Newspaper Page Text
Atlanta Sotnal.
VOL. IV.
GREATEST FLOOD OF A GENERATION
GOES SWEEPING OVER THE COUNTRY
lIGUSTI Kill
IN FLOOD
THROES
REATEST*FRESHET SINCE 1885 IS
ON AND TH-. CITY IS FAST
FLOODING THIS AF-
TERNOON.
LUGUSTA. Ga.. March I.—The river !■
gher now than It has been since the
eat freshet tn 188 S. taking the people by
rpiise. as the rainfall here has not been
avy. It was rising steadily all day yes
rday, though but few people were aware
it.
ITesterday some of the mills were com
lled to shut down and last night the
y was almost in total darkness, because
e power house could not be operated by
Her.
Chis morning people realised that a se
nt* freshet was on. At an early hour
passed the highest snark reached since
B. The gates at the bulk head of
swks Gully were closed, but the back
iter spread rapidly over the lower por
ta of the city.
People living In these sections began to
see out of their houses where possible,
move their household goods to the
iper stories and merchants using cellars
r storage were busy moving out their
At noon the river measured 34 feet at
e bridge, being by that gauge then only
ree feet below the highwater mark of
S. which was called a forty-foot river.
It is only the bulkhead put In at Hawks
illy and the rising of Broad street which
keeping the river from sweeping across
e eity.
At noon the river is still rising rapidly
id M appears as If it will get out on
■oad street.
At’ 3 o'clock the water is rising fast,
id ft is raining. Reports from up the
ver cause fear that the worst is not
re.
The water is gaining fast on Broad
reet. where boats are being used in the
•per part, and cellars are filling up.
The dyke just below Hawks Gulley has
ven way. and all that part of the city
Ings street, is a vast lake.
Down Jones street the water is rushing
tea torrent.
The street cars are still running though
e water is up to the tracks in some
sees.
River still rising at 3:15 o’clock. Boats
»w navigate on Broad street as far down
i the Planter's hotel.
An accident at the canal has disabled
« upper power house and the city will
> in darkness tonight.
The sidewalks about the Planter’s hotel
■e covered with flood and the machines
i No. 3 engine house on upper Broad
reet pre standing hub deep in water.
It is doubtful if any of the afternoon
a ins will attempt to leave the city.
No accidents or loss of life reported.
Upper Jones. Reynolds and'Bay streets
* under water and the houses flooded 6
’ I inches.
RIDGES IN MACON
IN PERIL OF FLOOD
MACON. Ga.. March 1 -Ocmulgee river
: this point is higher than ever before,
iveral houses have been washed away by
sing waters and two rallrohd and one
agon bridge are in danger.
More than 100 people are actually suf
ring for want of food add clothing as a
suit of the high water. The property
es is in the neighborhood of 310.000.
The weather bureau says the waters
ill begin to recede today and imminent
tnger will be over Monday or Tuesday.
OTOMAC AND SHENANDOAH
ARE FAST RISING TODAY
WASHINGTON. March 1.-The Potomac
id Shenandoah rivers are still rising
ipidly today, according to advices re
ived by both the Baltimore and Ohio
ill road and the C. A O. Canal ormpany.
The worst trouble on the line of the for
cr company is in the neighborhood of
amberland, where the Potomac, accord
« to the company’s advices, had risen 8
et this morning
AILROADS PARALYZED
THROUGHOUT ALABAMA
MONTGOMERY. Ala.. March 1.-All
itlroad traffic continues to be Interfered
Ith. Only two passenger trains entered
le depot last night on time.
Trainmen on toe Central who left this
oming are of the opinion they will not
i able th get past the high water, and
iSt the train w|ll be compelled to trans
r its passengers and return to Mont
>mery.
No. 3 on the Louisville and Nashville, re
tained here all last night and went out
Head of No. 5 this morning.
Last night's train from New Orleans
tme upon high water near Garland.
Hout 34 inches above the track. The train
aded in till the fire was extinguished in
le furnace. The worst stages of the ris
g creeks near Garland are yet tn dome,
he Plant system is still tied up. and it is
■ported that the water is over Catotna
■eek trestle. and that it is still on the
•*.
All Western of Alabama trains late.
THENS’ BIG BRIDGE
SWEPT AWAY BY FLOOD
ATHENS. Ga.. March I.—At noon high
tnds. cloudy and threatening. i
Broad street bridge across the middle
conee river carried away last night.
