The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-07-19

In recent years. according to tho
weather bureau officials, as q result of
the rapid rise in the rivers caused by
neavy rains IN the Piedmont and in
the mountains of North Carolina. The
crest of the flood has already passe &
the Piedmont section. leaving destruc-
ton In its wake, and Is now sweeping
On toward the sea, gaining in size as
the smaller streams converge in the
bigger rivers.
The damage to the South Carolina
up-country and to western North Car
DINA can only be estimated, as COM
municatton Is still much handicapped
by destruction of bridges and prostra-
ton Of wire service. The loss, how
ever, is certain to be severe, as the
streams in many sections have gone
far above flood stage.
The most important damage report
ed Is from the Catawba section, where
three big railroad bridges and many
smaller structures have gone down.
COTTON mills also have suffered heavily.
while the crop loss is expected to be
large.
Train service from Columbia to
Spartanburg has been eliminated for
the present and only by extensive de-
tour can trains be run from Atlanta
to Washington. The Columbia Char
lotte line was cut by the destruction of
the Catawba trestle. The Atlantic
Coast Line has maintained it's through
service In the Pee Dee, though local
schedules have been badly disarrang-
ed.
Widespread warnings have been
sent to all territory covered by the
Great Pee Dee, Little Pee Dee.
Lynches. Black and Waccamsw riv-
ers by the Charleston weather bu-
rean officials. 1t Is declared that the
most disastrous aood of years may be
expected in the section drained by
these rivers. The Black river at
,kingstree has already reached record
stage, water registering the highest
ever experienced and is still rising.
The Great Pee Dee at Cheraw attain
cd stage Of 35.1 feet yesterday
morning and may not go much higher
at that point, but further down
stream will be of most serious flood
proportions On Lynches river the
record established in 1908 of 20 feet
is being rapidly approached. Great
volumes Of water are forcing these
rivers over their banks fast. Railroads
have been warned to use the utmost
caution in this territory. ~
| That the Wateree river at Camden
will reach q height of from 40 to As
feet, an unprecedented flood, within
the next SO hours was the warning
sent out last night by the United
States weather bureau at Columbia
Long distance telephone messages to
the mayor. the chief of police, and
others at Camden begged that the
news be spread, and accordingly warn
ings are being sent to Eastover. King
good. Boykin. Lugoff, Wateree. King
vile and all towns and. settlements
near the confluence of Wateree and
the Congaree. The prediction was
based on report from the observer
at Catawba, York county, who went
to Rock Hill to tell the Columbia Of
flee that the water at Catawba last
night was feet higher than any pre-
vious known stage. The gauge had
been washed away and the river was
} still rising, the crest having not pass
ed Catawba.
Il do not wish to be an alarfnist,'
) said Mr.. Sullivan last night, "but now
is the time for the people to take
warning and prepare for the worst
Hood that section of the Catawba river
has ever experienced, and ask that
every ona cooperate in letting those
in that district know Of the approach
ing high waters"
The previous high stage at Camden
+. was 39.7 feet reached i'm the flood of
1908. and last night the stream had
reached stage of 3S feet and was
$4,000 feet wide. The stream is rising
and within 36 hours, 1T is predicted
records will be broken. The Catawba
whose waters join in making the Wa
teree, was raging last night as never
: before with 37.4 feet at Catawba, and
: the water on a continuous rise. The
river at Catawba last night was 5000
: feet wide. The bridge OF the South
ern railway was washed away yester-
: day morning. and the United States
weather bureau gauge has been los,
with Ii. The observer nj Catawho