Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-10
THE LATE STORM AT THE MOUTH
OFJAMES RIVER.
N n lefIr1 d,fed
OLD PoINr COMFORT Va,
March 3, 1876.

IN
OLD PoINT COMFORT, Va,
March 3, 1896
am seated, alter the weather, or the second
food is nearly over, 10 record the awful deslTuc-
lion OF property, &C.. but, thank God, haze moi
The sad duty 10 record dealhs-ncne have occurred
on land but God only knows what has taken place
on the water told you in my letter OF Sunday
night, that it was siorming but little did expect
10 be called upon 10 record the awful destruction
which am now about 10 do. This morning,
the Point presents an almost unimaginable effect
of the furious pillows. There are huge piles OF
wood, timber, trees, plank Of every description
all kinds Of dead animals water, mud, &c.
But let me commence al the beginning, where
ever i, is and endeavor 10 make an end. The
wind from the North commenced blowing hard
on Sunday evening, accompanied with a thick
mist Ct rain; every hour il increased until mtirn-
ing: al that time Il rained, hailed and showed
The tide continued to rise until o'clock Yesterday
when. outside OF The Fort, was 10 be- seen bu. one
;as, toaming shee: OF water-it appeared as it'he
very waves were trying to beat down the Fort,
10 DEFY the wind, and sweep every thing before
them. There was not spot of ground TO be seen
from the Fort &c Mill Creek and Hampton, nor
rom here 10 the other side OF the river or Rip
raps: even The Rip.raps could not be seen, owing
10 the heigh, OF The waves and the Jury OF Inc
storm. Every house outside was HOODED, some
had from Two 10 five feet OF wafer IN them; our
house Is fall on The lower floor, and you Know
that i, IS as high as any on LIE Point, il not high
er. Capt Huger told the men OF his deparlpcat
ina, they had better go out and save their proper
" and their families. The enlisted were or
iered om 10 assist, and one and all had 10
wade 10 their houses, where they remained from
ga. NJ. Till 5 P. NJ, up to their waists and sotis-
times a1to their nccks, in water. ne Captain
went out himself, and finding no hopes OF The
storms aba,ing, told The families that Their only
resor; was TO GO inside OF the Fort. and lie mao
carts &C.. sent out 10 them, and look them al IN
s;6e The people, with all the feelings CT open
bear,edness, had flung open their dwellings TO The
sufferers. Mr.. Chambers had as many as Il
women and children in his house, and other,
houses in proportion. i was trigh,lul-awu!-
to listen 10 the cries and screechss OF the women
and chdren-children crying for ineir mothers,
fathers, brothers, sisters, some rInnins one way,
some anoher-some wet from head 10 loot
After the families were remo:ed inside and
safe, Inc properly was then all piled mp III Inc
garrets Tor preservation. /, vas certain, II
The wind did moi change from the North 10 the
West. Ina, a, The neg, tide o'clock nj night, The
water would come through the por.-hoies and
dood the Fort; accordingly, watches were kept
up The whole igh;, and the necessary preparations
10 give The alarm were made; bet al ii O'Clock
the wind changed from the North to the West,
which drove great deal CT the threatening Tide
back into The ocean, and when The Joyful udngs