By Associated Press
Raleigh, Sept. 30—Faced with the probability of further heavy damage by rapidly rising rivers. Eastern North Carolina tonight awaited anxiously the passing of the flood crest of several rivers which wee out of their banks as a result of almost unprecedented rainfall. In addition, coastal towns were recovering from the effects of a storm of hurricane proportions which swept up the coast today, taking a toll in property, but causing no loss in life so far as could be ascertained.
In the Piedmont and Western sections there were also reports of rising rivers but not to the flood stages prevalent throughout the east.
Higher Rise Predicted
The United States weather bureau tonight indicated that a rise of form two to 10 feet above the present near-flood levels probably would take place tomorrow, the result of more than two weeks continuous rainfall in Eastern Carolina, culminating in the downpours of Sunday and Monday, which broke records of more than a quarter of a century.
Tonight thousands of acres of crops were reported under water along the Cape Fear river. Tar, Roanoke and News rivers, and a dozen smaller streams. The Cape Fear at Fayetteville is expected to reach a 46 to 48 foot stage tomorrow. Today the river was above the flood stage, having passed the 35-foot mark. At Weldon the Roanoke reached the flood stage of 30 feet this morning, with a predicted crest of 45 feet. At Neuse station, near Raleigh, the Neuse reached 19.3 feet early this afternoonand at Smithfield it passed 21 feet with a predicted crest of more than 25 feet.
Train Service Crippled
Train service throughout the section was partially paralyzed tonight. Trains were being re-routed in many cases and were running hours behind schedule. In some places it had been necessary to discontinue the service temporarily.
The state highway commission on Monday ordered its entire maintenance force to suspend operations and stand by to aid traffic. Though the hard-surfaced roads were slippery no particular damage had been done to them, but the other types of construction had been damaged and construction had been thrown days behind schedule. Damage estimated at $300,000 has been caused to the roads of the state by the downpour, Leslie R. Ames assistant state highway engineer, announced.
From Wilson, New Bern, Kinston and other points in the East similar reports were received indicating that the principal damage so far had been to crops and homes hastily abandoned. All the rivers were reported to be nearing or above flood stages tonight, though the rain had for the most part ceased.
Along the coast reports indicated that a storm of hurricane proportions had taken a toll during the morning.
At Beaufort high seas were experienced and a four-masted schooner was abandoned off-shoe. The vessel, Perry Setzer, Capt. Wilson in command, was loaded with railroad ties and was bound for New York. The crew were taken off by the Fort Macon life guards and the vessel will be towed to harbor when the storm abates
From the front page of New Bernian, Oct. 1, 1924
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn96086034/1924-10-01/ed-1/seq-1/
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