September 2, 1852
Columbia, SC
Columbia, SC
Friend William,
We have just been blank with one of the most terrific floods
that ever visited these parts. Nothing
in the annuals of our county; has ever been known to equal it. And the loss of life and property is
incalculable. All our bridges with
exception of Congaree, has been carved off.
Western Bridge, Broad Rive, etc.
Charleston R. R. Bridge. Both the
Augusta Bridge all cut off. We have as
yet not heard of the extent of damage done, but fear the result. Wm Spencer Brown and a few of McCollum’s were
swept away and drowned. Since all the
Negroes on the Plantations below saved their lives by seeking shelter up the
house tops and the fear a good many of them is lost. All the stock on the River
Plantation are all gone. None left as
many plantations. Your
friend Jesse DeBruhl has lost his entire crop.
Every foot of his Plantation is under water. And his family escaped with their life, remained
in a tree for a number of hours before rescued.
The Greenville R.R. is wrecked all to pieces. They have had no mails for the last your days
and all communication is cut off. There is
no knowing when we will receive any goods from Charleston few train tracks work
as track or their Bridge is gone. And
what are we to do. God only knows. Corn and flour may run up amazingly and
communication is every ones concern.
I must
try to arrange some way to get our goods or fear we are in a bad way for many
articles but our neighbors are in like predicaments. And it cannot be arranged. I have not time to tell you all the
particulars. It was a fearful time last
Sunday. Nearly all Columbia was torn
about. The Bridge, looking every moment
to see it give away. The water was
running through. The water was running through the town and the current of
drift wood and pressure against it was alarming. But this noble structure stood the mighty
torrent and was only a little injured.
All the houses and Fred Green, hills were swept away. The hill under the Bridge entirely gone and
we never entirely gave way in foundation it has ruined. Fred W. Green and may a plantation and the
news here today is that Augusta is infinitely worse off that we. It was 8 feet water in the road. Augusta and Hamburg completely enveloped in
water. All that plant are water comes
here but their crop there has been a good many lives lost in Augusta and
Hamburg. It will make the county very
sickly; and it will require medicine.
For my impression is there will be really sale for them. I will order Opium and Morphine from Porvey & Whitman. As he cannot wait. I have them longer. There is none in town. We wish Pumice Stone, Umbilical Trusses about
½ dz and some Oil of Wintergreen. 1 pt of Sarsaparilla. There you can fill at your leisure.
B. L. MacLauchlan dead. Alma Adam Edgar and we have heard
today Wm C. Preston is dead. Wm L.
Brown’s lady has not yet been found.
McCollum farm was today.
Greenville
R. R. Bridge, Camden R. R. Bridge both gone and the house at junction of the
true ready, bedded in water.
Featen and Welsh & Mr Curry at Aston have but all their homes with
everything in them entirely swept away and they respect in beat. The rise of the River was awfully sudden all in one night and part of a
day. No one had any idea of it. Stanley on coming home had not passed over
the R. R. Bridge but 5 minutes before it was swept off. Saw it go. Well this is
bad new blank for a letter, I will stop for the present. We are all doing well. Your friend’s all
well.
My best respects to My B and all you family.
Regards closing to be remembered.
Thy blank, blank
Mr. W. Boatwright
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1852
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Aug 27-28
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Landfall near the AL/MS border as a Cat 3 hurricane. Moved northeast
across central GA and SC as a TS before moving off the coast near the NC/SC
border.
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