The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-07-26
SAhTEE SUbsIDInG At REM|N|.
CREST REACHED BRIDGE AT 6
O'CLOCK AND WATER HAD
FALLEN EIGHT INCHES
THIS MORNING.

Last Reports and Hopes for Their
Weathering Flood Seemed Assured
-Embankments Washed, but Will
be Speedily Repaired When Water
Rcccdes-Crest Twenty-Five Inches
Higher at Remin Than in 1905
Water Rising ut Santee, but Prepa-
ratiOns Have Been Made to Safe
guard Bridges and Trestles-North-
western Resumes Regular Schedule
Southern Trestle at Kingville
Goes and No Further News From
Sumter Junction.
, From The Daily Item, July 81
| Having weathered the crest of the
great flood which swept down the Wa
teree and Congaree rivers into the
Santee this week, the trestles and
bridge at Remini now seem gradual
ly to be drawing out of danger from
the force Of the waters. The crest of
the flood, twenty-five inches higher
than it was in the great flood of 1908,
reached Remini at about o'clock on
Thursday evening and about midnight
the water began to fall. This morning
1t was reported tnat the water had
fallen eight inches and was gradually
subsiding. AS each hour passed and
the water fell, the hopes of those who
have been working practically without
cessation for the past four days to
save the bridge and trestles Of tile
Coast Line were rising and it now
seems that there will be no repetition
of the scenes of damage which were
enacted In 1908 at this point.
The food crest was reported to be
down about ST. Paul this morning, the
water having risen to within a quarter
of mile OF the town, according to
report sreaching here. Last night
many of the people living within a
couple of miles Of the river in this
section moved out upon higher
ground, either forced out by the ris-
ing food or fearing that the rising
water might entrap them during the
night. While immense damage is re-
ported to crops. there have been no
reports of loss of life.
i Reports today state that the South
ern trestle over the Congaree between
Kingville and Fort Motto was washed
away Thursday afternoon. The South
ern had about three miles of trestIe
work at this place and If all of it is
gone it will be big blow to the road
and will take several weeks to replace
1t. This trestle was washed away in
l190S.
crew Of 81. which came from Char
lesion this morning, stated that the
water at Santee was rising rapidly,
having risen four feet in the past
twelve hours. There is little trestling
at this place. but the Coast Line has
several water proof bridges. which it
is hoped will stand the flood. Much
of the track has been built up and this
may so impede the passage of the wa
ter as to cause injury to bridges and
track. However. the road has had
plenty Of time to prepare for the COM
ing of the high water and has plenty
OF heavy cars loaded with sand to
place on the tracks to hold them down
in place, when the food arrives. The
full force of the, water is expected at
Santee about Monday or Tuesday of
next week.
The damage by the flood in this
storm is different from that in 1908 in
several respects In 1908 the greater
volume Of water in the Santee came
down the Congaree, while this time
the Wateree rose to several feet higher
than In 1908 and it's volume of water
poured into the Santee was greater
than In 1908. In 1908 the trestle and
bridge at Wedgefield over the Wateree
were barely covered with water and
trains were operating the next day,
after the waters began to recede, while
at Remini many hundred feet of tres
tie were washed away with the loaded
cars on them and the bridge itself felt
the force Of the waters. This time it
Is the trestle on the Coast Line at
Wedgefield which has been swept
away, while that at Remini, DESPITE
the fact that the water was twenty-five
lnches higher this time, has been
saved intact, or apparently so at the
present time.
| In 1908 the Southern trestle at CO.
iumbia over the COngaroe was badly
damaged and it was several days be-,
rore 1t was repaired. The trestle at
Kingville was also washed away and
nG4VV M