It was a comparatively new structure.
Without Precedent Has Been Rainfall.
CHATTANOOGA. Tenn. Feb. 28.—Re
jrts received here by General Superln
ndent Dodson, of the western division
the Southern railway, show that heavy
iunderstorm« have been prevailing all
ong the Southern between Morristown,
enn.. and Asheville. N. C.. for the last
renty-four hours, with rainfall of about
re Inches, creating floods that are al
ost unprecedented in the history of that
ction.
enry County Loses SIO,OOO by Floods.
JACKSON. Ga.. Feb. 28,-The loss In.
irred to county by yesterday s rain
orm in bridges will amount to over ten
lousand dollars.
SEABOARD TRAINS
CRASH TOGETHER
NEAR ELBERTON
ENGINES AND PULLMAN CARS DE-
STROYED IN THE WRECK—SEV
ERAL PERSONS HURT BUT
NO LIVES LOST.
ELBERTON. Ga., March I.—At 5:80
o'clock this morning a head-end collision
happened three miles below Elberton on
the Seaboard railroad, on the way from
Elberton to Oglesby, between an extra
special and the regular morning vestibule.
It completely demolished both engines
and did considerable damage to three Pull
man sleepers.
Engineer Gary Hall, of the passenger
train, was considerably snook up and one
leg sprained from jumping from his en
gine.
Flagman Copehart and Will Jarrett,
train hand, also jumped and sustained
slight injuries.
Ffhgman Murray also received internal
injuries, which will probably cause death.
Superintendent E. Berkeley sustained a
serious scalp wound and internal Injuries
which is giving the doctors some alarm.
RIVER AT COLUMBUS .
IS FALLING TODAY
COLUMBUS. Ga., March 1.-The Chat
tahoochee at this point has commenced
to fall. The water barely reached the
flooring in the lower bridge last night and
at a late hour began to recede rapidly,
falling at the rate of about six inches per
hour. /
Water mains will be run across the Co
lumbus and Western bridge to supply the
city with grater for domestic purposes.
The floods in Columbus have .about
passed the danger gone. At a late hour
last night the Chattahoochee began to fall
and is steadily going down at tne rate of
six inches per hour. The water reached
the bottom of the lower bridge, but.
without doing any damage, began reced
ing.
Property owners and manufacturers
along the river front drew a long breath
when they learned this morning that the
water was falling. It is yet too high to
estimate any of the loss.
Arrangements are said to have been
made whereby pedestrians will use the
Columbus and Western railroad bridge
—f ibt ruuiiirnTh street brffige is re
placed. Water mains for the city will also
be run across this railroad bridge to sup
ply water for domestic purposes, the pres
ent pumping system from the river being
amply adequate for fire protection.
The first train over the Seaboard Air-
Line since Wednesday reached the city at
10 o'clock last night
COLUMBUS, Ga.. Feb. 28,-The Chatta
hoochee river Is higher today than it has
been since the memorable flood of 1888.
The water Is over all gauges and there
is no correct way of telling the exact
number of feet above normal, but reckon
ing places it about forty-three feet.
The great bridge serous the river to
Phenix City and Girard, at 14th street,
was carried away yesterday afternoon
about ( o'clock and for a while the utmost
excitement prevailed. Fortunately there
was no one on the bridge at the time. Had
it occurred an hour later when the fac
tory people would have been going home
from work, there is no telling how many
would have perished.
The steel bridge across the creek in
Girard is inundated, which compels the
people of upper Girard and Phenix City
to go to the wooden bridge, about half
a mile up the creek. With the exception
of this bridge Phenix City is completely
isolated.
The water pipes to the city were in the
Fourteenth street bridge and they were
snapped off when the bridge went down.
Wutch cut the water off from the city
until the submerged main could be press
ed into service. *
When the bridge collapsed there were
several persons standing on Motts Green,
looking at it. It had been noticed that one
of the piers near the Alabama shore had
washed out and while no one expected
the structure to fall, everybody was
watching with curious syea to see what
might happen.
Only a little while after the pier went
down the bridge began to quiver and with
a crash the great monster tumbled to
ruins. The Fourteenth street bridge was
built in 1865 on the “Lattice Plan’’ and
had given good service all the time up to
five minutes before It fell. Ifwould have
been replaced with a new one of steel this
summer. The factories are all stopped
on aocount of the high water.
