The morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, August 28, 1893, Image 1

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I the MOnVIN’n J 1 IMABUiniIIWO. INCORPOFATKB)BBt>. - j J.H. ESTILL, President. I ID 11 [ IIII* Savannah Swept by a Terrible Hurricane. Iffly LIVES BELIEVED 10 HAVE BEEN 10S1. The Daiage Beyond Estimate Hundreds of Buildings Unroofed. and MM \mm KILLED. Hutchinson’s Island Inundated. VESSELS WRECKED AT TYBEE. Anxiety on the Rail roads. S nil oi Terror u k Cily. Almost on the anniversary of tho great hurricane of 1881, Savannah was swept last night by one of the severest storms it has ever known. An estimate of the damage is yet impossible. Many lives, it is believed, have been lost on Hutchinson island, and on the lowlands along the river. The number, however, will probably never be known. Many of those lost were negroes who lived on the rice plantations and along the river banks. KILLED BY A LIVE WIBE. The only fatality reported in the city was a negro who was struck by a live wire at Bryan and Aborcorn streets and instantly killed. The storm was at its highest pitch be tween 10 and 11 o’clock when the wind reached a velocity of 70 miles an hour, the greatest ever reccorded by the weather bureau, that of the hurricane of 1881 being estimated at 75 or 80 miles, but no record was possible, the instruments having been blown away. lhe rain fell in torrents and was blown like mist, beating against walls and build ings in sheets, Hooding the streets and penetrating every crevice, beating its way UrU r roofs, smashing window panes and pouring in streams into residences and business houses, deluging everything. STARTINO OF THE STORM. I lie storm which had been predicted by the weather bureau for several days, be gan early in the afternoon ami increased from then on until it, reached the climax between 11 a, nl 12 o'clock last night having blown for eight hours in a terriffic hurricane. It began raining early in tho morning, but °ly in gusts. After the first fall it ‘eased entirely for several hours and did nor begin again until afternoon. Then ■he work of destruction began and lasted U ! 'iil the storm had spent its force. A, midnight all thewharves along the ru 'T front and tho Ocean Steamship I ’’ n Pauy and Savannah, Florida and Wes leiQ Railway wharves were under water ail| l Hie tide was still rising rapidly. ■ • hinson Island was inundated and "ho diil not leave were probably i"''u>d. Cries for help were heard to “ across the river and several were made to send rescuing par v out * u the storm and heavy current "as impossible in thedarkness to reach them. A number was rescued before the a ' "as covered, and many who went Sack river into South Carolina are he'ed to have been lost. SWEPT PBOM THEIK MOORINGS. 1 the small craft along the rive- wops gtp JfltofMug lfcto& swept away and larger vessels lay heeled over on their sides. A number of the wharves floated away. The loss, of which it is impossible yet to obtain any approxi mate estimate even, is very heavy. All the lands adjacent to the river for miles above and below the city are under water and the inundation ex tends back to the farms, washing, away the crops and flooding everything, driv highlands. THE TYBEE ROAD UNDER WATER. Long before nightfall, all communica tion with Tybee, both by telephone and telegraph had been cut off. The latest reports received about 5 o'clock stated that the wind velocity there had reached 70 miles per hour. When the storm reached its heigth, about 11 o’clock the wind must have attained the velocity of something over 80 miles. The Tybee road between Lazaretto creek and Bilbo canal near the city was under water over the entire distance ex cept beyond LePaigeville and the bluff. When tho last train came up at 5 o’clock, the bridge over Laxaretto creek was only three feet from the tide and the tide was rising then at the rate of three feet per hour. NEARLY EVERYONE SAFE. No trains left the city for Tybee after 2:30 o’clock, and none of the trains during the day could go any further than the Point house, on account of the immense quantities of sand which were blown across the track. It would have required more than a hundred hands to have kept the track clear. The 2:30 train brought the passengers who would have taken the 2:55 train, back to tho city. Among them were a large num ber of Augusta excursionists who had come down to take in Tybee and they were all brought back safely. This train was about an hour or more late, arriving shortly before 5 o'clock, and was the last train which came up from the island. It made its way up slowly, being on the lookout all the time for washouts. 