The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-07-10
A FLOOD OF RAIN.
Ihe Heaviest Rain Of the Season Fell
Tuesday-Bridges Washed Away
ana Roads and Crops Seriously
Damaged.
From the Daily Item. July 7.

Yesterday high water mark was
reached in the rainy spell that has
afflicted this section for the past six
OF more weeks. A total of between
fve and six inches of rain fell be-
tween a. m. and p. M, and in
other sections of the county it is re-
ported that the precipitation amount
ed to six and a half inches. AS
result OF this flood of rain falling I'D
on a soil already saturated with wa
ter, farm lands were badly washed.
crops inundated and all streams rose
to flood STACEY Bridges were washed
away roads damaged and washed in
to holes and gullies and rendered i'm
passable in many places. Full details
have not been received, but Supervi-
sor Pitts had received during tte
forenoon reports indicating that the
damage to roads and bridges will
amount to a large sum ahd that the
cnaingang and extra road workers
VIII be kept busy week or more
getting the roads in a shape for trav-
ell, while longer period will be re-
auired for the repair Of the more
serious damage to bridges.
The most serious loss that the coun-
ty has sustained was at Second Mill
crossing, two miles west. of the city
where the new concrete bridges and
portion Of the causeway were wash
ed away. The bridge is a total loss,
being swept from It's foundations into
the old food gate hole below the dam.
This bridge was recently built at the
joint expense of the county and Mr..
W. E. Brunson, the owner Of the
mill pond and was an expensive and
apparently substantial structure. cap
able of withstanding any reasonable
flood.
The bridges on other streams north
west of the city towards Providence,
Stateburg and Rafting Creek are also
reported damaged, but so far as is
now known none Of the larger bridges
were washed away. Several small
bridges near Borden were washed
away and the bridge across Green
Swamp, on the Stateburg road was
afioat and impossible early this
morning, but it was not washed from
the piers and the repair bill will prob
ably not be heavy. Supervisor Pitts
has gone on a tour Of inspection and
investigation and until he returns to
the city the full extent Of the damage
to the roads and bridges will not be
known. 1t Is known. however, that
the most serious and expensive results
OF the flood will not be the wash
ing away and damage to the large
bridges. but the washing and injury
to the roadways, which have been left
In very bad condition. many Gull
verts being washed out and hill
side roads cut into deep gullies.
more serious that the sustained by
tho public roads. It Is impossible to
even estimate the extent of the dam
age to growing crops. cotton especial
ly. The excessive rains for the past
several weeks had already done ir-
reparable damage to cotton in this
section. but the flood yesterday wash
ed hillside fields and flooded bottom
lands and in many places the crops
for acres were utterly wiped from
the face Of the earth. so reports say
today Later reports when the wa
ters have subsided to some extent NAV
he of more encouraging nature.
But making all due allowances for
exaggerated first reports, there can
De no doubt Of the fact that crops
have been seriously injured and that
some farmers will not make more
than a half Of crop at least.
The heavy rain was not a local
shower. but was equally as heavy in
all this section Of the State, and in
portions of Clarendon county ada
cent to Sumter county the crops suf-
fered seriously. 1t is also reported
that the rainfall in the upper portion
o. the State was excessive, although
probably not so much so as here.
In this city the excessive prescipi-
flowing of the street cutters and
drains and the flooding of the streets
and sidewalks so that some streets
water in low places. Some street
drains became clogged and the over
flow flooded adjacent lots, At the