Four Big Mills Are Washed Away.
JACKSON. Ga., Feb. 38.—News has
reached here that Henley's Roller mills.
Barrett's mills. Kinard's saw mUls. in this
county, were washed away in last night's
storm.
The Southern railway track near Juli
ette is flve feet under water.
No mail or trains here today and prob
ably will be cut off by railway connection
until Sunday.
All bridges at Indian Springs were swept
away.
Bridges and Trestles Swept Away.
THOMASTON, Ga., Feb. ».-The high
trestle of the Macon and Birmingham
railroad across Potato creek, two miles
west of Thomaston, was swept away last
night.
A wagon bridge across what is known
as "Ten-Mlle'' creek, a tributary of Po
tato creek, gave way and struck the tres
tle about its center and demolished the
main portion.
RIVER AT CINCINNATI
REACHES FORTY FEET
CINCINNATI. 0.. March I.—The Ohio
river reached a stage of 40 feet here this
morning but the rise is so slow that no
serious trouble is apprehended, although
the danger line of 50 feet may be reached
tomorrow. The rise does not come from
the tributaries at Pittsbuyg. but from the
mountains of the Virginias and the high
water ts expected to be of short duration.
The storms of last night did considerable
damage along the Ohio valley, but the
weather is exceptionally clear today.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, MONDAY, MARCH 3, 1902.
PITTSBUHG, Pl.
IMPEHILLED
bi ran
ALL SUBURBS ARE NOW INUNDAT-
ED AND RIVER IS STEADILY
CREEPING TOWARDS BUS-
• INESS SECTION.
PITTSBURG. March I.—Western Penn
sylvania is in the grip of the worst flood
since the record-breaker of 1884. when the
Allegheny river at this point reached a'
stage of 33 feet 3 inches and two-thirds
of Lower Pittsburg and Allegheny was
submerged in from two to ten feet of
water, causing millions of dollars' worth
of damage.
At 9 o'clock this morning the marks
showed 30 feet of water and rising at the
rate of from 5 to 6 inches an hour. Street
car traffic between the two cities has been
abandoned.
Scores of mills have been forced to close
down, and hundreds of families have been
compelled to move from their homes.
March’s mild entry into the calendar will
help the bad conditions.
Special details of police surround the
flooded districts to guard property and
lives. Thousands of working men were
idle today and will probably not be able
to resume for several days on account of
the flopd.
The water rose so rapidly that in the
American Steel and Wire plant, south side,
the workmen had to leave their street
clothes in lockers and get out of the
mill in their working clothes. The Pitts
burg and Lake Erie, Pittsburg, McKees
port and Toughiogheny railroads are prac
tically closed.
The water is up in the train sheds and
covers the tracks all along the Mononga
hela and Ohio rivers.
The exposition grounds. Pittsburg base
ball park and penitentiary are surround
ed by water, which at 10 o'clock was still
rising here and at points above. At least
a 33-foot stage is expected here today and
predictions are made that it will reach 35
feet unless there is a sudden change in
the weather.
■ This would be the highest water ever
known and the damage cannot be approx
imated.
At McKeesport, as a result of the high
water in the Monongahela, several de
partments of the plant have been closed
down as also of the Boston Iron and
Steel plants, the Firth Sterling Steel plant
and the Monongahela Steel furnaces. All
over the Youghlogheny the ice is running
rapidly and the waters are over the banks.
The whole point is flooded, many of the
houses on Water street being submerged
to the second floor.
TRAINS ANNULLED IN
EASTERN TENNESSEE
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., March I.—Re
ports received at offices of the western
division of the Southern railway today
show the high waters in upper East Ten
nessee and Central and South Georgia
have done much damage.
The French Broad river is still rising
and no trains have arrived here from
Asheville since the rise began.
Ship in Distress; Goes Fast Ashore.
BALTIMORE, Feb. 28.—A dispatch from
Cape Henry, Va.. today says the British
steamship Yeoman, from Galveston for
Liverpool via Newport News, Is ashore at
the point of Cape Henry.
The Yeoman picked up the Spanish
steamship Friesa at sea, helpless with a
broken propeller, and towed her into the
Delaware breakwater on Tuesday of this
week.
After performing this service the cap
tain of the Yeoman found himself short
of coal and he decided to go to Norfolk
to refill his bunkers before proceeding to
Liverpool.