'The track, however, was found to be in a fair condition with the exception of the bridge, which was across the Bilbo canal, and that was in a very shaky condition, and expected to go down at any time. The 5:15 train from Tybee did not reach the city last night. TO LOOK AFTER TUE ROAD. Mr. T. C. MoNeely, superintendent, went down the road about 9 o’clock last night to look out for any washouts or ac cidents that might have occurred, but up to 2 o'clock this morning he had not re turned and nothing had Been heard from him. In fact the only way in which he could have gotten back would have been by swimming as the entire marsh from the Lazaretto creek clear up to the Tybee depot was submerged. When the height of the storm was reached the water blew up into the Tybee depot, and was way up over the platform. Below the depot the water was almost deep enough to have sailed a small boat clear across to the river. Knrly in the afternoon all the people who had gone up to the Hotel Tybee, walked down to the Point house to get shelter for the night. It was reported that the water came up within ten feet of the hotel Saturday afternoon, and if this was the case it is probable that every thing was flooded when the storm came ou. The last report from Tybee stated that there were two vessels anchored off the island, and they were in deep water and apparently safe. What became of them when the heavy blow came on however is unknown. A late report from quarantine stated that one of the barks anchored in the channel there had turned completely over and sunk. ANXIETM FOR THE BELLEVUE. Much anxiety is felt on account of the steamer Bellevue, which left the city yesterday morning at 11 o’clock for War saw witii a party of excursionists aboard. There were a number of women and children aboard, and many anxious in quiries were being made last night. It was impossible for the steamer to have returned from Warsaw yesterday or last night. It was not believed that Capt. Garnett would have made the at tempt to return in the face of the storm, the passage across Warsaw sound being known to be very dangerous in such weather. The ex cursionists were probably left at Warsaw, while the steamer took refuge behind St. Catherine’s island or some of the islands in that vincinity. IN THE TEETH OF THE STORM. [n the city the storm was the most se vere along the river and in the business portion of the city. Hardly a warehouse on the Bay was left with a roof after the storm was over. A view of the city at midnight revealed the effects of the storm in every quarter Buildings deroofed, the doors of business houses blown in, electric wlies of all de scriptions down at every point, and brok en and uprooted trees littering the streets in every direction. The tin roofing of the large building of the Savannah Grocery Cos., and M. Ferst's Sons & Cos., on Bay street, was entirely torn off and piled up in the street. THE CITY EXCHANGE DAMAGED. The windows on the northeast side of the city exchange were smashed in and SAVANNAH, GA„ MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 1893. water had poured in, damaging the pa pers and records of tho offices, no doubt. The doors of Fretwell & Nichols’ build ing, opi>osite the exchange, were smashed In and the stock evidently damaged. The awning in front of D. B. Lester’s grocery, at Bull and York streets, which had been carelessly left rolled down was blown entirely down, iron frame work and all, into the middle of Bull street. The smoke stack of the Savannah Brewing Cos., was blown down and tho engine house damaged. The smoke stacks of the Gorrie Ice Cos., and those of the Brush Electric Light Cos., are also down. The naval stores sheds near the cotton warehouse at tho Central railroad wharves are down and the en tire Vale Royal tract .covered with wa ter. The doors of Smith Bros., and James M. Dixon & Co.’s places of business on Bay street were blown open. One of the large windows of Ludden & Bates’ estab lshment on Broughton street was smashed in. The doors of the Falk Clothing Com pany on Broughton: street were forced in and considerable damage done. The members of the company were notified by the jjolice and the work of repairing tho damage as far as possible was begun last night. TIIE MARKET ROOF LIFTED. At the height of the storm at 11 o'clock the tin roofing at the southwestern cor ner of the market was tom off. Those who had taken refuge in the market thought the whole market was coming down. About the same time the rooffing was torn from the Palmotto house on Bryan street. A little later the steeple of the First African Baptist church at Bryan and Montgomery streets foil with a loud crash. M. J. Solomon’s, Max Stern’s and S. Binswanger’s residence, on Charlton street, between Whitaker and Bull, were unroofed and flooded with water. The doors of Drytus & Rich’s liquor store, opposite the market, were driven in. The police reported that a great num ber of the business houses all throughout the city had doors and windows smashed in. It was a great opportunity for thieves, if any were willing to bravo the storm. Tho gable end and chimneys of the brick residence northwast corner of Hab ersham and AHercorn streets Avere blown down. Part of theroof ofCol.Estill’s residence, 58 State street, was blown off, and tho iron fence and capping