Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-09-09
DREADFUL STORM.

vi late years so frequently desolated
our city aud seaboard. On Friday
night last. we experienced one OF
ehe most tremendous Gales of Wind,
that ever was felt upon our coast.
The horrors Of that awful night, We
shall not attempt 10 pourtiay but
the particulars of its desolating Ell
ferts, so far as they have come to
our knowledge, will be given with
as much accuracy as the nature OF
the ease admits.
For some days previous TO Friday
last. the unsettled state OF the wea-
lher was such as tn indicate a gale /;
che uncommon roaring ftle sea up-
on the bar, An uncrrins Indication OF
such an event, was noticed by many.
On Fri,lv foeea DON The wind was ut
8. +. About S o'clock P. NJ. the
wind began to blow very fresh at
N. Il. by T.. between 6 and 7 o'clock
il had increased TO strong gale, and
at 9 o'clock, il was "a complete bur-
ricane. prostrating in its course
houses. cilimnies. fences. and trees:
II continued to blow. with equal Vi
oience. until about 4 o'clock in the
morning; when the wind having
shifted to the westward, it iulled
considerably. hut still blew with
much force until dsy light. when it
became moderate. Torrents ofrain
accompanied the gale and the tide,
which should have been high before
10 o'csock, continued rising until
nearly IL; at which time it was a
bout IS inches higher than in the
great gale of 1901. The rising snn.
Notwithstanding il disclosed to us
the ruins produced by the storm.
was cheering "a the eye; after such
an awful night of uncertainty, the
return Of day was hailed with JOY.
Many families, whose dwellings
are in low situations, were driven
from their houses through the "pelt-
ing Of the piti!ess Storm" TO seek
shelter among their more fortunate
neishbors. Others again. particu-
larly in that part of the city front
ing the ". and n. Z. had the lower
rooms Of their houses completely i'I-
undated. and we're unable 10 leave
them, unless indeed in boats, which
was done in some instances while
others were in vain crying for assis-
tauee. expecting ever! moment when
the vessels which were thrown upon
the wbaryes near them. would crush
their houses aud bury them in their
ruins.
More than halfofthe New Bridge
over Ashley River. Was swept away
BY the violence Of the storm-the
great rise of the water must have
finated the top from the piers and the
fragments in large bodies drifted
down with the tide and lodged upon
South Bay and elsewhere. Our read
ers will learn the destruction OF this
monument OF pabiie spirit. with feel
ings OF deep sorrow for suffering en-
trn,rise. and uure@arded industry.
Cannaa's Brise is carried away
and the caHseway much injured.
As is likewise Peyton's bridge, on
the Meeting street road.
Property toa very large amount
stored in and near the wharves, has
been entirely ruiued. or much da-
mayed. The gentlemen occupying
stores in Ven,lue Range. Prioleans
wharf, have been very considerable
sufierers in this respect; all the
goods on the lower floors OF those
buildings having been more or less
damaged.
The proprie,ors Of wharves, are
che greatest individual sufferers by
this ealamity-there is scarcely a
wharf in town which has not receiv.
ed ip;ury: an injury too not easily
remetlied, as there are no states 10
Le had.
The Second PRESBYTERIAN Church.
has suffered much in the storm. ha-
wing the lead and states blown od, u
otherwise much injured.
Several small houses Oh South Bay
near the waters edge. have been un-
dermined, and one or two washed n
way. -,
The top ofMr. Ross's Windmill.
at the head of Trsdd.strcet, was
blown off; and new frame house
near il, blown down. The building
belonging TO Mr.. Seymour, and oo,
cun;ed as a saw pit, was leyeled with