The storm on the coast.
From all accounts which have reached us from the
South, it would seem that our entire line of sea-coast was visited by one of the severest equinoctial storms that has ever occurred.
The blockading fleets must have had a rough time of it. But, as the Charleston
Mercury remarks, "that's of no consequence."
The
Charleston,
Wilmington and
Columbia papers contain accounts of the violence of the storm.
The following, from the
Columbia South Carotinion, of Saturday, gives an idea of its force.
Yesterday, after a showery rain during the morning about half-past 10 o'clock a terrific gale came up. Window fastenings were nothing, and iron was bent and broken off like pipe-stems.
On Main street, the iron posts in front of
Walker's, Glass's, Nichols's, and Griffin's stores were snapped off us if they were of some kind of
Nichols's wares.
Trees were blown down, and the streets filled with branches.
Buggus were upset, and things in general ware topsy-turvy, wherever the wind reached.
A portion of the tin-roofing of the
Charleston Depot was blown off, alighting on some cars at racing on the track of the Greenville.
Railroad to the no small surprise and alarm of some negroes who were engaged in cleaning the case.
One of the of
Messrs. Lyles &
Anderson was blown down.
A portion of the tin-roofing of the
Charlotte freight depot was also blown off. A number of fences in different parts of the city were blown down.
In
Cotton Town, the damage was not as extensive as might have been supposed from the frail condition of many of the buildings — About of the sheds belonging to
Messrs R. O. Neal and
James Galeheart were demolished and the front of an old store off.
We learn that the camp at Lightwood Knot stood the gate pretty well.
But few tents were-blown- down but the brush ashore in front of them disappeared with startling rapidity.
We suppose the storm originated in the Golf and has progressed North.
About mid-night it will reach
Hatteras, and, if severe, will sweep thousand bank.
Twelve years ago that island did not exist, and a high tide, from the influence of a heavy gale, will cover its surface.
On the coast, we hope the blockading squadron has felt its force.