toppled over. In the hight of the hurricane, the telephone wire got crossed with an electric wire, and for a half an hour there was a dan gerous display of fireworks about the house. THE MORNING NEWS DAMAGED. Work was conducted with tlie greatest difficulty at the Morning News lastnight, Tho windows of the cupola upon the top of the building were broken in the afternoon and tho water poured in in a steady stream as long as the storm lasted, deluging the floor of the composing room, and penetra ting to the lower floors. At midnight ev ery floor of the building had more nr less water on it, and the stock of paper and machinery is considera bly damaged. It was almost impos sible for the printers to work, with the water pouring in on them and the floor shaking with the wind. The electric lights went out at 10 o’clock and the printers had only the gas to de pend upon. At the height of the storm, between 10 and 11, the situation became so threaten ing that the printers wero compelled to leave the composing room. They re turned again shortly after 11 o’clock. The storm began again after midnight and made work almost impossible. It was only under the greatest difficulties that to-day’s paper was gotten out. The large skylight which gives light to the newspaper composing room was blown away, and through it the rain poured in torrents, and flooded the building to the business office. To add to the trouble the electric lights were shut off, and,the place left in darkness until the gas lights could be brought into use. The motors that ran the presses were burnt out and recourse had to be had to the old boilders and engines. It was an hour after midnight before matters got straight so that the force could get to work. BAY STREET SWEPT. Bay street got the worst part of the storm in the city, and tho few who ven tured there during the day and night were blown almost off their feot. In passing the custom house, where the side walk, when wet, is extremely slippery, passers-by got down on their hands and knees and crawled the entire distance. Guests of wind came up the street of sufficient force, it seemed, to blow away almost any obstacle. Signs were blown down, and the watchman on guard around the banks piled them up in one of tho stairways. The windows on the north east corner of the Savannah Bank and Trust Company’s building were buttered in and the glass was shattered. Other glass windows all along the Bay were similarly destroyed, and break ing glass could be heard falling in up to the time the storm abated. VIVID WITH LIGHTNING. About 9 o’clock the storm assumed pro portions betokening the approach of a climax, and from that hour until the in terval of decided lull the elements raged with ferocity. It was at the early stage of this increased fury that the arc-light wires, having borne the continuous onset of some twelve hours, yielded to the strain upon them, and one after another went down from their fastenings. Wherever they fell upon or across other lines, luminous comiscations and often resplendent flames bust upon the pe er,liar gloom which shrouded the air, instantly shimmering and sparkling as though spanned by intense lightnings. Near the Pulaski House two/wires came in contact, and at once that vicinity becaino vivid with light, tho display being repeated from time to time until one or both the cables had apparently been burned out. Like exhibitions, from similar cause, were frequent, on an un usual scale at Whitaker and Bay streets, where, however, the electrical flashes were at times attended by detonations more or less loud. Throughout the area of the arc light and electric car systems continuous jets of illumina tion, piercing the haze overhanging the city, told of the tmequal struggle in which numbers of bisecting wires had gone down. THE CITY IN DARKNESS. The incandescent lights of course, succumbed, though a manful effort was made to prolong their service. Early in the evening they hud ceased to shine, but later they again, but fitfully, responded. At, 10 o’clock they went into eclipse for the night. The clang of the fire bells also punc tuated the event of the contact and proba ble burning out of tho electric cables. Taking the account of these mishaps as told in the weird toll of the bells and the rattle of tho telephone, it is con clusive that the damage and losses to the varied systems in the city must have been very great. Noth ing can bo told as yet of the injuries to tho general telegraph lines, since tho area of the storm is unascertained. That tho losses will foot up largely as to the item of wires alone, may be inferred from the severity and duration of the hurricane at this point, and which probably fell with equal force upon other near by cities. KILLED BY A FALLEN WIIiE. A colored barber named Louis Gagnett) was instantly killed last night about 10 o’clock by coming in contact with a live wire of the City and Suburban’s Hue at Abercorn and Bryan streets, which had fallen within a few feet of the ground. He