Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1899 — THREE TOWNS IN RUINS. [ARTICLE]

THREE TOWNS IN RUINS.

Widespread Destruction by the Storm in Florida. Firr.t reports sent out of the terrible destruction wrought by the terrific hurricane that swept up from the Gulf of Mexico and raged along the coast of Florida appear to have been very conservative. Three towns were entirely destroyed and others partially wrecked, tarrabelle, Ashmore and Mclntyre were the towns practically annihilated. The towns partially wrecked were Lanark, St. Teresa and Panacea Springs. A passenger train on the Carrabelle, Tallahassee and Gulf Railroad thirtyfive miles below ■ Tallahassee was badly wrecked, but no one is reported killed or injured. The turpentipe interests of the section are greatly damaged and mueh injury has been done to crops. It is generally believed that fifteen persona were drowned at St. Marks, It was more than twelve hours after the storm had swept the coast before the news of its devastation reached the outside world. Only one railroad extends to the coast south of Tallahassee, and only one telegraph line. The wires were blown down, and the railroad could not be traversed, because-the track was covered with fallen trees and washed out in many places. The bridges along the road have been blown from the abutments or washed away by the floods that followed the storm. A storm unequalled in terrific energy by any tornado remembered by the oldest inhabitants swept over Elizabeth, N. J., in a path 1,000 feet wide. In so far as is known no one was injured. All manner of mischief was done to houses, churches, theaters and church yards. The total amount of damage is estimated at $150,000. Three church steeples were knocked down and two theater roofs lifted. Graves were exhumed by the uprooting of trees above them and the bones of the dead were left uncovered.