will gladly accept contribu-
tions and he so publicly said in reply
to Atlanta s inquiry today.
The immense cotton manufacturing
establishments are not only idle be-
cause of the breaks in; the canal
banks but they have received FLOOD
damage.
The water reservoir is full. It's ca
pacity is 6O,OO0,O00 gallons. But the
service pipes are broken and the city
is without water. The gas supply is
nearly restored.
The electric companies will start
up in II hours, using steam power
instead of water power. Electric
lights Will not be turned on Ior q
week.
There was a pathetic incident in
connection with the drowning OF
Harry Carr. His brother, c. D. Carr
of C. D. Carr & Co., whose ware
house is opposite the burned Nixon
varoho,,se from his office saw Harry
drown and was powerless to give
helping hand.
The known dead are: Harry Carr
bookkeeper for the Nixon Grocery
company; Horace Wingard. pressmar
for NJ. B. Williams & Co.; James Bar
ris, colored; Caesar Harvery, color
ed; Nelson Thomas, colored; Lee
Hatcher, colored; B. Davis, colored
Jesse Hawkins, colored; Harry Gales
colora1. John Holmes, colOred :