"The Free Lance" Issue: June 12, 1903 ARDELLA ITEMS [June 9] --John PRINCE, wife and children of Montrose were the guests of his brother, A.B. PRINCE, Sunday last. --Mr. and Mrs. Jim SMITH of Layton visited D. L. STEADMAN last Sunday. --John POOL, mother and sister visited relatives at Arkwright Sunday. --Capt. Frank WEST and wife visited relatives at Saxon recently. --Miss Lella CROW recently returned to her home after attending the high school at Greenville. {There was a terrible flood in Spartanburg County on June 6, 1903, there are many articles about the flood, here are some of the highlights:} Union county raised several hundred dollars for the flood sufferers. A meeting of the town council in Pacolet held a meting to ask for subscriptions to a fund for the relief of any suffering brought by the operatives of Pacolet Mills. Money raised by the Pythian game of baseball was originally set for the Hampton monument fund, but will now be given to the to the flood sufferers. Two members of a special committee visited Clifton this morning and aided in the distribution of clothing and provisions. There is not one family in Clifton tonight which has not been provided for temporarily. Traveling men met in the Spartan Inn and quickly raised $80 for the flood victims [most donations were of $2.00 or $5.00 amounts from men all over the US] At the Tucapau mill: The force of the waters pushed the door up and a huge stream shot up into the first floor of the building reaching to the ceiling of the first floor, and flowed out the windows. This relieved pressure on the mill. The escape of this mill it thus appears was something marvelous. The wreckage of the two upper mills and the ruined part of the town, at least so much as was not swept down stream is now piled up in a squire having the front of the mills and the company store for two of the sides. In this space from which the water has now receded, the Negro man drowned Saturday went down. The poor fellow died at a point only a few feet from the company store and some 200 feet from the former site of the river bank. The ground on the hills south of the destroyed mills is covered with thousands of bolts of cloth and sheeting spread out to dry. Within the square above mentioned the strongest eddy perhaps on the whole river was formed during the progress of the flood and some say that the little son of Mr. JOHNSON of Clifton who drifted down the river to Pacolet went down in this whirlpool which seems to have drawn everything that came down the river into its terrible arms. At mill no. 3, the largest of the three mills, the floods struck the side and carried away an entire end and the spectator now looks upon the four open gaping stories of the mill revealing bent and wrecked machinery, twisted roofs, broken timbers and wrecked floors. In some places where a mill village stood with its scores of houses today is seen only a long flat sand bank, the river having changed completely the aspect of the county. Hickman STRIBLING, who slept in the store, was awakened by the water in his room. He jumped to save his life and after a short time caught hold of a tree where he remained half the day with no clothing to protect him. A woman also found refuge in the same tree and the two were rescued after a long delay and heroic work on the part of the rescuers. The greatest loss of life was at Santuc. Here it is estimated that from 25 to 35 people were drowned. Bud JOHNSTON and two of his sons drifted nine miles down the river to Pacolet, where the father was reported to have been rescued in an unconscious condition. At Pacolet this morning while hundreds of people watched the work of destruction wrought by the waters they were horrified to see the body of a woman cold in death, being carried down stream by the torrent. Near the woman and clinging to the wreckage was a little boy who called loudly for help as he passed before the eyes of the gazing but helpless crowds watching the flood. An attempt was made to reach the child, but no one was able to brave the fury of the waters and the little fellow was carried down stream calling pitifully for help. The loss of life is conservatively placed at from forty to fifty and only a few bodies perhaps a half a dozen have been rescued from the floods. A young girl's body was found buried deep in the sand with only her knee projecting. DAMAGE ABOUT HEBRON: The people say they never saw Tyger River so full. Both of the bridges at this place were washed away. They are about two miles apart. Nesbitt's and Hill's both were washed away about the same hour. Trees of every kind and size were washed down the river besides machinery of every sort. Cotton gins, looms, lumber, logs and planks of every description came. The old cotton gin at Hill's mill was washed away. It was there during the August freshet about 1852. S. N. NESBITT's mill did not wash away. There were lots of people on the river watching to see the bridges go. Tom AIKEN had a calf killed by lightning during the rains. Lightning also struck a tree in Eber PINSON's yard. --Recently Dr. Will KELLY got his arm broken, and his horse was frightened at a dog and threw him off hurting his shoulder. DAMAGE AT CAVINS The rains have descended on the earth the past week as they did in the days of Noah. Every bridge has been swept away. One of the most important bridges in the county, was Nesbitt's bridge. When it left its pillars it left solid without breaking apart. When it was last heard of it was four miles below Nesbitt's at Hill's Mill and it is reported still holding together. This bridge was built by Capt. W. F. WEST several years ago. As the bridge started to leave, one old Negro made the remark that it made him think of the "Old Ship of Zion". VAN PATTON SHOALS The men of this settlement have been employed in killing rats while it was raining. They killed 402 in one day. free post Lisa