was walking down Bryan street with a companion, William Mulherin, to wards his home about that time, and those who saw them say that both were intoxicated. A man who was standing at Bryan and Abercorn streets, near Peacock, Hunt A Co.'s warehouse, said he saw tho men as they passed him, and he warned them not to attempt to cross the street, as the wires were down, and electric sparks and fire were playing about tho fuffen wires with unusual frequency and intensity. BURNED TO DEATH BY THE CUHRENT. The men, howover, did not heed the warning, or at least Gagnett did not, but went straight ahead across the street un til ho met the wire which dealt him death. Mulherin avoided the wires and got across all right. Gagnett, the man who was killed, un mindful of the warning tottered on across the street. The wire was down within two or three feet of the street and the man who witnessed the accident said that Gagnett stumbled on the first rail of the car track and in fall ing forward his chin struck the wire, and he carried it down with him as he fell. Gagnetfs chin was burned almost to a crisp. In striking the wire he had turned a little to one side and the wire crossed both his chin and his left shoulder, burn ing down into his shoulder for an inch or more. The lower half of his face was un recognizable. He had evidently been in stantly killed by the current, which was something over 500 volts strong. THE BODY REMOVED. The coroner was at once notified of Gugnett's death, and came down svith his wagon to get the body. Gagnett’s body was placed in the wagon and was about to be removed, when Wm. Mulherin, ivho was with him at the time he met death, came up and said that he would take charge of the body. It was then removed to Mulheriu's house at Bryan and Aber corn streets, which is near where the acci dent occurred. Gagnett was a barber who worked on Jcffersou street. THE STREET C AH LINES. The street ear lines held up well dur ing the day l and a portion of the night. The Belt Line was the first to suspend op erations, which it did at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. The City and Suburban rail way’s schedule was interrupted in the afternoon, but it resumed and continued to. operate its cars until after 9 o’clock. The Electric railway ran an almost unin terrupted sehedulo during the day and up to 10 o’clock, when it was compelled to stop on account of the trees across the track on Price and Duffy streets and in other portions of the city. Traffic on the suburban lines was in terrupted late in the afternoon. A tree that was blown down across the Coast Line to Isle of Hope at Thunderbolt inter rupted traffic on that line. The City and Suburban Short Line from Whitaker street to Isle of Hoi>e was also cut off in the afternoon. Traffic on the Thunderbolt lines was put a stop to early in the night by trees across the tracks. Several parties who had gone out iu the afternoon were com pelled to spend tlie night at Thunderbolt. A CYCLONE TOWARDS CHARLESTON. The passenger train on the Charleston n and Savannah railroad arrived about an hour and a half late last night. The trainmen reported that at the railroad crossing four miles out of Charleston they encountered the debris of a cyclone that had passed that point earlier in the morning. Telegraph joies and fragments of box cars littered the track and had to be removed before the train could pro ceed. A number of box cars that bad been standing on a siding at the crossing were blown some distance from the track and were entirely demolished. A num ber of negroes had taken refuge from the storm in what was left of those that were not destroyed. It was said that several had been killed. but the trainmen and passengers could not ascertain how many. It was certain, however, that a number bad been injured, From the evidences of the destructive ness of tlie cyclone, the trainmen did not doubt the truth of the report that several deaths hud occurred. NO TRAINS FROM TIIE WEST. No grains came in by the Central or South Bound railroads last night. It was supposed that they were held up on the roads by washouts, but all wires were down and no information could be obtained as to the position of tlio trains. Much anxiety was felt by the railroad officials. Being Sunday, however, there were hardly any freight trains on the lines, and only tho regular phssenger trains were out. Asjlieso do not proceed without or ders it was taken for granted they had stopped as soon as communication with tho trainmaster’s office ceased, and arc now laid up at tho stations along the lines awaiting orders. The police had a hard time of it during the day, and a harder time last night. The men on foot could get in the shelter of the Avails aud houses, but the mounted men had no choice, except to take the full brunt of the storm. Tho mounted men on quarantine duty at Southover had a particularly hard time of it. The police reported falling trees, flying pieces of tin rooting and falling chimneys in