It was while en route to the former port
that his ship grounded at Cape Henry. A
dense fog prevailed at the time.
Harris County Loses Every Bridge.
HAMILTON, Ga., Feb. 28.—The rain
that fell here yesterday was unpreceden
ted. All past records of high water marks
were broken and great damage done to
property so far as heard from.
Every bridge in the county hae been
washed away. The damage to mill and
gin properties along Mulberry creek which
flows through this county into the Chat
tahoochee river was considerable.
It will take many thousand dollars to re
build the bridges and repair other prop
erties besides .ands have been terribly
washed and inestimable damage dope
farming interest on account of the soil
being washed away.
Bartow Sheriff Was Near Death.
CARTERSVILLE, Ga.. Feb. 29.-Sheriff
R. L. Griffin had a narrow escape in the
flood yesterday. He went out near Kings
ton in his buggy to serve a writ. He at
tempted to cross Two Run Creek, at a
ford with which he was not acquainted.
The creek was badly swollen and the
horse got over his depth as soon as he
entered the water.
Mr. Griffin was forced to jump out into
the water, cut the horse loose and held
his head out of the water to keep him
from drowning.
The sheriff is crippled up today and
barely able to walk.
Local Forecaster Official Bassler, in re
view of the condition of the rivers said:
“The Ohio river has risen substantially
and is now approaching and will exceed
the danger lines at all points. At Charles
ton, W. Va., the Kanawha is three feet
over the danger line and will continue
rising today. A crest of 17.3 feet, passed
Hinton at 3 a. m. From Point Pleasant
to the Kentucky river the stage will pass
the danger line. At Cincinnati the river
will continue rising today, Sunday and
Monday."
PHIUDELPHIfI
IS 111 GHISP
OF FLOOD
CITY IS UNDER WATER, STREETS
ARE LIKE RIVERS AND ALL
WATER SUPPLY IS
CUT OFF. '
PHILADELPHIA. . Match I.—What is
said to have been the greatest flood that
has ever been experienced along the
Schuylkill river, certainty the most dis
astrous in recent years, tote its way down
that stream last night and early this
morning and from its sotdree to its mouth
—l2O miles—damage that will reach into
hundreds of thousands of dollars has been
done.
Thus far only one life lias been lost in
this city. Michael Igol, aged 44 years,
was drowned at 7:30 this; morning In the
kitchen of his home it the Falls of
Schuylkill.
The height of the flood Was reached at 6
o'clock this morning When the river,
which had expanded to <wice its width,
began to slowly recede. The communica
tion by telegraph and with the
upper part of the river sarly today was
cut off and information as to the condi
tions in towns situated river banks
was meager.
The melting of ice an® snow, coupled
with heavy rains of the part 24 hours in
the eastern section of thg state, was the
cause of the rapid rise ItUthe water.
The flood was anticipated and as a re
sult much property In ths way of manu
factured stock and raw material stored in
the buildings along the river banks were
moved to places of safety. Incalculable
damage, however, has hben done along
the course of the river in this city.
Several hundred sheep tend hogs were
caught in the flood in twr pens in the
Abattoir yards and drowpbd. The yards
are located on the west tank of the river
above Market street.
When the flood began ts rise above the
danger mark early last wgbt, the cattle
were removed to a placrf of safety, but
before the attendants escJd reach the
small stock, all were drqkned. Some of
the cattle, too, were most of this
stock was saved.
Probably the greatest sufferer is the B.
& O. Railroad company, whose track runs
along the eastern shore for a distance of
about three miles.
This road has abandoned service over
its main line and is sending its through
trains via the Junction railroad, which
runs along the western shore just out
side of the reach of the flood. Its other
trains are being sent from the Sixtieth
street station in West Philadelphia. The
company's waiting rooms in the main de
pot, at Twenty-fourth and Crestnut
streets, were three feet under water, and
in the train shed the water was as high
as the windows in the passenger coaches.
The superintendent of the division expect
ed the flood yesterday afternoon and had
every movable article taken to the upper
floors of the station. The company's
tracks are covered with water from. Fa,r
mount Park for a distance of nearly three
miles to South Wharton, where.the tracks
cross the Schylkill river bridge a short
distance below.
The Delaware extension of the Pennsyl
vania railroad on the west side of tne
river, which is used for freight, was
ered with muddy water as high as 'the
tops of freight cars.
