The Washington times., 1908-08-27
Terror Stricken Residents
Escape From Second
Story Windows.
LOSS OF LIFE
REPORTED HEAVY
Thousands HomeleSs-Fire Burns
Two Big Warehouses-Food
Supply Getting Short.

AUGUSTA, Ca, Aug. IA sea Of
muddy water reaching the second floor
.of the business houses. and driving resi-
dents into upper floors. and in some
cases into trees. is Augusta, in it's food.
More than twO-thirds OF the city s.
covered. and the submerged portion in
eiudes all the principal business anu
residence districts. Only that part OF
the city south and east of the first level
of the canal is above water. This canal.
which is higher than the streets,
saved It
The property loss reaches into the mil
lions. All the factories along the canal
have been swept by the food. and the
machinery ruined, much OF it beyond
repair.
Fire last night broke out in two ware
houses Of the Nixon Grocery. Company.
Several lime warehouses burned. the
hre starting from spontaneous eombus-
tion.
Loss Heavy.
The loss OF life is reported to be heavy.
but no vertfcation can yet be obtained.
Ihere IS well def ned story that two
women IN buggy were drowned in a
street last night when the vehicle turn
ed over Il is also reported that vou-
an and two children and a negro cab
man were drowned near the Union
Depot. No bodies have yet been re-
covered and will not be until the food
subsidies. --''''
II is impossible to reach the uptown
VISlIIcd SO Iaf- Many persons have
taken skins 10 reach the business por-
Uon, only 10 be overturned by the fierce
cross currents and SWeut away If Is
stated that the lock gates, seven miles
d9oNe 9Ne me city, aid not burst but the
llgh river overhOWed into the canal
Ihls eanal IS nine miles long, owned BY
the city ana runs through Augusta
nearly parallel with ths river. on in Is
n ne ulesL sL anG cheapest water power in
the country All Of the nine great cot
ton mills have been put our Of business.
1helr thousands OF employees are orr ~
Wofh. The cotton mill district, where
mere are rows OF tenements occupied
py employees, was not flooded
Thousands Homeless.
Thousands were homeless last night
Most Of them fed to churches which
were thrown open to them. MANY fed
10 the hills. Green street. the fssbio,
residence thoroughfare Of the citv- Is
entirely under water Neither ntvs-
paper printed an edition yesterday or
this morning. Their offices are sub
merged.
There have been no street car or tel
eL5Lone service. electric or gas light, or
wafer from the system since noon YES
ieToay Men with skihs charge s. TO
SlV 10 row passengers to Broad street
Iney reaped a harvest yesterday
Many men were left all night in bust
ness houses without food
IL is very cold today and bonfras uaxa
heen bullt IN unflOOded streets RELIEF
organizations viii be formed bv tonfgbt
II possible Many Of the destitute are
begglng. Up TO this time no organized
work is possible as there are no uoesns
OF communication
Only on those buildings which were
burned can insurance be recovered, as
policies do not cover foods
No trains are running into AIersts
except those Of the Georgia raiIrosd IA
Atlanta which get within i've miles ~
the city All other railroads have been
cut Of.
Two Bridges Gone.
The old Charleston and Western Caro-
lima railroad bridge and the Hamburg
wagon bridge, over the Savannah river
are both gone. Other bridges are said
to be damaged. Livestock was turned
lose and rushed TO the hills 10 safety.
A food shortage is threatened owing
TO damage to grocery stocks. Many peo-
pie were caught in their homes nv The
sudden flood, which rose ten feet in an
hour. Some took 10 trees and were res
cued by boats. The dry portion OF the
city seems deserted except for negroes
and a few whites at the waters edge
Most OF the residents Of the better
class are IN their homes surrounded By
water.
It is too early yet to estimate the
amount Of damage. but il is believed
that II VIII far exceed that caused by
the big food Of 1888.
The retail dealers had only recently
put in their fall stock. and these were
for the most part stored in cellars. All
of which were hopelessIy Hooded before
their contents could be removed.
City in Darkness.
The city was in total darkness last
night. the food having extinguished the
fires under the boilers OF the electric
light plant The street cars have not
been running since early yesterday from
the same cause.
Three deaths have been reported. two
white persons and one negro. names un-
The union station Is under ten feet
of water: on Broad street the food Is
five feet deep, and on Green street
six feet. and still rising
Word comes from Camden, S. C. that
there were but five deaths from the
collapse Of the toll bridge, where yes
terday il was reported that nineteen
were drowned.
Hundreds Are Missing.
Bodies have been seen floating in tha
food. Not until the river recedes and
it is possible TO reach the center Of the
city can any accurate estimate Of the
loss of life or property be made 1t Is
probable that many bodies viii be
found. Hundreds of persons are miss
ing, but they may be accounted for
when conditions improve.
Thousands of citizens were caught
unawares and forced to retreat 10 upper
floors of the houses. Some had time
to drive out into the country but the
stoppage Of cars and trains prevented
wholesale evacuation.
Yesterday the canal overfiowed at FL
lis and Broad streets, and III an hour
was spreading over the city BY !
O'Clock the water was to 10 feet deeD
in the high bU4iness section, driving
merchants TO HUper nOOrs with uyhaf