every direction last night. Few ar rests were made, only two prisoners being brought to the barracks. Tho police were equipped in rubber coats mid boots, but even these could not prevent tlie penetration of the rain forced in by tho driving wind. TELEPHONE WIRES ALL DOWN. It was itnpossiblo to got a telephono connection last night. The telephone system was almost en tirely disabled. Numbers of Aviros were broken down, and still further damago was caused by tlie burning out of cir cuits by wires thut fell across the trolley and electric light lines, it was a common sight to see telephone Avires burning and throwing out bright flashes of light, where they had come in contact with larger wires of the other electric compa nies. At Abercorn and Now Houston streets a large tree blew down across tho wires, breaking them from their fastenings and throwing them across tho trolley wires. For a few minutes electric sparks danced around at a lively rate, the blaze being almost as brilliant as an arc light. The resuit of this accident was tho burning out of two dozen or more telephones iu the southeastern part of the city. Tlie wires were crossed in every direc tion aud telephonic communication south of Liberty street was cut off as early ns 0 o’clock. Telephone wires were broken and blown down by the wind all over tho city. One of the telephone poles near the gas house, carrying over fifty wires, was broken square off in the middle, but was supported by the wires, which remained unbroken. After 7 o’clock it was impos sible to get any connection whatever, the wires being so broken down and crossed that they were entirely unmanageable. NOT AN INSTRUMENT WOUKINO. Telegraphic communication from every point was entirely cut off. Late in the afternoon there was a connection with Macon, Waycross and Jacksonville, but late last night, Chief Operator Rivers said that the only thing he could get was an occasional tick from Brunswick. A number of newspaper reporters were there trying to get in yellow fever specials, but the wind blew wires to gether to such an extent that it was im possible to communicate with them. La ter on all communication was cutoff and there was not an instrument working in the office. The Associated Press wire was down, it being impossible to get news reports from any point. The Central and S., F. and W railroad wires were down at various points, which greatly interfered with their train ser vice. FOUR BARKS ASHORE. Tlie wind and waves played havoc with tho Ships at quarantine. There wpre nine barks and barkentines there last night. Most of them wero tied up at the wharves. Others, however, were an chored out to one side of the channel, and they got the worst of it. During the afternoon the Norwegian barks Loyal and Linden, Captains Gre gerson and Aaronson. the British barken tine, Capt. IJavies, and the Italian bark, ErcoLe, Capt. Califano, which were an chored near the upper quarantine station, were blown and washed up into tlie marsh. They were lying there late in the afternoon floundering and en tirely helpless. They were in waiter, and of course partially afloat, but when the heavy tide subsides they will be high and dry in the marsh. Just exactly where they were located could not be ascertained la3tnight. as the telephone line to tho quarantine station was blown down before 0 o'clock in the afternoon. Twelve years ago the reve nue cutter Boutwell, during the storm of 1881, was blown up in tlie marsh, and it cost the government $3,000 to get her out. The occupants of the vessel did what they could to secure and anchor them and then went down to the quarantine sta tion, where Dr. Graham took care of them during the remainder of the storm. BAILING OUT THE WATER. Late in the afternoon before the storm had reached its highest pitch Dr. Gra ham reported that the water was |>our ing into his house and office at every con ceivable creiice. Everybody was kept at work bailing it out as fact as it came in. The water was up over the quarantine wharves and they were almost afloat. Everything was drenched and tho other vessels anchored there were in imminent danger of being torn from their fasten ings. Everything possible was done to make them secure, bet whether any of them wore blown ashore or damaged at a later hour than 0 o'clock in the afternoon could not be ascertained, as tlie quaran tine telephone wire had blown down and there was no possible way of getting communication with tlie officials. So fur ns could be learned, however, no ono there received any injury. SMALL CRAFT LIKELY LOST. Whether any of the fishing smacks or small craft that wont out in the morning were blown ashore or lost could not be as certained. Dr. Graham telephoned that his honse was shaking as if it were a leaf, and that the water was pouring in though the roof. There were nine vessels in all at the quarantine station yesterday. The Por tugese bark Audacia, Capt. Ferreira; the British bark Mexico, Capt. Moncrief, aud the British barkentine Gencsta, Captain