The lumber yards in parts of the city
were washed clean of their stocks, the
flood carrying the lumber down the river
in great piles. Thousands of tons of coal
and sand in the yards along the river
banks were swept down the rl v ® r -
The city waterworks, located in Fair
mount Park, are under water, compell
ing the stoppage of the pumps. In the vi
cinity of Arch, Race, Vine and Callowhill
streets, north of Market street, and San
som, Pine and Lombard streets, south of
Market, the water reached above the
first floors of many dwellings.
• Horses and mules were removed from
stables along the river, and kept standing
in the streets all night to await the pass
ing flood. , .
An incident of the terrible night was the
burning of a large frame building at Vine
street close to the river. The structure
was filled with lime which began to slack
when the water reached the building and
finally set the place on fire. V hen the
flames were first seen the water had gone
200 yards, east of the building. The fire
department was unable to reach it and the
building was consumed to the water’s
edge.
When daybreak came this morning the
scene along the water was one of deso
lation, but not one of the dozen schooners
which are tied up at the several wharves,
received severe damage.
Railroad service from this city to
points up the Schuylkill valley on the
Pennsylvania r'ailroad and the Philadel
phia and Reading railroad which was
abandoned last night. Is still suspended.
Between he»e and Manayunk, a suburb,
both roads are in good condition, but
north of that point the tracks are under
several feet of water in many places.
Manayunk suffered greatly from the
high water. This district in which there
are numerous mills, is a frequent suf
ferer from floods, but it never underwent
such a night as that just passed. The
water reached to the second story win
dows and it will take some time before
the thills are in running order. This will
affect thousands of mill workers.
Mobile Isolated and Trains Shut Off.
MOBILE. Ala., Feb. 28—Mobile has been
completely shut off from Montgomery and
points north for the past twenty-four
hours by reason of a washout on the
Louisville and Nashville railroad, a short
distance from Greenville, Ala.
Train No. 1 due here yesterday after
noon at 4:12 o’clock stalled back of wash
out. Track and roadbed badly w’ashed
out and officials report trains cannot pass
until 7 o'clock tonight. Hundreds of men
are at work on the break. Three trains
with fast mail from northern points are
stalled at Montgomery causing considera
ble Inconvenience to this place and New
Orleans and big losses to the railroads. *
Trains are delayed on Southern between
Mobile and Selma by washouts.
Fruit schooner Alexander M. Lawrence
that went ashore in the storm of yester
day with 100,000 cocoanuts and 2,000 pounds
of rubber aboard may probably be saved
by the tug boats dt work on her.
MIBSHILL IS
SWEPT OFF
EIIDTH
FIVE PEOPLE ARE DROWNED AND
GREAT DAMAGE IS DONE TO
PROPERTY AND
LIVE STOCK.
T~~~
CHARLOTTE, N. C.. March 2.—Western
North Carolina since Thursday night has
been in the throes of the worst flood in
the history of the state. So far at least
seven lives are known to. have been
lost, in the raging torrents, into which
every river and stream has developed.
' The greatest damage has been done in
the vicinity of Asheville. That city is al
most entirely isolated from the world,
save for one feeble telegraph wire. Trains
have all ceased, and none has been run
since the heavy downpour of Thursday,
when the rivers rose 10 feet in as many
hours.
The French Broad tonight Is a roaring
torrent, on the flood of which wreckage
of hoqses is jammed like so much drift
wood.
At Marshall the/flood of Thursday night
was a terrible disaster. There flve lives
are known to have been lost, and it is
feared that many others have succumbed
to the flood. The river, suddenly rising in
the night, leaped the great wall of ma
sonry; 13 feet in height, which protects
the town in the form of a dyke. In the
pitch darkness it tore through the long
main street of Marshall, working fear
ful destruction.
The crash of falling buildings and the
cries of distress rose above the roar of
the flood. Houses were swept from their
foundations, toppled over and floated with
the torrent. Cars were moved from the
tracks and carried on the flood as so
much debris. Horses, cows and swine
from the village and above it struggled
amid household furniture and millions of
feet of lumber. The village street disap
peared under the rapidly rising water,
and the houses built against the moun
tain eide ceased to furnish refuge for the
populace, which fled before the raging
waters.
Montgomery is Victim of Storm.
MONTGOMERY, Ala., Feb. 28.—Exces
sive rains for the last few days has caus
ed considerable delay and inconvenience
to the railroads entering Montgomery.
There have been practically no trains en
tering Montgomery froth the south and
east tn the past twenty-four hours.
Two washouts occurred on' the Louis
ville and Nashville yesterday, but were
repaired in time for the train to New Or
leans to pass over. However, they could
get no further than Evergreen, owing to
the high water caused by the overflowing
of Murder creek. The tracks are under
water and traffic is annulled.
A train came in from New Orleans last
night, but the train due here this morn
ing at 6:35 from the same place was tied
up at Flomaton.
A construction train went to Evergreen
yesterday, and it is expected that the
through train will be running by tonight,
as the waters may recede by that time.
No train has come over the Seaboard
since yesterday morning. One hundred
and fifty feet of track was washed away
on this line near Mary’s, and 460 feet of
track is under water at Chesson's Swamp.
It is hoped traffic will be resumed to
night.
The Central train left as usual yester
day, but could get no further than Pike
Road station, near Montgomery. The
Plant system has had no train since yes
terday. It is expected to have a train by
tonight.
Wires are also down at some points,
and it is difficult to receive information.
No damage has been done to property, so
far as is known.
The Coosa and Alabama rivers, how
ever, are on the rise.
At Wetumpka the water rose 22 feet
in 24 hours, and 15 feet'at the same time
at Montgomery.
The weather bureau issues warnings
that the river may reach 48 feet at We
tumpka, 44 feet at Montgomery, and 46
feet at Selma.
Fanners have been notified to get live
stock on high ground in advance of the
flood.
Freight Train Goes Into Camp Creek.
. TUCKER, Ga., Feb. 28.—Ten cars of fast
freight No. 22 fell through the Fleming
trestle across Camp creek. The accident
occurred about 8 o’clock last night and
onh' a few minutes before the passenger
trtun from Atlanta was due to cross the
same place.
The engine of the freight, in charge of
Engineer Jones, got safely over with flve
cars.
No one was hurt. A carload of flour fell
in the bed of the stream and is a com
plete wreck.
FILIPINOS MURDER -
MAN FROM WISCONSIN
CUMBERLAND, Wla, March I.—A message
from Congressman Jenkins confirms the report
that John R. Hegg. of this city, was murdered
by Filipinos on Bohol island January 21- The
body has not yet been found. Hegg was a
graduate of the Cumberland schools at state
university, and was superintendent of con
struction of government roads in the Philip
pines.
Men Murdered and Bodies Are Found.
SAVANNAH, Ga., March I.—Michael
Schwink and a clerk employed by him
named Jacob Carter were murdered and
burned last night at the place of the for
mer, 16 miles from Savannah. The coro
ner is investigating the matter.
BIRTHPLACE OF LINCOLN
, TO BE SOLD BY SHERIFF
I
HODGENVILLE, Ky., March I.—The
birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, near
Hodgenville, Is advertised at sheriff’s sale
for taxes.
A few years ago the place promised to
be a property upon which the government
would spend thousands of dollars, but it
was bought by a company of eastern cap-
WRECK IN OPELIKA;
FREIGHTGfiRSBUHN
FREIGHT COLLIDES ON “Y” IN THE
CENTER OF TOWN AND BIG
LOSS RESULTS.
OPELIKA, Ala., March I.—A disastrous
wreck occurred here on the Central of
Georgia railway last night, right in the
heart of the city.
As a consequence four cars were burned
to ashes, two being loaded with cotton,
entailing a loss of about 313,000.
A freight train from Birmingham, en
route to Columbus, was backing in on a
side track at a rapid rate of speed when
it struck a train of loaded cars that were
on the siding. The caboose on the rear of
the freight struck the first car. a coal car,
overturning it and the caboose and setting
the latter on fire from the stove. The three
box cars, two of them loaded with cqtton,
were totally consumed, as were the ca
boose and coal cars.
Track and Bridges Swept Like Chaff.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 28.—A special
to The Sentinel from Bristol says a freight
train was wrecked today near Radford.
Va„ on the Norfolk and Western railroad
in which Brakeman Floyd Preston, col
ored, was killed.
Near Marlon, Va.. the same road suffer
ed a serious washout which has delayed
all traffic.
Beaver creek at Bristol ts higher than
ever known and is flooding parts of that
city.