Davies, were tied up to the wharf, the others being anchored in tlie stream. The following are the names of other vessels anchored in the stream, no further re ports being received as to their positions: Norwegian bark Harold, Capt. Christen sen, and the Norwegian bark Elma, Capt. Tonnesen. MOVEMENTS OF TnE VESSELS There urea number of vessels due at this port, all of which have been in the storm. The City of Savannah, Captain Savage, sailed from Boston Thursday, and was due to arrivo last night, hut no rojiort of her was recelvod. The Wm. Crane, Captain Peters, sailel from Baltimore on Friday and was also due last night. Shp was in the tnidst of the hurricane. No roport of her was re ceived. The sohooner Island City, Captain Voor hoea, sailed with a cargo of lumber for Baltimore last Monday and has not been reported arrived. The schooner Harry B. Ritter, Captain Peterson, also sailed for New York on Monday. The Norwegian bark Mod, Captain Gabrielsen, sailed last Tuesday for Ham burg with a cargo of naval stores. She probably escaped tho storm. The schooner Three Sisters, Captain Simpkins, sailed for Philadelphia Tues day witii u cargo of lumbor, und has no doubt encountered the storm. The schooner Ida Lawrence, Captain Campbell, sailed Tuesday with a cargo of lumber for Philadelphia iu company with tho Three Sisters. The Norwegian bark Mod, Captain Nielson, sailed for London, on Thursday with a cargo of naval stores. The schooner, Jennie Thomas, Captain Young, sailed Thursday, for Baltimore. Her cargo consisted of lumbor. The schooner Leonard A. Burnham cleared with a cargo of lumber on last Thursday for Portland, Me., und wont to Tybee and anchored until Friday after noon, when she put to sea. The schooner Lelia Smith cleared Thursday Avith a cargo of lumber for New berg. She went as far as Tybee, where she anchored and has remained there awaiting the storm to pass. The steamship Decatur H. Miller, Capt. Billups, was apjwinted to sail for New York yesterday morning, but re mained at her wharf on account of tho storm. The tug Theckla came up from the quarautlne station about noon to get out of the storm. The tug Leon broke away from her moorings at Jones’ wharf on the opposite side of the river about 4 o’clock, and drifted across the river against Murphy's wharf, foot of Houston street, where she was made fast. The steamer Ethel arrived from Au gusta about 1 o'clock and lay at her wharf during the storm. The steamship Tallahassee, Capt. As king, started from this port on last Fri day aud was due at New York yesterday. The Dessoug, Capt. Edwards, sailed for Philadelphia on Friday, and was due to arrive at her destination yesterday. PUT BACK FOR HARBOR. The Naooochec, which was to have left yesterday morning ut 5 o’clock for New York, went down the river and got out to sea, but Capt. Smith, who has had many an experience with tlie storm-tossed ocean, saw the black clouds in the horizon and knew tnat they presaged a cyclonic dis turbance. He had just had a lively ex perience with a storm of a similar nature on last Wednesday, an account of Avhicli was gh f en in Saturday’s Morning News. Rather than buck tho norther, he turned about and headed again for the mouth of the Savan nah river. He came up to Venus Point where he anchored securely behind one of the jetties to await the passage of the vale. He will probably go out this morn ing when the disturbance has entirely subsiden. Tlie Atlantic Contracting Company dredge boats, which were doing work upon Tybee knoll, were brought up tho river at the first warning, of the storm and anchored at Venus Point. The William Crane, from Baltimore, and the City of Savannah, from Boston, were due late last night. They probably struck tlie storm somewhere south of Hat fceras, ar.d like tlie Naroochee and the Mil ler, which struck last Wednesday’s storm, hours or more. At the first warning of the storm early in the day all the tug bouts and pilot boats on the river headed direct for the Central railroad slip, where they went to seek a safe harbor during the passage of the flow. THE STORM RENEWED. The storm ceased entirely shortly after midnight and for nearly an hour there was a period of entire calm. The moon rose and everything was as bright as day almost. Observer Smythe of the weather bu reau, who was in the Morning News office at midnight, stated that the barom eter had fallen and was again rising, and predicted as a consequence that the wind I DAILY HO A YEAR I { 5 CENTS A COPY > I WEEKLY, *125 A YEAR ) would be blowing as heavily as before within another hour. Observer Stay the’s prediction was finally realized. The wind raged furiously from 11:90 o’clock uutil tlie time of going to press this morn ing. Tho wind veered around from the northeast to the south, however. It car ried away tho last remaining portion of the Morning News skylight. RUIN TO THE RICE. Nobody will suffer heavier losses by the storm than the rice plantors. The damage to the planters of Georgia and South