The Watauga river between Bristol and
Knoxville is as high as it was last May,
when the Southern railway steel bridge at
Watauga was washed away. There is an
absence of heavy drift today and the new
bridge is believed to be safe.
A special from Elizabethton states that
the Watauga and Doe rivers reached their
highest this morning at 7 o’clock, when
they begun to recede. The Virginia and
Southern railway bridges at Elizabethton.
Butler and Carden's Bluff were washed
away. The East Tennessee and Western
North Carolina railroad trackage suffered
very heavy damage and lost its bridge at
Valley Forge.
The last train from Asheville arrived last
night at 10 o’clock and made part of the
run on a submerged track. All the tele
graph and telephone wires are down be
tween White Pine Asheville. Work
and wrecking trains were sent out last
night and this morning. Eastern mails
may be sent byway of Atlanta or Cincin
nati.
Florida’s Capitol Wrecked by Wind.
PENSACOLA, Fla., Feb. 28.—The entire
south wall of the new south wing to the
state capitol at Tallahassee was leveled
to the ground last night by a furious gale.
It will be rebuilt at once. Damage to
steamer Winifred, of New York, which
collided with Commandencia wharf in
storm yesterday is much greater than
first reported. One of the larger timbers
in the vessel was snapped in twain by the
force of the concussion. The board of
survey fixes the damage to the vessel at
about SSOO. and to wharf $1.500; the cargo
damaged by Are will be taken back to
New York and sold there.
$50,000 Damage in Lee County.
OPELIKA, Ala., Feb. 28.—Several bad
washouts are reported on< the Western
Railway of Alabama.
The train due in Atlanta last night and
the trains from Atlanta are tied up at
Gabbettvllle.
The wires are down between here and
Montgomery.
No trains have arrived from there and
nothing is known as to the condition of
the line. The damage in Lee county from
yesterday’s rain is about $50,000. 4 1-2
inches of rainfall In 8 hours. #
Ocmulgee River Booming Torflent.
MACON, Ga., Feb. 28.—Macon received
her full share of the rainstorm yesterday
and last night, and the weather man says
it will continue to fall here. He says the
river will go above twenty feet, eighteen
feet being the danger line.
The waters are already booming, and
the indications are that the weather man
is right about his estimate.
The wind was quite high for a short
time yesterday afternoon and umbrellas
were dashed to pieces here and there all
along the streets.
No serious danftige was reported, how
ever.
Dawson Citizens Refugee to Pits.
DAWSON, Ga., Feb. 28.—Last night’s
storm did much damage tn this county to
fences, barns and negro houses.
On Mrs. George Cannon’s place, near
Dawson, several houses were destroyed.
One negro woman was killed, another
fatally injured and others hardly hurt.
K. McNeil lost his barn and had one
mule killed.
Many persons took refuge in storin
pits.
Eight Houses Blown Away.
ATHENS, Ga., Feb. 28.—A telegram
from Crawford, Oglethorpe county, this
morning brings the news that a cyclone
passed near that point last night, doing
much damage. On the plantation of Mr.
Macon Johnson, of this city, some six or
eight tenant houses were blown away.
Mr. I. W. Johnson, a brother, and sev
eral of the tenants, were hurt. Some of
the tenants had arms and legs broken.
While the rivers are rising, owing to the
plant being flooded, Athens is without
water for domestic use.
OFFICE OF CENSUS
PERMANENT BUREAU
WASHINGTON, March I.—The house
agreed to the report -on the bill making
the census office a permanent bureau.
It now goes to the president.
italists with the intention of making it a
public park. This scheme fell through
the cabin in which Lincoln was
born was carried to Central Park, in New
York city.
The place has been uncared for, and has
gradually gone down untM its value ts
not more than enough to meet the taxes
on it.
NO. 49.
TBIIN CREW
FIND DEATH
IN FLOOD ;
ENGINE, MAIL AND BAGGAGE CAR
AND ONE COACH PLUNGE INTO
CREEK—FOUR MEN MEET
DEATH IN WRECK,
GRIFFIN, Ga., Feb. 28.—The southbound
southern passenger train which left At
' lanta yesterday afternoon at 4:25 for Co
lumbus was wrecked at- Shoal creek about
H o'clock last night.
Four men were killed and several were
badly injured.
The killed are:
Engineer A. F. Matthews, Qolumbus.
Fireman Isaac McDowell, colored,
Columbus.
Baggage Master J. L. Hill, Colum
. bus.
Mail Clerk Leo G. Murray, Atlanta,
Ail four men were drowned and only the
bodies of the fireman and baggagemaster
had been recovered from the creek at
noon today.
The wounded had been removed to
Woolsey and it is impossible to learn
their names or the extent of their in
juries.
Conductor Kendall was slightly Injured
and Clifton Jones, of Columbus, division
freight agent, was badly bruised. '
The accident was caused by the terrific
rainfall of yesterday which converted
Shoal Creek into a raging torrent, which
washed away the bridge, leaving only
the stringers. (
If the engineer saw the peril, it was too
late to avoid the catastrophe, and as the
engine rushed upon the trestle, it gave
away, carrying with it the baggage and
second class coach. f,
The first class coach remained on the
track as if by a miracle, and its occupants
were uninjured.
The second class coach contained the
conductor, freight agent and four col
ored passengers.
It plunged about fifty feet into the turb
•wtent waters below. These were the par
ties injured:
As the car struck it rapidly filled with
water and the occupants saved their
Ilves by breaking the windows and seek
ing safety on top of the coach, which'
was not subremged.
In that perilous position they remained
for over flve hours before help came and
a temporary bridge was built by which
they could be removed to a place of
safety.
As soon as they were rescued, they ,
were placed in the cab of a freight train
which was running as second section of
the fated train and on which the passen
gers were carried to Woodbury for medi
cal treatment.
Runners were sent to every farm-house
in that section, asking for aid. By day
light hundreds of people were congregat
ed on the banks of the creek, viewing the
wreck, but unable to rescue the dead or
succor the wounded.
The construction train was telegraphed
for and began the work of clearing the
debris and rebuilding the track, but it
will be several days before trains will
cross the creek, as about seventy feet of
the trestle was washed away.
No systematic effort had been made up
to noon to recover the bodies of the dead
men.
The negro fireman was found about 100
feet below the bridge wrapped around a
tree.
At 12:30 o'clock a man was poking a
stick through an opening in the baggage
Car and struck something, which, when
brought to the surface, proved to be the
body of the dead baggagemaster.
Later a determined effort will be made
to find the body of Engineer Matthews
and Mail Clerk Murray. Whether the,
first lies buried In the mud of Shoal creek
under his engine and the lattec is still in
his car will not be known until their life
less bodies are found.
ANOTHER WRECK VICTIM
FOUND DEAD IN CREEK
The body of Postal Clerk Leo G. Murray,,
of Atlanta, who met his death in the
Southern railway wreck at Zetella Thurs
day night, was found Saturday at 7:4$
o’clock about 250 yards belox the trestle
through which the train fell.
All of the missing bodies have now been
recovered except the body of Engineer A. j
F. Matthews, of which no trace has yet
been round. The bodies of Fireman Isaac
McDowell, colored, and Baggage Master
J. L. Hill, both of Columbus, were recov
ered about noon Friday.
The Southern railway Saturday aban
doned Its line between Atlanta and Macon
on account of high water at Jullett and ’■
Dame's ferry below Flovllle and used
the General of Georgia tracks.
The waters near Macon are reported as
being two inches higher than has ever
been known before but began falling
Saturday morning about 6 o’clock.
WEST POINT IS SAFE;
RIVER BEGINS TO FALL
WEST POINT, Ga., March I.—The river
rose gradually till far Into the night, the
highest point being reached was 22 feet.:
This morning, though, it is falling.
At 7:30 it had fallen six inches.
Very little damage was done, as the
people in the flat had prepared for an'
even greater rise. The trains are not
running on time yet. They have to come
from Montgomery via Birmingham.
KANAWHA RIVER SWEEPS
HOUSES FROM ITS PATH
CHARLESTON, W. V., March 1.-The
Kanawha river is over 30 feet high here
and Elk and New rivers are very high.
The railways have suffered from land
slides. At Elmo, a slide carried with it
four dwellings. No lives lost.
ALL RECORDS MAY
BE BROKEN BY FLOOD
PARKERSBURG, W. Va., March L—lt
is expected that the flood of last April,
which covered a large section of Park
ersburg. will be equalled by the flood now
sweeping the upper Ohio valley. The West
Virginia headwaters of the Ohio are fall
ing with the exception of the Little Xftna*
wha, which la rtetef.