Carolina by the storm will mount high up into the thousands. The rice crop of this section was said to be very fine*and the harvesting had just begun. Tlie greatest losses will fall upon tho planters nearest tlie coast, where tho plantations are undoubtedly flooded by tho salt water. The disastrous effect of the salt water upon the rieo at this season is well known to every ono having any acquaintance witii the rice business. All tho planters will suffer heavy losses from tlie beating down of tho rice by the wind and rain aud the shelling out of the ripe graiu. The new rice would have bogun to arrive at the mills in considerable quan tities this iveek had it not been for the storm. The harvesting of tho crop will probably be delayed at least a week as the result of the storm. IN THE HEART OF THE CITY. Along Bull street and throughout tho residence section of tho city from Brough ton street south, to tho park, the effects of tho storm were chiefly visible in the debris, which covered the streets, of the twigs and limbs of trees, with numerous large branches *nd every few yards full grown trees blown across tho streets and sidewalks. Tho eastern portion of the park looked as if more than a cyclone had struck it. Several of tlie largest trees at tlie northeastern end were blown flat on the ground. One large tree was blown over on top of the summer house, but did not crush it in. Soveral trees wero blown down along Drayton street. Tlie storm just got in its worst work among the trees late in tho afternoon and after dark. By 8 o’clock tho north side of Liberty street from Abercorn to East Broad was rendered impassable, several large trees falling directly across the road way. The largo tree standing on the corner of Habersham and Liberty streets broke off about 15 feet from tlie ground and fell directly across tho street. The same tiling occurred in front of Reid’s drug store on Abercorn street. IN TIIE SOUTHERN SECTION. South of the park tho streets were a mass of debris. Thousands of branches and limbs of trees littered the sidewalks, uutil they wore almost impassable. The storm was not as severe there as it was in the northern part of the city, nearer the river, where the wind had full sweep from the open country, and blew with terrific force. Up to 9>30 or 10 o’clock the damage was principally the uprooting and blow ing down of trees and the demolishing of fences. At 10 o’clock, when tlie full force of the storm came, people wbo, up to that time had been hoping that the worst was over, began to fear the end. Nearly all the houses in the southern section are frame, and, while they will stand earth quakes, they ure not like the solid brick structures in the central part of tho city and they shook and rattled like boxes. Roofs were torn loose, windows were blown iu and thou sands of dollars’ worth of property was damaged. HARDLY A nOUSE ESCAPED. Hardly a house escaped, and in soma the loss will foot up hundreds and per haps thousands. In almost every block fences were torn down, and in some in s anees the posts were lifted completely out of the ground and carried away. Duffy street along the line of tlie elec tric railway was strewn with trees, and although travel was kept up for awhile, it was with great difficulty. From Gas ton street to Anderson, and as far out on the extension as trees are planted the ground was thick with branches. In Laurel Grove hundreds of trees were bereft of their foliage, and in many in stances the trunks were stripped bare. Huge oaks were blown in every direction and the moss was cleaned from the limbs as if it had never grown there. TREES UPROOTED EVERY WHERE. As the storm increased in severity re ports were brought in that the young trees in all the eastern section of the city were twisted up by the roots. it will be possible to place many of these in position again, but the damage from this source alone will cost the city a considerable sum. The general estimate of the number of trees down in the whole city at 8 o’clock was over 400 and between 8 o’clock and midnight fully as many more fell. The damage to roofs of houses in the residence section early in the night was not so apparent as in the business portion of the city. The great damage at first was caused by leaks in roofs. Many families had to to contend with flooded bed rooms. The night was not a comfortable one to many people in the residence section. 0 BSERVER SMYTH’S REPORT. He Declares Yecterday’s Storm the Greatest Savannah Has Ever Known. Velocity of the wind, 73 miles an hour; barometer, 38.31; total raiufall, 5.17 inches. Obser7er Smyth of the weather bureau says yesterday's storm was, in his opinion, the greatest Savannah has ever experienced. The wind reached, a velocity of 70 miles an hour at 11:45 p. m. The wind was from the northeast. Dur ing the day the velocity of the wind was 54 miles an hour. KiBOMETEB. Observer Smyth says that the barome ter fell lower than ever before recorded in the United Stutes. At Ba. m, it was